RTÉ has retained the right to broadcast 31 live matches across the GAA season between 2023 and 2027. The confirmation came as the Association announced its latest round of live, highlights, and on-demand media rights arrangements for the next five years.
Sky’s exit after eight years was confirmed yesterday and reported on Sport for Business this morning. Their departure has opened the door to a wider expanse of coverage on BBC and a greater level of streaming of matches here in Ireland as well as overseas through the GAAGo platform which is a shared venture between the GAA and RTÉ.
It was a success during the pandemic when crowds were not permitted and this is the right time to expand the coverage through a controlled media service in a way that was smartly foretold by its creation, initially for overseas markets, back in 2014.
RTÉ television will continue to show 31 championship games across the island of Ireland and the BBC retains its Ulster SFC rights.
The BBC will also simulcast with RTÉ the All-Ireland semi-finals and finals in addition to broadcasting at least one of the finals on the wider BBC TV network annually. If this means an All Ireland Hurling Final on BBC1 on a summer Sunday in 2024, 2025 or beyond that is a reach the likes of which has never been possible for the sport before.
RTÉ will also televise the Joe McDonagh cup final, both Tailteann cup semi-finals and the final for the next five years.
A new sharing arrangement between RTÉ and TG4 will see an increase in the number of Saturday night free to air Allianz League games broadcast while TG4 will continue to broadcast Sunday afternoon and non-regular round Allianz League games. BBC will also stream up to 10 Allianz League games involving Ulster teams per season.
TG4 and RTÉ will continue to provide coverage of the AIB GAA club championships.
TG4 has also retained the rights to the Electric Ireland GAA Minor Championships, Eirgrid GAA Football U20 Championship, O’Neills.com GAA Hurling U20 championship, Electric Ireland GAA Higher Education, Masita GAA post-primary and winter provincial competitions.
RTÉ will broadcast at least nine live camogie matches per annum, continue their Sunday night highlights show and introduce a second highlights offering. TG4 will also carry Monday night highlights and other GAA programming as per previous years.
GAAGO will continue to stream matches to the diaspora worldwide and the EU pilot with Galician media outlet TVG is also planned to continue.
Approximately 200 games from inter county competition will be broadcast each year as a result of the new deal.will be broadcast every year.
On radio RTÉ and Raidió na Gaeltachta retain exclusive national live rights while Bauer Media will continue to provide radio score-flash updates on Today FM and Newstalk. BBC Radio Ulster and 24 local IBI radio stations nationwide have also retained their rights.
“I would like to acknowledge the successful media partnerships we have had and continue to have as we strive to give our games the profile they deserve,” said GAA President Larry McCarthy.
“Maximising exposure of our games and seeking a fair commercial value for them for the betterment of the Association as a whole lay at the heart of our approach to a five-year arrangement that provides certainty and security for all parties involved.”
“Maintaining our strong commitment to the Irish language was another cornerstone of negotiations.”
“I am pleased that even more of our games will be accessible to members and supporters around the globe and we look forward to working with all of our partners to give our games and activities the highest profile possible.”
“Today’s announcement highlights RTÉ’s continued commitment to bringing the very best in live GAA action free-to-air to audiences across Ireland, and internationally through GAAGO, RTÉ’s joint-venture with the GAA,” said RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes.
“Irish audiences love live sport so we are delighted to have negotiated such an important agreement with the GAA that will see RTÉ bring Irish sports fans more live GAA games, and more camogie coverage, across the season across RTÉ television, radio and online, in English and Irish, over the next five years.”
Join us tomorrow for more detailed coverage of GAAGo and it’s place in the broadcast future.
