The Irish sporting media is to receive a double boost next Monday February 4th with the launch of a new one hour long evening sports programme on RTE 2fm and the relaunch of a new expanded 40 page Monday sports supplement in the Irish Examiner.
Game On will be broadcast between 7pm and 8pm on RTE 2fm, replacing the 30 minute sports show that currently runs from the same time on RTE1. The new show will have Damien O’Meara as its anchor host and the programme will expand to encompass full match commentary on nights where rights permit. The first of these programmes will be on February 6th when the international friendly between the Republic of Ireland and Poland will be broadcast.
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[ismember]There will also be live commentary from the UEFA Champions’ League and the RaboDirect Pro 12.
It will provide more head to head coverage with Newstalk’s Off the Ball which has consistently proven to draw the largest audience in the evening with its mix of news, commentary across a wide range of sports, guest interviews and contributors and an irreverent tone that plays well with the younger male audience it attracts.
From an advertising perspective that is a good segment of the consumer public and RTE will be hoping to use it’s wider in programme promotional power to edge in front of it’s independent rival.
“After the success of 2fm’s Euro 2012 coverage last year I’m delighted we are bringing a new strand of programming to 2fm on a nightly basis,” said Head of the Station, John McMahon. “Sport is hugely important to so many Irish people, none more-so than 2fm’s core 20-44 year old age group.
“By providing an entertaining, informative and expertly assembled sports programme every night, and including some great live coverage on 2fm, we are increasing RTÉ’s commitment to public service programming for all audiences across RTÉ’s channels.”
The Irish Examiner is promoting its own expanded Monday Sports supplement with an interesting dummy front page suggesting that Ireland will beat Wales this weekend in the Six Nations, that Carlos Tevez will score twice in a big win for Man City over Liverpool, and that a ‘rampant’ Mayo will hammer Kerry in the opening round of the Allianz National League.
Now if the media could forecast what is going to happen as opposed to reporting on what has happened, that would certainly boost circulation.
It is hoped that both new formats will feature a greater emphasis on the commercial world of Irish sport as is covered daily here on Sport for Business.[/ismember]
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