RTE defends showing all Euro 24 matches despite not being able to show every All-Ireland game
Some GAA championship matches are shown on pay per view service GAAGO, which is a joint commercial venture by RTE and the association
As Euro 24 kicked off last night, RTE defended showing all 51 matches in a month despite saying it could not show every All-Ireland game in a full season.
Some GAA championship matches are shown on pay per view service GAAGO, which is a joint commercial venture by RTE and the association.
Representatives for the partnership claimed that GAAGO and the State-funded national broadcaster cannot air all the games around the country.
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With RTE last night broadcasting the first of the 51 matches of UEFA’s international soccer tournament, the ongoing controversy about high-profile matches of the national sport not being shown on free-to-air TV was re-lit.
A sale for subscriptions to GAAGO went live on social media platforms like Facebook – and immediately drew stinging criticism.
One supporter wrote: "The argument that RTE can’t show all the games goes out the window when you consider that they are televising all 51 games of the Euros in 30 days (up to three games a day) and Ireland aren’t even in the competition.
"So Georgia v Czechia is free-to-air, but I have to pay to watch Cork v Offaly."
RTE issued a statement to the Irish Mirror to defend its contrasting coverage of Euro 24 on free-to-air and part of the All Ireland Championship on GAAGO.
A spokesperson said: "The rights holders for each sporting body determines independently of broadcasters what rights are included in a package. UEFA sells their Euro 2024 package to include all matches at the tournament, hence RTE shows all matches.
"The GAA sells separate packages to broadcasters, hence the games are shown across RTE, GAAGO and BBCNI."
He added: "It is a matter for the rights’ holder, not the broadcaster, to determine what matches are included in what rights package." The GAAGO sale yesterday urged supporters to take out a €39 "mid-season pass" and promised there are "plenty of big games to come in the football championship so buy early".
A full season pass for 38 matches costs €79, with single matches at €12, and bundles of three for €24.
Fans were told that the €39 pass would provide access to 12 exclusive games from Championship 2024 that "can’t be accessed elsewhere" and includes all four All Ireland football preliminary quarter-finals and two All Ireland football quarter-finals. The sales pitch stated: "This is a subscription product that will automatically renew at full price ahead of Championship 2025. You can opt out of auto-renew at any time."
After Sky Sports ended nine years of broadcasting GAA matches, GAAGO won the rights in 2022 to exclusively broadcast 38 championship matches behind a paywall.
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission approved the move. But Virgin Media Television has since criticised the deal between the GAA and RTE.
Several critics, including Tanaiste Micheal Martin, ex-GAA president Liam O’Neill, and the charity Age Action have also criticised GAAGO.
Some fans yesterday claimed "no way ever" while others said GAAGO is "great value".
Others argued that the cost of RTE accessing live feed for Euro 24 matches could not be compared to the expense required to send TV crews to every GAA ground in the country to cover all matches.
One fan wrote: "We shouldn’t have to pay to watch our own national games."
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