6 April 2014 Sunday Independent GAELIC GAMES SPORT 5 A forward-looking and commercially astute decision

and the process of rivalry should Rupert Murdoch as the ‘battering so minded, it would be quite Irish Broadcasting Act. generally recognised cultural also be welcomed. Vigorous com- ram’ of pay television — would entitled to hand to Sky Sports all It is commonly considered that importance for the Irish Sky deal ensures Gaelic petition tends to deliver the best arouse a feeling of unease within games other than the All-Ireland these special events, sometimes population”. games’ penetration to out of a firm. Further, promoting some observers. We witnessed a finals. called ‘crown jewels’, constitute However, in deciding not to competition is broadly accepted as similar unease around, for exam- important aspects of the human designate those additional games, widest possible audience, one of the best available tools for ple, the introduction of commer- right to freedom of information. the minister noted that based on writes Niall Collins enhancing consumer welfare. cial logos on GAA jerseys and the Who will be the Further, without adequate legal assurances from the GAA, he Sky’s commitment to sport has opening up of Croke Park to inter- safeguards, pay television broad- believed those games would con- been unrivalled to date. It seam- national rugby and soccer. It is GAA incarnation casters would have powerful tinue to be shown on a free-to-air ESTLED in the cosy couldn’t help feeling that those lessly moulds top-quality sporting difficult to objectively view those incentives to outbid free-to-air platform. It would be interesting surroundings of Rupert living beyond Irish shores should action with cutting-edge technolo- decisions by the GAA as anything of Carragher broadcasters for such events. to see how the minister would Street in the heart of Lon- have far easier access to coverage gy and expert punditry and, in the other than a resounding success. In May 2011, the Minister for react to any decision to move such Ndon’s West End lies Waxy of games. process, arguably sets the There has also been talk of a and Neville? Communications, Energy and games from free-to-air. O’Connor’s public house. Casting The GAA’s announcement last standard by which all sport on sell-out by the GAA, which is Natural Resources decided that Turning to an equally an eye to the other side of the week that it had entered into a television is judged. entirely inappropriate. RTE will The EU’s Television Without the then current list of special interesting debate, which pundits world, if you stroll down Elizabeth three-year union with Sky should Just as the relatively recent carry 31 games, including the All- Frontiers Directive, as amended events should not be amended, will deliver Sky’s coverage? Who Street towards Eagle Street in be welcomed. When coupled with arrival of BT Sport onto the play- Ireland and provincial finals, the by the Audio Visual Media Ser- notwithstanding the fact that an will be the GAA incarnation of Brisbane’s central business dis- landing the delivery of all 45 live ing field will likely see Sky further All-Ireland semi-finals, the hurl- vices Directive, provides the legal independent economic report Carragher and Neville? I’m off to trict, you will stumble across The games to Australia via Channel 7, enhancing its product and con- ing quarter-finals and two of the basis for EU member states to prepared by Indecon opined that, have a few bob on my old team- Queensland Irish Club. GAA powerbrokers have demon- sumer experience, I am sure RTE football quarter-finals. RTE also compile lists of special sporting in addition to the All-Ireland mate Colm Parkinson or ‘Woolber- I spent a large part of my strated a commitment to ensuring and others will meet the challenge has exclusive Irish rights to 25 of and cultural events that are seen finals, the All-Ireland quarter and to’ to you Twitterati. I see that career in London and Brisbane the effective promotion and from the broadcasting behemoth those 31 games. Sky Sports will to be of major national impor- semi-finals, the provincial football Paddy Power is still offering a and have fond memories of sitting penetration of Gaelic games to the head on. carry a total of 20 games, includ- tance to citizens. Events so finals and the Munster and tempting 11/4. in both Waxy’s and the Irish Club widest possible audience. This is a Although the writing was on ing the All-Ireland finals and designated and approved by the Leinster provincial hurling finals getting my fix of all things GAA. forward-looking and commercial- the wall for some time, it is under- semi-finals, with 14 games being European Commission must be were events of major national Niall Collins is a former Laois However, while I typically enjoyed ly astute decision by the GAA. standable that the arrival of Sky carried on an exclusive basis in available on free-to-air television. importance. They were “distinc- footballer and a partner in Irish the trek to both establishments, I Competition from Sky Sports Sports — once described by Ireland. However, if the GAA were This regime is reflected in the tively Irish sports and have a law firm Mason Hayes & Curran. GAA has sold its soul to Croke Park has not turned its line Murdoch’s pockets back on public

The GAA has helped to keep rural communities alive, writes John Greene

NMarch 17, 1962, hurler failure to understand the deal, and Michael Kennedy scored by the threatening impact of Sky’s Sky venture will have a point in Croke Park. presence in the GAA world for the OKennedy was a Tipperary first time. Somebody somewhere in repercussions much man who had declared for Dublin Montrose felt rejected — how else further down the line, and on this day he was lining out at can the heightened hysteria RTÉ says Colm O’Rourke midfield for Leinster in the Railway generated be explained? And how Cup final. This was the first game else do you explain the Prime Time ever broadcast live on television segment, rightly described by Liam N THE end, they sold out. Sim- by RTÉ and Kennedy’s point was O’Neill as “shocking”? ple as that. There are no core the first ever score on live television. The behaviour of Miriam principles left in the GAA any- Later that afternoon, Pádraig O’Callaghan, and David McCullagh Imore. I know plenty of people Gearty from Longford lined out at in particular, was a low in that pro- will think, ‘He would say that would- right corner-forward for Leinster in gramme’s history. O’Callaghan seri- n't he’, given my long involvement the football final and within a cou- ously suggested children might with RTÉ on The Sunday Game, ple of minutes of the ball being have to go to pubs to watch games, but when you strip away all the thrown in he had the distinction of dressed this up in some sort of sugar-coating there are only stark scoring the first point in a football mock outrage and presented it as commercial realities. match to be seen on live television. the GAA’s fault, and not the fault of Sky do not give a monkeys about Later that same year RTÉ broad- the parents who might bring them. the GAA, about its history, culture or cast the All-Ireland hurling and But it was McCullagh’s over-the- anything else. They just want to get football finals live for the first time top approach to his interview of their channels into as many houses and so began a relationship which Páraic Duffy which has caused real as possible and get people signed up has endured for 52 years. It has damage to the relationship between and paying. Good luck to them in been much more than a marriage of RTÉ and the GAA. The station has that. I have Sky and enjoy rugby, convenience. Yes, there have been work to do to mend fences. horse racing, soccer, cricket and ups and downs along the way but Meanwhile, on Prime Time, every other sport they cover in very over time — and more particularly Liveline and elsewhere the GAA high quality. At this stage I would not over the last 10 years with the explo- were accused of selling out and like to be without it. sion in coverage — the GAA and turning its back on rural Ireland. Yet that is not the point. All these RTÉ have been locked in a largely Perhaps this was the worst insult of sports are professional and the ben- inter-dependent relationship. all. efit of money has filtered through to In an age where the GAA has There are few better pro- the players, in some cases at the been forced to compete against the grammes on radio than Country- expense of the sport itself in num- perceived glamour of professional wide on RTÉ Radio 1. For a number bers attending games. It is not all sports and RTÉ has been forced of years now, its presenter Damien good news. The GAA has said it is out of showing the Premier League, O’Reilly has consistently offered not about the money and if not the Heineken Cup and other high- the only meaningful coverage of there seems no good reason to make profile sporting competitions rural isolation, rural depopulation this massive leap. The message from because of the financial might of and the problem of Ireland’s grow- Croke Park is that this is going to rival television stations, their need ing band of deserted towns and have worldwide consequences, make for each other has never been villages. It was appropriate in the the organisation bigger and have greater. And both have reaped the week that was in it that he returned an appeal in new markets. benefits of this relationship; RTÉ again to this subject yesterday The players have been quiet so far delivered huge television audiences morning. Nowhere has the decline but for how long? Is it realistic to at peak championship times and of Irish life outside of the large think that the players, who are key the GAA enjoyed the benefits of urban areas been better chronicled to the whole thing, are going to the widespread availability of its than on Countrywide, and nowhere stand by and not get paid out of the games to the wider population. has the spirit of defiance and increased revenues? Australia’s AFL It has always seemed that the togetherness been better highlight- and England’s Premier League GAA felt a certain loyalty towards ed than on Countrywide. The pro- became awash with money as a RTÉ — perhaps overly so, because gramme has also shone a light on result of lucrative TV rights. it is a commonly-held view in the the work being done by the GAA to The big sell on this is that it will industry that RTÉ developed a help keep rural communities alive; allow those forced to emigrate, or sense of entitlement around the the GAA has not been paying lip who wanted to get out, an opportu- GAA, to the extent that it could service to the problem in the way nity to watch the games. Now I continually turn its back on the that the State has. The GAA has not might be missing something here leagues and the growing populari- turned its back on people the way but there are few people I know ty of the club championships and the State has. abroad who don't already see any waltz back into town every May The Irish Independent recently match they want. They are shown in with its wishlist for the next five highlighted the scale of the hard- pubs, cinemas and GAA clubs in months. ship in rural Ireland with some almost all cities of the world. Added With its latest three-year media pretty damning statistics. Between to this now is a new high-quality rights deal, the GAA again demon- 2008 and last year, for instance, internet service so where is this strated that it believes its natural 1,290 pubs and 214 Garda stations massive need for Sky to enter this partner is the national broadcast- closed, and there are fears that post market? er, even in the face of stiff compe- offices and schools are next, while There is no doubt that Sky will tion? People in Australia could see ting it to watch GAA matches. They the GAA. If there is a lot more money making money, something he is very tition. Last week’s deal was a good every time the HSE pulls a service bring new technology, maybe better the game live and for free while the see that as grossly unfair and fairness it should be distributed in some good at. one for RTÉ — for its television, from an area it sends shock and fear analysis and all the gizmos we asso- locals are in the dark. is an important concept with form of Irish solution to the players. I agreed with opening up Croke radio and online platforms. It’s safe through the community. In the face ciate with their superb sports cover- I don't think anyone will com- teenagers. They also feel that those Ultimately, though, this deal is Park and would not mind other to assume that those in the know in of this, the GAA has stood strong on age. Bill Clinton, or one of his advis- plain about Sky and RTÉ going head who have contributed to the devel- divisive when all the smoke and grounds being used for things which RTÉ sport know this was a good the ground, instilling confidence ers, famously noted, “It’s the to head with the All-Ireland semi- opment of their clubs should be mirrors have been removed. It dis- would ease financial pressures on deal. and hope back into rural Ireland. economy, stupid”. It is the same with finals and finals. Let the best horse able to watch all games free in their criminates against the poor, the old clubs who are in dire straits but I This is what group head of sport The charge of turning its back there- the GAA. It’s the game, stupid. That’s win the race, competition is always older years. can’t buy this line. The GAA have Ryle Nugent said about it: “In an fore is misplaced, and in truth has the bottom line and for the first healthy. At one stage of the final Over my time in RTÉ I have sold their soul, pawned the family sil- increasingly competitive market, little to do with last week’s develop- time people will have to pay to watch last year between Mayo and Dublin always felt that the GAA at the high- This deal is ver and got very little in return. we are delighted to retain these ments. GAA matches, and currently less there were over 1.3 million viewers est level were always a bit suspi- television and radio rights on behalf In recent years, the Association than 20 per cent of Irish homes so there is a massive audience. This cious of The Sunday Game and have divisive when all PS: The Leinster under 21 final was of the Irish public, ensuring that has shown greater willingness to have Sky. If the GAA had done a deal amounts to a quarter of the not encouraged further coverage. played in Portlaoise last Wednes- coverage of Gaelic games is deliv- engage with social media, online where Sky and RTÉ both showed the population which is unheard of in It seems absurd to me that TG4, the smoke and day night on a miserable evening for ered free-to-air to Irish audiences content and broadcasting. So the games, you might be able to make most countries. It would equate to who do a very good job, have almost travelling. The numbers attending until 2017. We in RTÉ Sport are decision to experiment — and let’s the case that Sky could internation- 15 million people watching a sport- twice as many games live on TV mirrors have reflected that, a small crowd with lit- conscious of our long-standing her- face it that’s exactly what it is at this alise the games — whatever that ing event in Britain. Even the Grand than RTÉ . Indeed, RTÉ should have been removed tle or no atmosphere. itage with the GAA while also being point, an experiment — with Sky for means. National could not match that. been showing some live National Dublin would have won no mat- passionate about constantly evolv- three years is not just a brave one, As it is, this will really hit home Sky Sports has great appeal to League and club championship ter where it was played because ing our coverage. Year-on-year it is the logical next evolutionary at the quarter-final stage in August. young people and sport is portrayed games. It certainly would have been and the young and the manure will they were just a bit slicker but Meath increases for RTÉ’s GAA Champi- step for an organisation which was Last year, it was Mayo against Done- as very exciting on their channels. the best vehicle to promote the really hit the fan if two very appeal- through sheer honesty of effort made onship content across all platforms once slow to embrace media expo- gal — it was a real heavyweight con- Yet strangely I could find very few Allianz Leagues. ing quarter-finals cannot be seen them work for their win. underlines the fact that the Irish sure, but no longer is. test but if it was on Sky large num- students in my school who had any- For now the dye is cast but to me next August. Yet it was an opportunity lost public are fully engaged with our Nobody really believes the GAA bers of Mayo and Donegal thing good to say about this deal. this is a con job. The future will see There are few organisations left for promotion and put unnecessary comprehensive coverage.” has long-term ambitions to go supporters would be excluded from They looked on it mainly from the more Sky coverage and less free-to- that are really owned by the people travel time and inconvenience on Nugent means what he said. behind a television pay wall. At the viewing it. It is ironic too that it point of view of how it would impact air because in the end, money talks. and now the greatest of them all has players, officials and supporters. This deal will make money for RTÉ. same time, the landscape of media would force people into pubs to on their grandparents as much as However, the national games will been sold to a media mogul, Rupert The Leinster Council don't get it It will bring large audiences to RTÉ. and television is changing rapidly watch games when the GAA at the themselves. always be a better fit for the nation- Murdoch, who hardly cares about wrong too often but this was one. And yet, somehow, the detail got and who knows what it will be like same time is mounting very laudable Most of them don't have Sky al station and if I was a player now the GAA, amateurism, community- They should have ruled on Navan or lost and a good day’s work by RTÉ’s in, say, 2020. The GAA may even initiatives about the dangers of alco- Sports and their parents have I would be wondering where the building, and what it means to Irish Dublin as the venue and saved all the sport division was undone have its own television channel by hol. Does anybody see the contradic- greater financial priorities than get- shift in the goalposts is bringing people. It is just another method of hassle. elsewhere in the organisation by a then.