Women’s sport is making its mark on TV
NINE women’s sporting events are among 14 that have been identified by Minister for Sport Catherine Martin to be ringfenced for broadcast on free-to-air television.
Minister Martin published yesterday the list of new events she wants to be considered for free-to-air designation. It will now go out for public consultation.
The success of the Irish women’s football team is reflected in the nine female sporting events included for consideration as it, which the Minister said was to achieve equivalence for women’s sport.
The Minister has also included the All-Ireland football quarter-finals, two of which have traditionally been behind a paywall, initially with Sky Sports while last year – and this year – two of the last-eight matches will be on the GAAGO platform, the subscription service jointly owned by the GAA and RTE.
The All-Ireland quarterfinals and semi-finals in both ladies football and camogie, as well as the provincial finals in those codes while in rugby, Ireland’s games in both the men’s and women’s Six Nations as well as their games in the women’s rugby World Cup are placed on the provisional list.
The Champions Cup final is also put on the list, should an Irish team be represented.
The review is provided for in the Broadcasting Act of 2009 and Minister Martin said the review ‘provides an opportunity to ensure our most memorable sporting moments are retained on national television for the people of Ireland to view together on an equal basis.’
The last review of free-to-air designation took place in 2017 and added the All-Ireland senior Ladies football final and the All-Ireland senior camogie final to the list that also includes the Summer Olympics, All-Ireland senior football and hurling finals, Ireland’s home and away qualifiers and tournament games in the Euros and World Cup, the semi-final and final of the Euros and World Cup, Ireland’s games at the rugby World Cup, the Irish Grand National, Irish Derby and the Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show.
The full list of new events which now goes for public consultation is: The quarter and semi-finals of the All-Ireland senior football and hurling championships The finals of the provincial senior football and senior hurling championships.
The quarter and semifinals of the All-Ireland senior camogie championships.
The finals of the provincial camogie championships The quarter and semifinals of the All-Ireland senior ladies football championship
The finals of the provincial senior ladies football championships
Ireland’s games in the UEFA men’s Nations League
Ireland’s game in the UEFA women’s Nations League
Ireland’s home and away qualifying games, the opening games, all of Ireland’s games, and the semi-final and final, of the FIFA Women’s World cup
Ireland’s home and away qualifying games, the opening games, all of Ireland’s games, and the semi-final and final, of the UEFA women’s European Championship. Ireland’s games in the men’s Six Nations
Ireland’s games in the women’s Six Nations
Ireland’s games in the women’s rugby World Cup
The final of the European Rugby Champions Cup – should an Irish province be represented.