Irish Daily Mail

Women’s sport is making its mark on TV

- By MARK GALLAGHER

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.

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 ?? ?? Big draw: Cork celebrate their senior camogie success (main); Rhasidat Adeleke (below)
Big draw: Cork celebrate their senior camogie success (main); Rhasidat Adeleke (below)

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