Sky Sports urged to drop charges so fans can watch All-Ireland games
Politicians call on all GAA games to be broadcast free-to-air
WHEN it comes to the clash of the ash, it seems the race for the cash is taking precedence.
Politicians from across the party divide have united in calling on Sky Sports to show its remaining live GAA All-Ireland matches for free while Covid-19 restrictions remain in place.
Sky had exclusive coverage of Limerick’s first game of their Munster and All-Ireland title defences when they took on Cork last night.
It is one of 18 fixtures Sky Sports has the rights to broadcast this summer – 12 of which are exclusive to Sky Sports. These matches
‘People want to see their heroes’
will be behind a paywall, meaning many non-Sky subscribers who would have usually attended live games will miss out on the action.
While the broadcasting giant offers a €10-a-day pass through its Now TV service, Labour senator Mark Wall said Sky has not gone far enough and urged the broadcaster to show all of the remaining matches for free on its platforms. Mr Wall told the Irish Mail on Sunday: ‘People understandably want to see their heroes in action this summer and we should move to secure this instead of just staying on the sidelines.’
And the Labour politician’s call has received the backing from other TDs and senators.
The chair of the Arts and Culture Committee, Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth, supported the demand for free-to-air GAA coverage. She told the MoS: ‘The fierce concerns caused by the rise of the Delta variant means this is something that should be considered. I hope on such a key issue, especially for rural Ireland, there will be a recognition that generous and innovative solutions are required.
The GAA Championship matches are divided between RTÉ and Sky, after the UK broadcaster secured the rights to broadcast 18 games for 2021.’
This is at a time when a fraction of GAA fans are currently allowed to follow their county in grounds across the country. From yesterday, up to 500 spectators are allowed to attend venues with a capacity of 5,000 or more. Crowds at smaller venues have increased from 100 to 200 fans.
However, the ongoing restrictions on grounds – allied with the nonavailability of big championship matches on Sky that would be traditionally shown in pubs – means the Government is facing a summer of discontent from GAA fans too. The EU audiovisual media services directive declares that member states may designate sporting and cultural events of major importance to society as free-to-air. Under current EU rules, events that are designated as being of major importance to society can be broadcast as a matter of public interest on RTÉ, Virgin Media or TG4 on a live or deferred basis.
The current list provides for several GAA events to be free-to-air, including the All-Ireland football and hurling finals. But a growing number of TDs and senators believe all televised matches should be available to free-to-air.
Sinn Féin TD and Dublin supporter Louise O’Reilly told the MoS: ‘In the current circumstances I support free-to-view absolutely. In circumstances where we cannot get to see our national games it seems only fair that they be made available to everybody.’
Her view was echoed by Corkbased Fine Gael senator Tim Lombard. ‘Where fans cannot attend matches because of coronavirus restrictions there should absolutely not be pay-per-view,’ he said.
Mr Lombard, a former chairman of his local Tracton GAA club, added: ‘In rural Ireland the GAA is a huge social occasion. As part of keeping morale up within the current unique circumstances, people should have access to their traditional games and sports. This is especially the situation where rural pubs and rural outlets that would show these games are not actually going to reopen.
‘This is another critical space for people gathering and watching these particular matches that won’t be available to those in rural Ireland and rural communities throughout this State.’
The issue is also causing increasing unhappiness in Fianna Fáil. Senator Ollie Crowe said he opposed the first GAA deal with Sky in 2014. ‘The GAA was founded with the stated goal of promoting Irish culture and I failed to see how it was doing that by depriving hundreds of thousands of people across the country the opportunity of watching our national games. That has since proven to be correct,’ he added.
Responding to queries arising out of calls for remaining championship games to the broadcast for free, a Government spokesman said: ‘The combined support being provided to the GAA through the Covid-19 scheme is in excess of €15m.’
Sky Sports did not respond to our request for comment.
‘GAA is a huge social occasion’