‘Shocking!’ Martin hits out at GAAGO
Tánaiste upset as three Cork games go behind paywall
TÁNAISTE Micheál Martin has described as ‘shocking’ the fact that three of Cork’s hurling matches will be broadcast behind a paywall on GAAGO next year.
It has been confirmed that a total of 38 exclusive hurling and football Championship games will be streamed by the pay-per-view service GAAGO in 2024, including three of Cork’s four games in the Munster hurling championship.
Yesterday, the president of the GAA Larry McCarthy defended the decision, saying the games would not be shown at all if GAAGO did not air them.
There has been a backlash to matches being shown exclusively on GAAGO, rather than free to air on RTÉ. Earlier this year, the Tánaiste had said he was unhappy about a ‘creeping paywalling’ for sports coverage and, reacting yesterday to the announcement that three of Cork’s matches next season would be behind the paywall, Mr Martin said: ‘That’s shocking.’
He continued: ‘Let me see the full fixture list and I’ll comment, but my point is generally that I think in terms of games like that, as many people as possible should have access to these games. Why? Because if we believe in the game of hurling, we want as many people as possible to see these games, and not everybody will see them behind the paywall.
‘Hurling is our national game. It’s unique to Ireland so it’s something that we should promote. That’s my view.’
GAAGO, a commercial company jointly owned by RTÉ and the GAA, was first created in 2014 and initially offered live coverage for those outside of Ireland. However, last year after a broadcasting deal between Sky Sports and the GAA concluded, GAAGO was awarded exclusive rights to cover Championship matches up until 2027. Next year, among its 38 exclusive games are Cork hurlers’ Munster round-robin ties against Waterford, Clare and Limerick.
Speaking at the GAAGO launch at Croke Park yesterday, GAA president Mr McCarthy told RTÉ Sport of the Cork situation: ‘RTÉ contractually picked games for those particular Sundays and if we don’t show them on GAAGO, they’re not shown.
‘People might be upset with the number of games in general but they have to realise the facts. RTÉ picked games for those particular Sundays and as a consequence of that we are showing those games [on GAAGO].
‘It’s like any new system, it has to be given time to bed in.’
The price of a GAAGO season pass has remained at €79, with a discount of €10 if purchased before December 31. Individual games will be €12 each or €24 for three.