Football

Ulster GAA chief Brian McAvoy welcomes BBC commitment to Gaelic Games coverage

A landmark new five-year deal between the GAA and BBC, beginning from next season, will see the All-Ireland finals and semi-finals and up to eight matches from the Ulster Championship broadcast live on BBC Two NI.
A landmark new five-year deal between the GAA and BBC, beginning from next season, will see the All-Ireland finals and semi-finals and up to eight matches from the Ulster Championship broadcast live on BBC Two NI. A landmark new five-year deal between the GAA and BBC, beginning from next season, will see the All-Ireland finals and semi-finals and up to eight matches from the Ulster Championship broadcast live on BBC Two NI.

ULSTER GAA chief Brian McAvoy has welcomed the news that the BBC has “finally come to the table” and invested in expanding their coverage of Gaelic Games.

A landmark new five-year deal between the GAA and BBC, beginning from next season, will see the All-Ireland finals and semi-finals and up to eight matches from the Ulster Championship broadcast live on BBC Two NI.

On top of that, 10 matches from the Allianz National Leagues will be live streamed each season on BBC iPlayer and comprehensive radio coverage of all the above fixtures as well as club championship games involving Ulster counties will be available via BBC Sounds and BBC Radio Ulster/Foyle.

Highlights from the Ulster Championship, the All-Ireland Senior Championship series and the club championship will be available on the BBC Sport NI website. In addition, the All-Ireland semi-finals will be broadcast on BBC iPlayer and either the All-Ireland senior football final, or the hurling final will be shown live on BBC network television.

“It’s a very positive development that will bring our games to a wider audience,” said McAvoy.

“The coverage of the National League on the iPlayer is important as well. Nowadays most people can watch games on their phone, they can watch them anywhere, so it’s good to see that extra platform available digitally on the BBC giving our games much wider exposure.

“We have a great product. Hurling is the fastest field game in the world and football is very, very attractive. People are watching our games all over the world and it is positive that the BBC have finally come to the table in that regard.”

Announcing the five-year plan yesterday, Neil Brittain, Executive Editor of BBC Sport NI, said the new deal would transform the Corporation’s GAA coverage.

“The All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling finals are significant sporting events,” he said.

“We look forward to bringing them to viewers across the UK via the BBC’s digital and linear platforms. This new broadcast deal will transform the BBC’s coverage of Gaelic Games and delivers free-to-air coverage of the Ulster Senior Football Championship, the Allianz Leagues and the All-Ireland series via BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website.”

Subscription channel Sky Sports announced on Monday night that they would no longer broadcast live Gaelic Games. It is understood that Sky hoped to expand their coverage as part of a new five-year deal but agreement could not be reached over their bid to screen National League games.

With Sky out of the picture, RTE has also expanded its GAA coverage. The Donnybrook-based national broadcaster will continue to show 31 Championship games across the island of Ireland on RTÉ television and RTÉ Player, as well as the Joe McDonagh Cup final, both Tailteann Cup semi-finals and final for the next five years.

RTE has increased its coverage of Allianz National League games and has committed to Saturday night coverage of the AIB Club Championships ensuring year-round live GAA coverage across all platforms on RTÉ.

Alongside The Sunday Game, a new second highlights programme will be launched and RTÉ has secured enhanced digital in-game and post-match digital highlight clip rights. In addition “at least” nine live matches per year will be televised.

RTÉ Head of Sport, Declan McBennett said: “With more live games now available than ever before on RTÉ combined with extensive radio, digital and highlights rights, this agreement with the GAA represents an enormous step forward in coverage for our national games.

“Public service broadcasters are at the very heart of the coverage, and this is ultimately for the benefit of the audience.

“We view this as a hugely significant deal and a core part of our ongoing effort to bring live sport direct to our audience.”