The GAA has announced its new broadcast deal for the next five years (2023 to 2027) and from a championship perspective, in truth, its slightly underwhelming.
Yes, there will be more games shown on GAA GO – how many more, it remains unclear – but what is clear is that, on the back of the conclusion of Sky Sports’ broadcast deal with the association, there will be less championship games shown live on tv.
And whatever way you want to dress that way up, whether you disliked Sky or loved it, there’s no denying the fact that it would be wrong to call that development a good thing.
This much we know because while RTE broadcasted 31 live championship games in 2022, the disappointing thing is that there is no increase in that number over the forthcoming 5 year period.
And that’s why Sky will be such a loss.
Three of them are no brainers…https://t.co/9gfEvDbEIz
— GAA JOE (@GAA__JOE) October 25, 2022
Sky Sports broadcasted 20 championship games in 2022, 14 of them exclusively but they won’t be there to do the same from now on.
BBC’s championship allocation remains there, but, exclusively, this only extends to Ulster championship games, which, for the most part, they had anyway.
So therefore, there’s going to be a few games, the likes of Kilkenny vs Wexford in the Leinster championship last year, for example, that will be lost in the re-shuffle.
That was a tremendous game of hurling but it’s also memorable for Anthony Nash’s post-match interview with Brian Cody, and JJ Delaney’s half-time analysis.
You will see the likes of that game on GAA GO, and this is no slight on them, but at half-time you’ll be looking at a pitch and you’ll be listening to the music you hear when you’re waiting on someone like eir or Bord Gais to answer the phone about your billing queries.
And that’s hardly ideal. You actually have to pay for it too. Some people think it was Sky Sports that charged money in the GAA. On top of everything else, 2023 is a year when the football championship will have more games than ever, with the tiered system bringing more group games into the equation. Many of these will be caught in the cross-fire.
On a positive note, the midweek highlight show that the GAA has long been crying out for is on its way, while TG4 will have access to more league games, which can only be considered a good thing. BBC will also have access to the All-Ireland semi-finals and finals, which is a great development for those in the north.
But championship is what we really and live and die-by, and on this offering, it’s hard not to feel slightly short-changed.
Read the full, official broadcast statement here.
