Live TV games are a waste of money

**Paddyfield** · 29/03/2009, 9:33 PM

I couldn't help but notice that the live game last Friday between Galway United and Sligo Rovers required about a dozen people and about 6 trucks/vans as well as a lot of equipment. It must have cost tens of thousands to roll the whole thing out including the royalty fee paid to Galway United. I met a Terryland regular on Saturday and another on Sunday who both stayed at home on Friday because it was on TV.

RTE are implementing lots of cutbacks at the moment but are committed to showing live LOI games because of a deal struck with the FAI over exclusivity of broadcasting international games.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Monday Night Soccer TV show and it is important that RTE send a man with camcorder to every single game but surely RTE are feeling the pinch of showing live games?

I'd like to see the ratings for live LOI games. I bet feck all watch them.

FOOTNOTE: I have a major gripe with RTE for spending millions on the English Premiership every year. It is stupid that they can justify that programme every Saturday when there is a British TV station showing the same games later on the same evening.

**Dodge** · 29/03/2009, 9:36 PM

Whats your point? RTE waste far, far more money on a lot of other things

Ask your club if your main sponsor thinks its a waste of time.

**dcfcsteve** · 29/03/2009, 10:41 PM

Seconded - what are you trying to say here ?

Would you rather RTE wasted your license fee on more Australian soap operas or American TV programmes that are on English TV channels the next day anyway ?

Are you arguing for less money to come into the league from the national broadcaster ?

Or are you suggesting, as was very briefly alluded to in your post, that live games actually costs clubs money as fans stay at home ?

**pete** · 29/03/2009, 10:46 PM

Live games would be lucky to top 100k.

The LOI deal is wrapped up in the International deal. i.e. if no LOI games or MNS then the FAI would get more cash from RTE.

I suppose it could be argued would it be better for the LOI clubs to get the cash directly or exposure on RTE.

**Tis-smeee** · 29/03/2009, 11:43 PM

fans just love being a pariah

**Boh_So_Good** · 30/03/2009, 12:18 PM

Originally Posted by Paddyfield

I couldn't help but notice that the live game last Friday between Galway United and Sligo Rovers required about a dozen people and about 6 trucks/vans as well as a lot of equipment. It must have cost tens of thousands to roll the whole thing out including the royalty fee paid to Galway United. I met a Terryland regular on Saturday and another on Sunday who both stayed at home on Friday because it was on TV.

RTE are implementing lots of cutbacks at the moment but are committed to showing live LOI games because of a deal struck with the FAI over exclusivity of broadcasting international games.

Now, don't get me wrong, I love the Monday Night Soccer TV show and it is important that RTE send a man with camcorder to every single game but surely RTE are feeling the pinch of showing live games?

I'd like to see the ratings for live LOI games. I bet feck all watch them.

FOOTNOTE: I have a major gripe with RTE for spending millions on the English Premiership every year. It is stupid that they can justify that programme every Saturday when there is a British TV station showing the same games later on the same evening.

Marty Whealan is a millionaire.

Next question.

**harpstilidie** · 30/03/2009, 2:17 PM

They should continue to show games definitely but I wish they wouldn't have them on at the same time as everyone else is playing. Surely they could switch it to a different time so fans of other teams could watch the games too...thats if other fans wanted to watch the games.

Maybe they could switch the live game to a Monday night and have MNS on straight after or incorporate the two. I know its a bit of an inconvenience for the clubs who are playing but it might work.

**sidcon** · 30/03/2009, 2:39 PM

Well have to say we are really not well compensated for being on TV

Premier Division clubs will also benefit from payments for TV rights. All 10 clubs will get an equal share payment of €20,000, while an additional €35,000 has been set aside for clubs with six or more fixtures selected for live television broadcast, or four or more live television fixtures held on nights other than Friday.

This distribution model of television rights has been introduced at the request of the clubs.

You could say you loose at least 30% of you fan base if your on TV and even more when the weather is bad

**Mr A** · 30/03/2009, 2:47 PM

The benefits of having you club regularly on TV in terms of general awareness of the club and especially current and potential sponsors far outweigh any short term costs.

Premier clubs can now guarantee their main sponsors coverage on a prime time slot on a Monday night, and that's incredibly important.

**Martinho II** · 30/03/2009, 5:14 PM

Originally Posted by harpstilidie

They should continue to show games definitely but I wish they wouldn't have them on at the same time as everyone else is playing. Surely they could switch it to a different time so fans of other teams could watch the games too...thats if other fans wanted to watch the games.

Maybe they could switch the live game to a Monday night and have MNS on straight after or incorporate the two. I know its a bit of an inconvenience for the clubs who are playing but it might work.

i dont think monday night games work at all didnt setanta abandon this idea??

**Big Chief** · 31/03/2009, 11:52 AM

I think televised games are potentially a positive thing as they allow increased exposure of the league and boost sponsorship revenues. I do feel however that with some careful tweaking of the fixture list the "product" shown on TV could be improved considerably. The key to football coming across well on TV is big crowds and atmosphere as, in addition to giving the impression of a vibrant league, it also helps to inspire players and boost performances.

I would have felt that scheduling the fixtures so that a local derby could be shown every weekend would be helpful. I recall last season for example Rovers -v- Bohs was played on the same night as Derry -v- Harps meaning the 5,000+ crowd in the Brandywell and subsequently good atmosphere was not televised live. Likewise Cobh -v- Cork which attracted a crowd of 4,000+ never saw the light of day. These games look much better than the likes of Pats -v- Harps where a sea of plastic seats greets any television viewer and paints a terrible picture of the league.

**mypost** · 31/03/2009, 2:16 PM

Originally Posted by Paddyfield

I'd like to see the ratings for live LOI games. I bet feck all watch them.

We got 100k+ viewers for our home game against Sligo.

Originally Posted by big chief

I would have felt that scheduling the fixtures so that a local derby could be shown every weekend would be helpful.

One of the unfortunate anomalies in the fixture list, is the insistence by the FAI, that all the big derbies must be packed into the first few weeks of the season.

Already, there's been our big derby, Dundalk - Drogheda, Galway-Sligo, while last season Derry-Harps, Cork-Cobh, and one of Pats derbies was on early, while the season before, Cork and Waterford was on first night.

The major problem though is the scheduling of live games. They're all played on the same night that other league games are played. In other countries, live games are shown at a different time to the other games in the weekend. The target audience for the games, are out watching their own games instead. That just leaves those who can't go, and neutrals left to watch them. As long as Friday night live games continue, that problem won't go away.

**pete** · 31/03/2009, 2:40 PM

I think the FAI truned down somelike an extra 5m (any one else got a different number?) in TV rights for the FAI to show live games & MNS so that would work out at 50k per club?