Setanta Announces Live Games

[BohsPartisan]

And Bohs need the money.

We do, but the TV money isn't great and with the adverse effect it has on our gates (Usually not great but you can definitely notice a fall off for TV games) I'd prefer if they spread themselves around a bit too.

[pineapple stu]

That was a joke. There really wasn't a need to answer it seriously!

[longfordjames]

IMHO D1 MUST be shown

[pól-dcfc]

IMHO D1 MUST be shown

Why??

[CharlesThompson]

Setanta wouldn't know one club from the other. I believe we again see the slight hand here from the FAI. 10 games shown, Bohs shown 6 times, and 7 of the 10 games are from Dublin, yet only 3 of the clubs are from Dublin. That is shocking. So much for spreading the game.

That's it. Ridden rock solid.

[peadar1987]

If 3 teams are from Dublin, that means 55% of the games will involve at least one Dublin team. If Bray are counted as a Dublin team (which they aren't!) then 69% of the games will involve one of them. Having 70% of the games involving a Dublin team is a slight bias, but not as big a bias as you would actually think.

[placid casual]

Inside Dublin
Bohs- champions
Rovers- have a nice new ground, and the ground is full most weeks.
Pats- they are funny to watch. like J Terry-falling-on-his-hole-taking-a-peno-funny

Outside Dublin
Sligo- $hithole
Derry- diiferent country
Bray- have a seagull for a mascot
drogs-not fit for televison viewing
dundalk- people from dundalk
cork- speak a foreign language
galway - speak a local dialect.

its fairly simple really.
Give.The.People.What.They.Want

[pól-dcfc]

Derry- diiferent country

Once again, yawn.

[dcfcsteve]

Games should be judged on quality of the players on show, how well the teams involved are doing and how significant it is. Setanta, as a private broadcaster, won't be showing anything bottom of the table clashes... why would they?! No one wants to watch it. All their games will involve at least one team up near the top.

Agreed. Instead we have games chosen on the basis of them being in Dublin, plain and simple.

Exhibit A : The 'biggest' fixture this weekend is City v Bohs. I'm not saying that as I'm a City fan - it would be difficult to credibly claim any other game is as big as that this weekend. But what do Setanta show ? Pats v Rovers.

Exhibit B : 23rd May, Setanta plan to show Bohs v Drogs. The team at the top versus at team so firmly rooted to the bottom they haven't even wonm a game yet, and may as well give up the ghost right now. Other games on that weekend include the Connacht derby (Sligo v Galway) City v Rovers. The Bohs game is the only one out of 5 that is being played in Dublin. Hmmm - are the two things connected, by any chance.

Let's face it - whether due to costs or laziness, Setanta appear extremely unwilling to show any games outside of Dublin. I don't buy this 'biggest population' bullsh!t, as clubs outsside the capital regularly register the biggest attendances at LOI games (e.g. City and Cork). I've no doubt the average number of fans of non-Dub PD clubs exceeds that of the Dub PD clubs. So that's a bullsh!t arguement.

If Setanta rarely intend to leave the Pale they should at least say so so that people like me can cancel our subs.

[Candystripe]

It should always be the the biggest game of the week that is shown.

I'm almost glad though that City V Bohs isn't on live as we will get a bigger attendance (it will rightly p1ss of Steve) but for the league's sake and attractivness to the viewer our game should be the live game.

The biggest derby in LOI, Derry V Harps has only been shown live once (I think) while Dublin derbies are on every other week live.

Still, when TG4 games start they usually come outside the Pale more than average.

I would prefer our away games to be shown live as I always be at the home games.

[Rovers1]

Inside Dublin
Bohs- champions
Rovers- have a nice new ground, and the ground is full most weeks.
Pats- they are funny to watch. like J Terry-falling-on-his-hole-taking-a-peno-funny

Outside Dublin
Sligo- $hithole
Derry- diiferent country
Bray- have a seagull for a mascot
drogs-not fit for televison viewing
dundalk- people from dundalk
cork- speak a foreign language
galway - speak a local dialect.

its fairly simple really.

Give.The.People.What.They.Want

:o......

[adamd164]

Exhibit A : The 'biggest' fixture this weekend is City v Bohs. I'm not saying that as I'm a City fan - it would be difficult to credibly claim any other game is as big as that this weekend. But what do Setanta show ? Pats v Rovers.
Just a slight correction, they're showing Pats vs us.

I'd imagine they'll get a decent audience in Cork for it, and it's probably their second biggest catchment area after Dublin for LOI games.

[Réiteoir]

Laughing quietly at the fact someone here thinks that Derry City vs. Finn Harps is the biggest derby in the whole League.

A derby in which Harps have won something like 1 out of the last 49 meetings in.

Every sane person knows that the biggest derby game in this country is Bohs vs. Rovers - always has been (since the demise of Bertie's Boys in Drumcondra) - always will be.

[SMorgan]

Setanta are giving the league good coverage.

Here's a review of Dundalk's match against Shamrock Rovers on Friday in Oriel!!!

http://www.setanta.com/uk/Articles/Football/2009/05/07/LOI-Ger-Rowe-quotes/gnid-51842/

[Flexy]

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/04/29/LOI-Setanta-unveil-another-live-game/gnid-50753

Bohs v Drogs on 22nd May on Setanta

12 league games in total on setanta + EA cup final

God almighty BOHS AGAIN, and playing the team bottom of the league as well, THE BEST game that weekend is Shamrock Rovers Derry but they wouldnt take their cameras north, Setanta r a joke the leagues a joke the refs are a joke ( again another Ref doing the Derry Bohs game tomorrow night ) This wouldnt happen in any other league can you imagine a ref from manchester doing the Mancs v Liverpool u bloody wouldnt so why in our league

[pól-dcfc]

Laughing quietly at the fact someone here thinks that Derry City vs. Finn Harps is the biggest derby in the whole League.

A derby in which Harps have won something like 1 out of the last 49 meetings in.

Every sane person knows that the biggest derby game in this country is Bohs vs. Rovers - always has been (since the demise of Bertie's Boys in Drumcondra) - always will be.

I agree. Derry v Harps probably has a bigger attendance though.

[Gaillimh Al]

Can you imagine a ref from manchester doing the Mancs v Liverpool u bloody wouldnt so why in our league

Mark Gough, I think, is the only Limerick ref. He has only done two games in the First Division and both of them have been Limerick home games. Not that its done them any good as they drew 0-0 and lost 2-0.

[Ezeikial]

Every sane person knows that the biggest derby game in this country is Bohs vs. Rovers - always has been (since the demise of Bertie's Boys in Drumcondra) - always will be.

I can't help but wonder if you are being a little bombastic here - every sane person knows that Bohs are in deep financial mire. While I don't wish it upon Bohs, Padraig Smiths interview in todays Indo raises the interesting possibility of Bohs playing against Mervue, Monaghan and Kildare next season.

[Derry]

Mark Gough, I think, is the only Limerick ref. He has only done two games in the First Division and both of them have been Limerick home games. Not that its done them any good as they drew 0-0 and lost 2-0.

It's not to long ago that Bohs supporters were complaining that a ref from Derry's neighbouring county Donegal should not be allowed to ref a Bohs Derry game, even though the said ref was living in Meath. But their complaining worked as he didn't get to ref the game. By the way did you watch last years cup final.

[dcfcsteve]

Just a slight correction, they're showing Pats vs us.

I'd imagine they'll get a decent audience in Cork for it, and it's probably their second biggest catchment area after Dublin for LOI games.

Still not the biggest game of the weekend though, which is the point. And it's a game in Dublin instead, which is also the point.....

[adamd164]

I would agree totally - the biggest game of the weekend is Derry vs Bohs.

However, if they showed that, they'd be showing Bohs 3 times in a row. Perhaps they should have shown us at home to Sligo last week instead of Bohs/Dundalk but again, as a private broadcaster, they'll do whatever's most financially viable for themselves.

[dcfcsteve]

I would agree totally - the biggest game of the weekend is Derry vs Bohs.

However, if they showed that, they'd be showing Bohs 3 times in a row. Perhaps they should have shown us at home to Sligo last week instead of Bohs/Dundalk but again, as a private broadcaster, they'll do whatever's most financially viable for themselves.

They only show Bohs so often because, again, they're Dublin based. If they showed the biggest game every week, then Bohs obviously wouldn't be on do often.

Given the fact that Setanta will be lucky to see the calendar year through without going 'pop', they'll do the short-sighted thing of whatever costs the least, rather than what is most finnacially viable. There is a big difference between the two approaches (mostly in terms of timescale of return versus outlay).

[Dunny]

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/05/12/LOI-Setanta-announce-live-games/gnid-52551/

Setanta Sports has confirmed that it will broadcast live coverage of the game between St. Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians on June 5th.
The meeting of St. Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians will be the fifth Premier Division match to be broadcast live on Setanta Ireland this season.
Setanta Sports will screen a total of twelve live League of Ireland fixtures, as well as the EA Sports Cup Final.

[gufc2000]

http://www.setanta.com//uk/Articles/Football/2009/05/12/LOI-Setanta-announce-live-games/gnid-52551/

Setanta Sports has confirmed that it will broadcast live coverage of the game between St. Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians on June 5th.
The meeting of St. Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians will be the fifth Premier Division match to be broadcast live on Setanta Ireland this season.
Setanta Sports will screen a total of twelve live League of Ireland fixtures, as well as the EA Sports Cup Final.
You mean Bohemians TV will show Pats-Bohs. Its an absolute joke that Bohs are broadcast almost every week

[L.T.F.C.]

FAI should have pushed for games to be more spread out. On anyones planet, Bohs to be shown 4/5 games between may1 and june5. give me a break.
Every club needs the money, why are Bohs so special?

[Mr A]

FAI should have pushed for games to be more spread out. On anyones planet, Bohs to be shown 4/5 games between may1 and june5. give me a break.
Every club needs the money, why are Bohs so special?

Because they really, really need the money.

[Dunny]

How much do they get though?

[Dodge]

FAI should have pushed for games to be more spread out. On anyones planet, Bohs to be shown 4/5 games between may1 and june5. give me a break.
Every club needs the money, why are Bohs so special?

Setanta aren't a charity. They show whatever gets them the most viewers, most subscribers, and most advertisers

How do people not understand this?

[DmanDmythDledge]

Setanta aren't a charity. They show whatever gets them the most viewers, most subscribers, and most advertisers

How do people not understand this?
Also how many people outside of Dublin have Setanta? I think it's only available to people who have digital.

[Sheridan]

They show what incurs the least expense, no team in Ireland has any particular pull with advertisers (or subscribers for that matter.)

[Dodge]

Also how many people outside of Dublin have Setanta? I think it's only available to people who have digital.

No its carried by Sky and the UPC companies

[mypost]

The biggest derby in LOI, Derry V Harps :eek: has only been shown live once (I think).

The biggest what? :confused::D

[dcfcsteve]

Setanta aren't a charity. They show whatever gets them the most viewers, most subscribers, and most advertisers

How do people not understand this?

For the simple fact that you're wrong, as it it really isn't that scientific.

Firstly - Setanta simply don't know what their subscribers' motivations are.
I'm currently a Setanta subscriber. Do the company know why I subscribed ? Is it because I want to watch Derry City ? Is it because I like English Football ? Or maybe it's because I like neither and prefer the X Games and UFC ? Not once in the 4 years I've been with Setanta have they ever sought to understand my motivation for subscribing. So how the hell will they know what combination of EL games would get them the most viewers from a subscriber base who's motivations and interests they just don't understand ? :confused:

Secondly - doubtless you'll reply by suggesting they work on assumption, Dublin has the biggest population, and they will then assume that at least some of their Dublin subscribers are there to watch the LOI etc etc. But as we see from the attendance figures on here (imperfect though they are) there are more hardcore LOI fans for all teams outside Dublin than there are for all teams inside. So why would showing endless Dublin teams be good for their viewing ratings ?

Thirdly - the way to maximise subscribers from LOI supporters is to show a broad spread of teams. Why would a Drigheda fan subscribe this season, for example, when it looks like they'll be lucky to be shown more than two or three times max ?

Finally - Setanta also don't have accurate viewing figures for their various programmes either (I'll explain the science behind ratings calculations if you really want me to, but I'd rather not make this post any longer). Their advertising rates are therefore based primarily on broad assumptions. So - beyond obvious expected disparities in the viewer appeal of programmes (e.g. an Old Firm game versus an LOI game) they derive limited benefit from maximising viewings for any single LOI game, as it doesn't have much limited impact upon the advertising revenue from slots during that programme.

In summary, Setanta just don't have the complexity, consumer data or motivation to fulfill the criteria that you're suggesting drives their choice of game. The bottom-line is that as a live sports channel they need content, and they can get cheap content by showing LOI games that are based in Dublin. Which is exactly what they do. It's all about production costs, laziness, and the need for content - particularly in the dead Summer period.

[srfc1928]

For the simple fact that you're wrong, as it it really isn't that scientific.

Firstly - Setanta simply don't know what their subscribers' motivations are.
I'm currently a Setanta subscriber. Do the company know why I subscribed ? Is it because I want to watch Derry City ? Is it because I like English Football ? Or maybe it's because I like neither and prefer the X Games and UFC ?
I agree with 99% of your post Steve.
But i subscribed to Setanta a couple of months ago.
Part of the registration is a series of questions,
the first part of mine went a little like this

Q - What sport do you like ? A - Football
Q - What team do you support ? A -Sligo Rovers
Q - Eh what team do you support ? A - eh Sligo Rovers
Q - What priemer ship team do you support ? A - I dont
Obviously Sligo Rovers wasnt in the multiple choice box for that particular queston !

[brianw82]

I agree with 99% of your post Steve.
But i subscribed to Setanta a couple of months ago.
Part of the registration is a series of questions,
the first part of mine went a little like this

Q - What sport do you like ? A - Football
Q - What team do you support ? A -Sligo Rovers
Q - Eh what team do you support ? A - eh Sligo Rovers
Q - What priemer ship team do you support ? A - I dont
Obviously Sligo Rovers wasnt in the multiple choice box for that particular queston !

Do they really only have a drop down box with only EPL teams?

[srfc1928]

Sorry,i forgot to say i registered by phone.
but when I said Sligo Rovers, yer wan on the other end went 'eh' as if to say ' yeah but who do you really support '
AFAIK when you register on line, the drop down menu does only contain EPL teams plus Celtic & Rangers, but im open to correction on that

[L.T.F.C.]

look its easy to say this but its partially the FAI's fault. they have an input into what games are shown and they let this farce happen.

[Longfordian]

I know someone who's worked for Setanta both directly and indirectly, they're real cheapskates by all accounts so I'd imagine it's how little they can get away with spending.

[ciaraa]

Laughing quietly at the fact someone here thinks that Derry City vs. Finn Harps is the biggest derby in the whole League.

A derby in which Harps have won something like 1 out of the last 49 meetings in.

Every sane person knows that the biggest derby game in this country is Bohs vs. Rovers - always has been (since the demise of Bertie's Boys in Drumcondra) - always will be.

Most hyped up derby probably. For 2 supposedly big teams playing their biggest 'enemys' the attendances are pretty poor to say the least and the fare on offer is generally worse. Plus the ubiquitous gangs of skobies roaming the streets make it a pretty unpleasant experience for any neutrals. Harps Derry matches seem far bigger occasions - probably because they dont play each other as much aswell though too.

[L.T.F.C.]

Most hyped up derby probably. For 2 supposedly big teams playing their biggest 'enemys' the attendances are pretty poor to say the least and the fare on offer is generally worse. Plus the ubiquitous gangs of skobies roaming the streets make it a pretty unpleasant experience for any neutrals. Harps Derry matches seem far bigger occasions - probably because they dont play each other as much aswell though too.
and it isn't dominated by scum on the streets.

[Dalymountrower]

Most hyped up derby probably. For 2 supposedly big teams playing their biggest 'enemys' the attendances are pretty poor to say the least and the fare on offer is generally worse. Plus the ubiquitous gangs of skobies roaming the streets make it a pretty unpleasant experience for any neutrals. Harps Derry matches seem far bigger occasions - probably because they dont play each other as much aswell though too.




I agree that The Dublin Derby wouldn`t appeal to sensitive neutrals.
The atmosphere is intense at best and poisonous at worse. I`ve seen crowds from 10,000 to a low of 2,500 at the fixture in the last 25 years and the atmosphere is no less electrifying for that. The hangers on outside the grounds certainly impacts negatively on the crowd numbers though.

As for the general standard of the games, Ciaraa you can`t have seen many? The stand out quality games in my memory in the LOI have mostly centred on the fixture

- Ashleigh Grimes scoring from 35 yards in Milltown in a cup replay in the 70`s
- Ex Hoop Donal Murphy scoring the winner in `83 3-2
- The battles with the four in row team, Noel Larkin, Campbell or Buckley usually breaking our hearts
- Nutsy scoring the last goal of a 3-1 win in the RDS in the 90`s
- two cup replays in `96(?) Tony Cousins scoring the winner against the team he was later to "manage"
- Santry 4-6 ......enough said
- A Hoops first Division side putting us out of the cup and Farrelly out of a job (obviously not a highlight but was a cracking game, penalty saved etc)
- Brennan and Rossiter screamers last year for a narrow 2-1 win
- The Jason Byrne show before 4,500 in the most recent fixture.

[Black and White]

Surprise surprise, Bohs are on TV yet again!

[CMcC]

Whats wrong with Bohs being on again.

They are the reigning champions who ran away with the title last year. Current Cup holders and current (joint) leaders of the Premier Division.

The floating viewer knows this and would be more likely to look in on a match involving them at the moment.

No doubt if they had a melt down - fell down the table and off the back pages a bit they would be shown less.

It helps that they are based in Dublin too - less costs associated with production etc.

Also Dublin has the biggest population. I know it was posted above that clubs in Dublin tend to have lower attendances than those outside but its not the match goers that Setanta are relying on. Its the casual (pardon the expression) TV based footie fan (by population - mainly based in Dublin) who Setanta are hoping will pop in and out of any LoI game they show. Better chance of that happening if its the 'perceived' best team in the country playing and better chance again if that happens to be a Dublin team.

I would assume in most countries the League leaders and/or most recently sucessful sides get more TV matches. I assume Man U get a lot more games on TV than say Portsmouth.

Bottom line for me is that its Bohs right now but if any other team becomes the latest 'hot thing' it will be them shown more.

[pól-dcfc]

Bottom line for me is that its Bohs right now but if any other team becomes the latest 'hot thing' it will be them shown more.

I'd be willing to be any money that if the "hot thing" was Derry, Sligo, Galway, Harps or Cork they wouldn't be shown nearly as much.

Setanta are up the left financially. They need to cut down on costs, so will stay within Dublin as much as possible.

[Flexy]

Whats wrong with Bohs being on again.

They are the reigning champions who ran away with the title last year. Current Cup holders and current (joint) leaders of the Premier Division.

The floating viewer knows this and would be more likely to look in on a match involving them at the moment.

No doubt if they had a melt down - fell down the table and off the back pages a bit they would be shown less.

It helps that they are based in Dublin too - less costs associated with production etc.

Also Dublin has the biggest population. I know it was posted above that clubs in Dublin tend to have lower attendances than those outside but its not the match goers that Setanta are relying on. Its the casual (pardon the expression) TV based footie fan (by population - mainly based in Dublin) who Setanta are hoping will pop in and out of any LoI game they show. Better chance of that happening if its the 'perceived' best team in the country playing and better chance again if that happens to be a Dublin team.

I would assume in most countries the League leaders and/or most recently sucessful sides get more TV matches. I assume Man U get a lot more games on TV than say Portsmouth.

Bottom line for me is that its Bohs right now but if any other team becomes the latest 'hot thing' it will be them shown more.
RUBBISH WHY SHOW BOHS V DROGS NEXT WEEKEND top v Bottom when you have Derry v Shamrock rovers as game of the weekend. Bohs get everything at the moment, refs decisions tv money you name it Bohs get it

[CMcC]

RUBBISH WHY SHOW BOHS V DROGS NEXT WEEKEND top v Bottom when you have Derry v Shamrock rovers as game of the weekend. Bohs get everything at the moment, refs decisions tv money you name it Bohs get it

Bit Connoresque in that rant Flexy.

As a general question: Whats the TV money worth anyway (I recently heard €2k)? How does that compare to the fall off in gates when a side are on TV?

And Pol I agree to a large degree that financial matters (ie location) are dictating which games to show. But if Pats, Rovers, Shels etc were the next 'hot thing' I would wager they woudl be shown as much as Bohs currently are. I actually agree with your point re the other clubs your mentioned. Which is why I said Dublin location is one of the driving factors re producton costs. I believe those clubs would get more games - but maybe not as much as Bohs are currently.

[dcfcsteve]

I agree with 99% of your post Steve.
But i subscribed to Setanta a couple of months ago.
Part of the registration is a series of questions,
the first part of mine went a little like this

Q - What sport do you like ? A - Football
Q - What team do you support ? A -Sligo Rovers
Q - Eh what team do you support ? A - eh Sligo Rovers
Q - What priemer ship team do you support ? A - I dont
Obviously Sligo Rovers wasnt in the multiple choice box for that particular queston !

That's interesting to hear SRFC, as I've never once been asked (I was on the phone to them only 2 weeks ago to haggle over the cost of my next year's subscription). Sounds like they've only brought it in since they got the EPL rights, which they didn't have when I first joined.

Interestingly - it proves that they have no idea what interest any subscribers have in the LOI, and therefore no way at all of knowing which combination of games would best appeal to the subscriber base. Without relying on geographical assumptions, which as we all know are far from perfect anyway.

[Derry]

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.

The money set aside for clubs who have been on six or more times will receive an extra €35000, But reading that i'm not too sure the €35000 will be divided between the clubs who are shown six or more, or if the €35000 will be given to each club shown more than six times. Either way it looks like Bohs are going to be the only ones getting the extra €35000. Well done the FAI.

[niallsparky]

Well done the FAI.

Yeah, because the FAI should tell Setanta what games they're allowed to show. Derry fans. :rolleyes:

[dcfcsteve]

Yeah, because the FAI should tell Setanta what games they're allowed to show. Derry fans. :rolleyes:

Err - yes. They should :rolleyes:

The FAI sorts the contract with Setanta, so the FAI can ask for whetever it wants in there.

Bohs fans :rolleyes: You'd probably have sold rights to the same games to two separate organisations.....