RTE next season

[Real ale Madrid]

TV viewing has changed dramatically in the last 5 years. More and more TV is watched through DVR and other playback platforms.


Different argument than the downgrading of existing coverage I think and I agree. - I think a LoI you tube channel with highlights / analysis up on the Saturday afternoon / evening would be much more worthwhile than the token gesture of a graveyard shift programme with a half arséd marketing effort ( Republic ) which goes out 3 days after the event. Just my two cents - as you say for the majority of us here - all we want to do is see the highlights / goals, doesn't matter really where.

[legendz]

Did Rte crack down on local radio length of updates on LoI games and some live coverage from Shamrock Rovers games?

[Sheridan]

Don't get the RTÉ apologetics. Seems to be the worst of both worlds; highlights shunted into a graveyard slot and LOI content watered down. In other words, after five years on the national broadcaster, we're getting a sub-eircom League Weekly product, designed to appeal to a casual, non-LOI fan who has no incentive to tune in at that hour anyway.

I think people fundamentally misunderstand the nature of broadcast media in Ireland; the popularity of Gaelic Games, rugby (which was kept alive by the Cogley clique until the Heineken Cup came along) and the Premier League is due, to a massive extent, to the relentless promotion of those competitions by RTÉ. Not t'toher way round.

[legendz]

The rugby coverage isn't great, against the head is only on during 6 nations. GAA fans are critical of how poor League Sunday is.

[Jofspring]

The hardcore rugby fans that follow AIL would say they get little to no coverage at all and in fairness their crowds aren't much worse than the LOI. I big local derby in limerick can easily pull between 3,000-4,000.

[dundalkfc10]

The rugby coverage isn't great, against the head is only on during 6 nations. GAA fans are critical of how poor League Sunday is.

The highlights RTE show of the GAA on League Sunday, is the 2 games that TG4 show on a Sun afternoon and the 1 or 2 games Setanta show on a Sat night, They dont even bother sending their own cameras to any games

[Sheridan]

The hardcore rugby fans that follow AIL would say they get little to no coverage at all and in fairness their crowds aren't much worse than the LOI. I big local derby in limerick can easily pull between 3,000-4,000.
What does that have to do with anything, though? The top level of domestic rugby is pushed fanatically across all platforms.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Yeah, every sport covered on RTE gets its complaints. I don't think there's a single panel I like for example.

I always watch the show on the Player, usually the day after, so this time swap means very little to me. And, as has been pointed out, the show is no position to be angling for a primetime slot. The numbers aren't there, and RTE won't take the financial risk of large scale promotion to try and make them exist for, what is, a niche product in this country.

[NeverFeltBetter]

What does that have to do with anything, though? The top level of domestic rugby is pushed fanatically across all platforms.

Because the audience is there in a way it isn't for LOI or AIL.

[Sheridan]

Because the audience is there in a way it isn't for LOI or AIL.
Support doesn't exist in a vacuum. It's there because it's fostered and promoted.

[Jofspring]

What does that have to do with anything, though? The top level of domestic rugby is pushed fanatically across all platforms.

The top level did a lot to help themselves in the first place though in fairness. All the LOI has done is disappoint year after year. I honestly think the coverage we get when you think of viewership and crowds actually going to games is about all we deserve until we get the crowds and interest up ourselves.

[Neish]

The hardcore rugby fans that follow AIL would say they get little to no coverage at all and in fairness their crowds aren't much worse than the LOI. I big local derby in limerick can easily pull between 3,000-4,000.

Yeah one or two games, from what I have seen the rest would be lucky to have a few hundred at them regardless of form(granted I only been to 2 or 3 live domestic rugby game and I take the figures from what I have seen on tv)

Agree with you, that the FAI & individual clubs need to promote themselves more

[Macy]

Not getting the points about watered down coverage really - MNS went out of their way to cover anything but the league anyway, so the only further dilution is whatever they do on the champions league. It'll be rubbish as long as the same focus is on talk rather than bloody football highlights.

Time doesn't really bother me - 7-8 is busy with the children's bedtime, so I always watched MNS on the rte player anyway.

[legendz]

Clubs should be allowed put highlights on their websites if they wish and even stream live commentary.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Is there a national league in the world that does that (while also having an agreement with a tv channel?)

[Charlie Darwin]

Is there a national league in the world that does that (while also having an agreement with a tv channel?)
The SPL does it

[NeverFeltBetter]

Fair enough. I'd love to see such a model work here, but are RTE within their rights to block it?

[Charlie Darwin]

If their contract with the FAI empowers them to, yeah. I'm not sure exactly what grounds RTE stopped LOI fan groups from broadcasting games but it seems they had the power to do it.

[Macy]

That was part of a bigger agreement though. Its clearly a weaker outcome in terms of content and timing, so should the fai be conceding exclusivity? Probably not, but they probably did!

[legendz]

If their contract with the FAI empowers them to, yeah. I'm not sure exactly what grounds RTE stopped LOI fan groups from broadcasting games but it seems they had the power to do it.
Seems unfair for the limited coverage they provide. I know clubs across the water stream live commentary and show highlights of their games on the following days. If Rte are doing a poor job of promoting the league, clubs should lobby at least against restrictions on them promoting their games through highlights and live commentary if they wish.

[Charlie Darwin]

Seems unfair for the limited coverage they provide. I know clubs across the water stream live commentary and show highlights of their games on the following days. If Rte are doing a poor job of promoting the league, clubs should lobby at least against restrictions on them promoting their games through highlights and live commentary if they wish.
Yeah but I think the clubs are grateful for the limited coverage they get. Taking control themselves is probably a task the clubs aren't willing to take on.

[legendz]

Yeah but I think the clubs are grateful for the limited coverage they get. Taking control themselves is probably a task the clubs aren't willing to take on.
I agree with Macy first of all that the FAI should not be conceding exclusivity. The deal does not seem good enough.

Some clubs are, some clubs are not. I think it's Shelbourne who used to show decent highlights of their games? I've listened to Shamrock Rovers live commentary on some games. I think that was blocked? I think the option should be open to club's or it's supporters if they wish to take it on.

[Charlie Darwin]

I don't think they have ceded exclusivity, given there are games on Setanta, but perhaps Setanta buys the rights from RTE. I don't know.

[legendz]

I don't think they have ceded exclusivity, given there are games on Setanta, but perhaps Setanta buys the rights from RTE. I don't know.If they haven't ceded exclusivity, why were some groups stopped broadcasting games?

If their contract with the FAI empowers them to, yeah. I'm not sure exactly what grounds RTE stopped LOI fan groups from broadcasting games but it seems they had the power to do it.What I'm getting at is groups should be able to broadcast games if they've permission from their clubs. Also Shels TV type match highlights, which I think used to be shown a few years back, should not be blocked.

[Charlie Darwin]

The agreement with RTE might be for first refusal and that any game the FAI sells is on the same terms as RTE are bound by. I'm purely speculating because I don't know the details of the contract, but hypothetically RTE could argue that it's either implicit or explicit in their contract that anybody showing games should have to pay x amount and a fan group showing games for free is unfair. I'm sure they're also going to argue that Rovers or Shels supporters showing games or putting up highlights reels is going to detract from the audience for MNS. God knows, really.

[TheBoss]

I am not sure what deal is between RTE and FAI, but from this press release in 2007, the current deal is up sometime this year.
Link (http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2007/1221/292389-rtesportfaicontract/)

Their Sky Sports contract also ends in this year.
Link (http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/soccer/fai-renews-contract-with-sky-sports-461749.html)

So, why not include a LOI rights package along with the Ireland internationals, possibly with Sky Sports. Like, they have to show LOI games if they want Ireland matches, I don't see an issue in doing this, cause Sky Sports are likely to renew the deal due to high number of Irish subscribers they have in Ireland and the high numbers of Irish living in the UK, plus if Irish people see that games are on Sky Sports, they might take the league more seriously as Sky Sports are covering them.

[Charlie Darwin]

I am not sure what deal is between RTE and FAI, but from this press release in 2007, the current deal is up sometime this year.
Link (http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2007/1221/292389-rtesportfaicontract/)

Their Sky Sports contract also ends in this year.
Link (http://www.breakingnews.ie/sport/soccer/fai-renews-contract-with-sky-sports-461749.html)

So, why not include a LOI rights package along with the Ireland internationals, possibly with Sky Sports. Like, they have to show LOI games if they want Ireland matches, I don't see an issue in doing this, cause Sky Sports are likely to renew the deal due to high number of Irish subscribers they have in Ireland and the high numbers of Irish living in the UK, plus if Irish people see that games are on Sky Sports, they might take the league more seriously as Sky Sports are covering them.
The deal was until the end of the 2013 season as far as I know. I believe the FAI were courting Sky back in the day, but the ruling that Ireland games have to be covered on terrestrial TV scuppered a lot of that. Like RTE, Sky's main interest in the LOI was as a package along with international games. Even if Sky did get LOI coverage, it wouldn't be at favourable times for viewers or fans. The 3pm Saturday slot will be taken up by Pro 12 rugby next year.

[legendz]

Ireland's qualifiers are now part of a UEFA centralised tv rights package. FAI stand to make more from that deal.

[Raheen]

Is there a national league in the world that does that (while also having an agreement with a tv channel?)

Aye, in France. Orange.fr stream all Ligue 1 games while both Bein Sport and Canal Plus show them live. Bizarrely, at times all three show the same game concurrently.

[Dodge]

Ireland's qualifiers are now part of a UEFA centralised tv rights package. FAI stand to make more from that deal.

Yep, and as a result the FAI can't include LOI football in any negotiations for competitive games.

People are off their rocker if they think Sky sports will send 6 camera crews to LOI grounds each week just so they can show ROI friendlies

[Macy]

With the extra money, the FAI should produce the programme to sell on. TV3 in particular will have loads of reasonable timeslots to fill given how much content they've lost to UTV Ireland (they've lost practically their whole weekend schedule!).

[gufcfan]

Unlikely but would be nice if UTV Ireland took an interest in the LOI when they launch their new channel.

[adamd164]

FFS the headline on RTE 6.1 News today was that the LOI has launched a hotline for players to report match fixing concerns.

(A) This has been known for weeks (months?) and is hardly headline material on the day the league is launched, and (B) the clear implication conveyed by their headline was that it's a big problem in the league... it's been stated ad nauseum that this measure is there as a precaution and cases of fixing have been isolated.

[gormacha]

FFS the headline on RTE 6.1 News today was that the LOI has launched a hotline for players to report match fixing concerns.

Stunning in its cynicism.

[NeverFeltBetter]

Saw it myself. Disgusted by the kind of slant.

[legendz]

With the extra money, the FAI should produce the programme to sell on. TV3 in particular will have loads of reasonable timeslots to fill given how much content they've lost to UTV Ireland (they've lost practically their whole weekend schedule!).

If they would just make some effort to promote the league e.g. players who've played in the league and gone on to play for the international side, it'd be something.

[CuanaD]

Soccer Republic starts tonight at 11.05

http://www.rte.ie/sport/soccer/irish-soccer-league/2014/0305/600356-mcgrath-confirmed-for-soccer-republic/

Sounds like it's still MNS with a new time slot

[legendz]

If MNS was on right now I wouldn't be watching it. I will be watching soccer republic later on.

[adamd164]

Pleasantly surprised by this so far. They at least made an attempt at some sort of analysis of the first game.

[Charlie Darwin]

Pleasantly surprised by this so far. They at least made an attempt at some sort of analysis of the first game.
After inexplicably asking Paul McGrath about the national team in between the highlights and analysis.

[Yossarian]

Introducing our new striker, Joseph Hoban!

[adamd164]

Feck sake I take it back. Everything since the last game was shown has been poor... The champions league highlights were totally out of place and now I'm watching some bloke I've never heard of talking about how much he loves Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

[ger121]

Ok first show. Bit more of the Sky Sports treatment with the analysis which is better to see. Highlights of the games where very short, though I can see this being extended in the many weeks without CL and International football to cover. Felt sorry for McGrath, it's clear he's not comfortable in front of the camera. Overall a decent start. Will be interesting to see how the show evolves over the course of the season.

[nigel-harps1954]

I thought it was desperate tbh.

[legendz]

Well they got rid of the music over the highlights. More time should have been given to the games. For the first show, I watched it all but in future I'll just watch the games only and watch the rest back the following day.

[Straightstory]

This morning I see on the RTE Player (which isn't working for me - anyone else with this problem?), it's the third most popular programme. Interesting.

[bennocelt]

Anyone know how i can get to see it here in mainland europe, a torrent, link or how to use a proxy, cheers?!

[Charlie Darwin]

Anyone know how i can get to see it here in mainland europe, a torrent, link or how to use a proxy, cheers?!
Follow the instructions in this video, except reversing Ireland and UK. I prefer to use hidemyass.com for proxies.

[bennocelt]

what video?
Hidemyass didn't work unfortunately.

[Briuk]

Hydemyass doesn't work :(

Any other solution?