LOI TV Coverage 2024

[Acornvilla]

I see the contractually obligated to show a playoff game bit a lot. Do they actually have to show one, or are they just saying they have to show one because they've paid for it?

[WeAreRovers]

Contractually obliged means contractually obliged, it's not just a phrase thrown about. Similar for Premier Sports who will be contractually obliged to show Rovers games in EL/ECL League stage - in fact they will be host broadcasters.

[kingdomkerry]

If I was a in charge I'd sell LOI as a package with the National Team coverage (at least 1 game per week) And I'd put a high enough price on it so that the clubs get decent tv money in the income statement.

Take it or leave it. Leave it and we use LOI tv exclusively for league and National Team.

[EatYerGreens]

If I was a in charge I'd sell LOI as a package with the National Team coverage (at least 1 game per week) And I'd put a high enough price on it so that the clubs get decent tv money in the income statement.

Take it or leave it. Leave it and we use LOI tv exclusively for league and National Team.

Think that was done previously, and cliubs got little or nothing out of it.

You can only sell what someone will buy.

[holidaysong]

Think that was done previously, and cliubs got little or nothing out of it.

You can only sell what someone will buy.

Yes it was bundled together before but the FAI valued the club portion of the deal as zero to the whole package, so the clubs got nothing.

[kingdomkerry]

But this time they have the leverage of LOI tv in that they can show the games anyway. Wait until there is uproar from the public that a big Ireland game is not on tv because RTE won't pay for the package which is a fraction of champions league etc.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

Irelands games in euros and World Cup qualifiers and finals are protected events that have to be shown on free to air TV. There is talk about nations league being added to that list

[Another Bohemia]

Everyone here is talking like the LOI is suddenly making game changing money via LOITV. Does anyone actually know the breakdown of subscribers and viewership figures? Yes the league is in a better place than when the rights were valued at 0 but it's still a niche market. In my group of friends there's a handful of us that are regular LOI goers and I'm the only one that has a season pass for LOITV. Ironically enough more people I know would watch a parochial football or hurling match on RTE or GAA Go than a league of Ireland game outside of maybe a Bohs v Rovers game. Even then it'd be the lads who wanted to put a few quid on the game.

[sbgawa]

Everyone here is talking like the LOI is suddenly making game changing money via LOITV. Does anyone actually know the breakdown of subscribers and viewership figures? Yes the league is in a better place than when the rights were valued at 0 but it's still a niche market. In my group of friends there's a handful of us that are regular LOI goers and I'm the only one that has a season pass for LOITV. Ironically enough more people I know would watch a parochial football or hurling match on RTE or GAA Go than a league of Ireland game outside of maybe a Bohs v Rovers game. Even then it'd be the lads who wanted to put a few quid on the game.

AFAIL after expenses the payout to the clubs was in the single thousends figure for the bigger ones with more viewers. its nothing really but the service is brillient and my season pass is the best money i spend every year

[Another Bohemia]

AFAIL after expenses the payout to the clubs was in the single thousends figure for the bigger ones with more viewers. its nothing really but the service is brillient and my season pass is the best money i spend every year

Agreed, I love it but it's not a cash cow and kind of shows how niche the LOI actually is. Yes there's an argument to be made that by being on terrestrial TV there will be more of an audience but you'll have a hard time convincing RTE, Virgin media, sky sports or whoever that full control of rights to LOI games is worth anything based on the LOITV numbers.

[nigel-harps1954]

LOITV revenue and numbers would be a hell of a lot higher if it weren't for IPTV. There's thousands of people watching games live on LOITV, but not through the LOITV website.

If LOITV were a bit more accessible, easily added to smart TV or android box, or phones and tablets through an app, I'd wager it would cut down at least a portion of the people using IPTV to watch the games.

[Another Bohemia]

LOITV revenue and numbers would be a hell of a lot higher if it weren't for IPTV. There's thousands of people watching games live on LOITV, but not through the LOITV website.

If LOITV were a bit more accessible, easily added to smart TV or android box, or phones and tablets through an app, I'd wager it would cut down at least a portion of the people using IPTV to watch the games.

I disagree. Netflix, Disney+, prime video etc lose plenty of subscribers to IPTV. They are some of the easiest services to use, come pre installed on many smart TV's are available in all app stores and work well across most devices. People who have IPTV aren't going to buy another subscription for LOI games regardless of how easy it is to use.

[Burnsie]

Both points are true

If every dodgybox were shut down tomorrow, I'd say a very small proportion would take up LOI TV subscriptions.

But there's no doubt that the current service is very user-unfriendly, and needs to be upgrated to a proper app / Smart TV service. Not being able to cast from an Apple device is woetious

[Buckett]

I cast from an Apple phone to a Samsung tv

[EatYerGreens]

Yes it was bundled together before but the FAI valued the club portion of the deal as zero to the whole package, so the clubs got nothing.

Did the FAI value the league part as zero? Or was that realistically a reflection of what the market saw its value as? I suspect it was the latter.

Again - you can't sell what people won't buy.

[Shinkicker]

I cast from an Apple phone to a Samsung tv
Oohhh look at you, an apple phone and a Samsung tv.

[Buckett]

Oohhh look at you, an apple phone and a Samsung tv.
I'm not quite sure how to say this, but, I'm kind of a big deal

[Another Bohemia]

Did the FAI value the league part as zero? Or was that realistically a reflection of what the market saw its value as? I suspect it was the latter.

Again - you can't sell what people won't buy.

At the time I think it was a little of both. Wasn't this during the height of the recession and when Delaney was King or patron saint or whatever he labeled himself as of the FAI. So Delaney certainly didn't care for the league but there was also less money floating around to buy rights to a league with small viewership.

[Kiki Balboa]

The best success LOI had in the media was getting things online.

Having the goals/incidents on Twitter quickly has done far more for the league than RTE has ever done.

LOI needs to use alternative means to promote itself, rather than the traditional methods. Having a free game every week on LOI TV or YouTube is something that can be easily done. Or be more experimental with its promotional material.

LOI, as a league entity, have done great work rebranding, and there is fantastic media out there regarding things like podcasts and vlogs.

The League has grown massively because of these things, and it is more important to keep fostering this, rather than just asking RTE to actually follow their remit.

As an institution, RTE sees itself above anything outside themselves, wholly arrogant, and has insulated themselves into their a world where they see themselves alone set the importance of things in Ireland.

Asking them to change, no matter how justified, is a losing battle.

[D24Saint]

The best success LOI had in the media was getting things online.

Having the goals/incidents on Twitter quickly has done far more for the league than RTE has ever done.

LOI needs to use alternative means to promote itself, rather than the traditional methods. Having a free game every week on LOI TV or YouTube is something that can be easily done. Or be more experimental with its promotional material.

LOI, as a league entity, have done great work rebranding, and there is fantastic media out there regarding things like podcasts and vlogs.

The League has grown massively because of these things, and it is more important to keep fostering this, rather than just asking RTE to actually follow their remit.

As an institution, RTE sees itself above anything outside themselves, wholly arrogant, and has insulated themselves into their a world where they see themselves alone set the importance of things in Ireland.

Asking them to change, no matter how justified, is a losing battle.

The weekly free game on YouTube is definitely worth a trial. They do it in the MLB once a week & im sure other sports do it aswell.

[Acornvilla]

I was only thinking you'd end up spending way more on watching every LOI game in Europe than the TV license fee if you tried to do it legally. On top of paying for the season pass, this football stuff is getting expensive. A few games on TV to save me a tenner here and there would be nice :D

[CamacTerrace202]

Would agree with a lot of that post
A free game is a great idea
The clubs have done some good work on social media.

Virgin Media seem to have more interest than RTE, ( be hard to have less) granted more hours to fill.
Suspect younger people aka “the kids” don’t sit down to watch football games on tv as much as 15-20 years ago, so a focus on the online makes more sense

[legendz]

A central point of marketing a league is the star players. Players with a higher profile nationally. GAA players despite all the coverage are very reluctant to come forward for media interviews.
The Olympic had a high profile off success and relatable interviews.
The league needs to raise the profile of the star players more.

[Another Bohemia]

A central point of marketing a league is the star players. Players with a higher profile nationally. GAA players despite all the coverage are very reluctant to come forward for media interviews.
The Olympic had a high profile off success and relatable interviews.
The league needs to raise the profile of the star players more.

How do you do that when after 1-2 good seasons a star player is gone?

[2 Year Contract]

How do you do that when after 1-2 good seasons a star player is gone?

That’s the case with the younger lads alright but the 24/25 year old and upwards bracket of players are generally here to stay now, particularly the ones that have already been abroad and are now here to settle down I.e. Forrester, Mulraney, Hoban, Duffy, Watts, McEleney, most of Rovers squad etc etc

[TonyD]

I cast from an Apple phone to a Samsung tv

Really ? Must try that. I’ve tried from my IPad to a Sony TV and it doesn’t work. Can get sound but no picture. One of my major gripes with the service (actually, probably my only gripe to be fair.)

[Another Bohemia]

That’s the case with the younger lads alright but the 24/25 year old and upwards bracket of players are generally here to stay now, particularly the ones that have already been abroad and are now here to settle down I.e. Forrester, Mulraney, Hoban, Duffy, Watts, McEleney, most of Rovers squad etc etc

4 of the lads you mentioned there will probably be retired in a season or 2 so same issue there. Good point on Rovers squad though, with all the injuries they get they have plenty of time to do PR. I think you and I have different opinions on what a star player is though, I think of a player who has the potential to change the game any time they touch the ball. Mandriou has the potential but he'll likely be back in the UK at the end of his current deal outside of that it's Mason Melia that I see as the only player currently who has that star potential and again he'll be gone soon enough and is also a bit young to be pushed into the spotlight imo. You can't just stick good, not great players into a camera and call them a star because while your average bar stooler won't know much about football they'll know a star when they see them

[Nesta99]

4 of the lads you mentioned there will probably be retired in a season or 2 so same issue there. Good point on Rovers squad though, with all the injuries they get they have plenty of time to do PR. I think you and I have different opinions on what a star player is though, I think of a player who has the potential to change the game any time they touch the ball. Mandriou has the potential but he'll likely be back in the UK at the end of his current deal outside of that it's Mason Melia that I see as the only player currently who has that star potential and again he'll be gone soon enough and is also a bit young to be pushed into the spotlight imo. You can't just stick good, not great players into a camera and call them a star because while your average bar stooler won't know much about football they'll know a star when they see them

While I tend to agree, ive seen the same type be convinced that an awful match was great entertainmet initially with the Sky Sports treatment and many more now. When you see some of the trends that these influencers can get people thinking are a good idea, the state of international politics and who people think are sound lads, well its probably not impossible to get some people to believe that Alesio Abibi should have been made an Irish citizen and be capped immediately....

Yeah it can backfire trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear, but you are appealing really to a clubs catchment - we are still at the stage of building clubs in their community and not yet trying to turn the nations barstoolers, Bohs have led the way on this and not a superstar in sight. To use a GAA example, Sam Mulroy has been one of the top gaelic players this year, as a Louth player he wont have a national appeal like a Lee Keegan or Con O'Callaghan, but if you are looking to build interest ie attendances for Louth GAA Mulroy is the one that will have that desired local impact from the sports superstars.

[legendz]

The media want to build a story or follow a story. The leading lights of the league should naturally have a higher profile. Difficult for sure for the points mentioned by others.

[Another Bohemia]

While I tend to agree, ive seen the same type be convinced that an awful match was great entertainmet initially with the Sky Sports treatment and many more now. When you see some of the trends that these influencers can get people thinking are a good idea, the state of international politics and who people think are sound lads, well its probably not impossible to get some people to believe that Alesio Abibi should have been made an Irish citizen and be capped immediately....

Yeah it can backfire trying to make a silk purse out of a sows ear, but you are appealing really to a clubs catchment - we are still at the stage of building clubs in their community and not yet trying to turn the nations barstoolers, Bohs have led the way on this and not a superstar in sight. To use a GAA example, Sam Mulroy has been one of the top gaelic players this year, as a Louth player he wont have a national appeal like a Lee Keegan or Con O'Callaghan, but if you are looking to build interest ie attendances for Louth GAA Mulroy is the one that will have that desired local impact from the sports superstars.

Understand your point but with some of the dross that people are convinced is amazing they have already bought into that before they are convinced if that makes sense? So they will be Liverpool or United fans after watching a dull draw then Neville or Carragher will tell them actually it wasn't that bad and because they are already fans they'll agree and let things slide. I'm not passing judgement on them either as I have certainly done the same with Bohs matches/players throughout the year. The problem is the average bar stooler doesn't have that commitment to a LOI club so they see dross and have pundits they don't know telling them actually it's quite a good match they'll just write it off.

Just on Bohs they've grown but they have tried to make it about the club in the community rather than football. I think that's the path forward for clubs and that can be done without matches being shown. Bohs get more column inches for their jerseys, christmas toy drive, Palestinian events, Green initiatives and more I'm probably forgetting than they do for their matches (based on this season that's for the best!). I think trying to make stars out of players who are either not good enough to play outside the league or on the back 9 of their career is folly and would be instantly seen through. The league needs more exposure but as you say we shouldn't try to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Focus on the young up and coming players that have the ability to grow beyond the league, tweet & retweet great goals, goal of the season etc and build up the clubs histories in the league & community work rather than players.

[legendz]

Kerry playing Longford away on Saturday. VM2 showed Shels v Bohs tonight. A rare opportunity to watch a Premier Division game live!

[Shinkicker]

Kerry playing Longford away on Saturday. VM2 showed Shels v Bohs tonight. A rare opportunity to watch a Premier Division game live!
A great game to promote the league. Bohs fighting relegation and Shels pushing for the league. 1-1 draw and either side could have won it

[legendz]

League of Ireland supporters are really disregarded. The FAI and the clubs are allowing it to happen. The star game of the weekend has got to be at a time where supporters of all other clubs can watch it. That should be the central point of promoting the league. Even if there is a financial hit with a Thursday, Saturday or Sunday, where is a financial hit a financial investment?

[Nesta99]

Understand your point but with some of the dross that people are convinced is amazing they have already bought into that before they are convinced if that makes sense? So they will be Liverpool or United fans after watching a dull draw then Neville or Carragher will tell them actually it wasn't that bad and because they are already fans they'll agree and let things slide. I'm not passing judgement on them either as I have certainly done the same with Bohs matches/players throughout the year. The problem is the average bar stooler doesn't have that commitment to a LOI club so they see dross and have pundits they don't know telling them actually it's quite a good match they'll just write it off.

Just on Bohs they've grown but they have tried to make it about the club in the community rather than football. I think that's the path forward for clubs and that can be done without matches being shown. Bohs get more column inches for their jerseys, christmas toy drive, Palestinian events, Green initiatives and more I'm probably forgetting than they do for their matches (based on this season that's for the best!). I think trying to make stars out of players who are either not good enough to play outside the league or on the back 9 of their career is folly and would be instantly seen through. The league needs more exposure but as you say we shouldn't try to make a silk purse out of a sows ear. Focus on the young up and coming players that have the ability to grow beyond the league, tweet & retweet great goals, goal of the season etc and build up the clubs histories in the league & community work rather than players.

It definitely makes sense to embed in the comminnity, become a key part of the locality or town beyond football, however that might be - use of facilities, public service efforts, summer schools etc. and then you hope the connection with the club grows interest in the football side too. I dont necessarily agree on all of what Bohs have done on some things but nobody can deny the positive impact the club has had in the community and community on the club. The Bohs initiatives should be taken and made bespoke by other clubs. I think a football club should be mainly about being a football club and the players are part of club promotion and community work. If they are coaching in schools locals get to know them and want to see them play and the players become the focus of local media attention.

[nr637]

RTE / TG4 can cover American College football but not our domestic league proper or European ties! Makes you wonder who controls our taxpayers money!
Sure don't we love American Football...

[ger121]

RTE / TG4 can cover American College football but not our domestic league proper or European ties! Makes you wonder who controls our taxpayers money!
Sure don't we love American Football...

I think I said it elsewhere but Ireland Inc. has no love for the LOI.

[EatYerGreens]

RTE / TG4 can cover American College football but not our domestic league proper or European ties! Makes you wonder who controls our taxpayers money!
Sure don't we love American Football...

In fairness that game had 48,000 in attendance - sigificantly higher than any LOI game since probably the 1940s? Even our Cup Finals in the same venue don't draw that many.

The LOI won't win itself more coverage (or fans) by bad-mouthing other sports.

[Nah Nah Nah Nah]

A man as fascinated with attendances should realise this. I was at it yesterday. Was a great day out and had plenty of messages from people from the states who were watching it over there. As Jim McLaughlin would say a great advertisement for the country.

[nr637]

A man as fascinated with attendances should realise this. I was at it yesterday. Was a great day out and had plenty of messages from people from the states who were watching it over there. As Jim McLaughlin would say a great advertisement for the country.

As a one off event, I can understand the attraction. RTE must have had some reason.........! to show this. If Shels v Bohs last Friday had to be moved to the Aviva because 50,000 tickets were sold, would RTE jump on the band wagon so! ?

[pineapple stu]

Yes. Yes they would.

Think they said half the people at the game yesterday came over from America for it. But it was a one-off international event with a lot of US promotional money behind it; I can entirely understand it being shown. (Even if just to show what a stupid game American Football is...)

[Shinkicker]

Yes. Yes they would.

Think they said half the people at the game yesterday came over from America for it. But it was a one-off international event with a lot of US promotional money behind it; I can entirely understand it being shown. (Even if just to show what a stupid game American Football is...)
On a side note, If Bohs v Rovers games were to be played at the Aviva. What would be the expected attendance. Do you think more people would come because of the venue and atmosphere? Like wise for Bohs v Pats and Rovers Pats
Shels etc. I'm not suggesting for one minute any of these clubs would or should do this but do you really think they would attract a full house or close to it?

[2 Year Contract]

On a side note, If Bohs v Rovers games were to be played at the Aviva. What would be the expected attendance. Do you think more people would come because of the venue and atmosphere? Like wise for Bohs v Pats and Rovers Pats
Shels etc. I'm not suggesting for one minute any of these clubs would or should do this but do you really think they would attract a full house or close to it?

Depends what’s at stake. If it were a title decider or something I’d say it would sell out, as the cup final did last year. If it were a bog standard run of the mill mid season derby then I don’t think it’d be close to a sell out

[nigel-harps1954]

Depends what’s at stake. If it were a title decider or something I’d say it would sell out, as the cup final did last year. If it were a bog standard run of the mill mid season derby then I don’t think it’d be close to a sell out

You're off your head if you think Bohs v Rovers would sell out Aviva stadium for anything other than the cup final. Might get 25k for a title decider

[ger121]

I know there is a lot of talk about RTE and showing games but the real issue here is not the amount of games shown but the fact there is no money being made by clubs. I’d rather less games shown but an actual tv deal to be in place which brings real revenue into the league. We are an outlier in Europe when it comes to this.

In conjunction with that LOI TV would be enhanced. Firstly, release this magical app so people can cast to their tvs. Secondly, upgrade cameras in the grounds and add in more cameras to improve the match viewing experience. Kerry game showed how this can be done easily and well. Thirdly, promote the hell out of the app/product with a big media campaign.

There is no future with RTE, they know it, we know it, so time to look at other options available to clubs.

[oriel]

Having no tv deal is the key here and we are in minority of leagues in europe with none. You only have to look the Prem League in europe, Brighton for example, homeless a few decades ago, now riding on a crest of a wave, well managed to be fair, but the 200m from PL / Sky helps 'a little' you could say, they will prob pay Celtic 30m for O'Reily, using their tv money, simple as.

We should have a deal for the PD, a proper structure, one live game a week, I'd go for a Thursday or Sun night (prob the Sun), then a proper tv (not online) highlights package back to Mon nights (Eircom League weekly was great and MNS after it, both prob on too late, well the former was), get the tv deal sponsored, get real money pumped into the game, surf in on the increased crowds, you'd be surprised at home popular and cool it could become.

Without a tv deal, as a league we are just drifting along, clubs doing most of the PR from what I can see.

[Nesta99]

Who can e get to pony up for a deal? RTE? No hope. Satilite stations? Wanna be a serious sales person to pull that off. The best weve managed in the past is to be included in deals for the international coverage. There are few grounds that TV companies can roll in to, set up and broadcast, no highering of cherrypickers for highlevel shots or temporary gantries. In the short term getting a cut from UEFA tv money the smaller associations could lobby for maybe but what should or world a LoI game cost to show in terms of rights 1k, 10k, per match, 50k all in? Money shared regardless of who is shown? There should be a deal of some sorts but I cant see significant finanial benefit. Summer football coverage could still be the selling point.

[JC_GUFC]

If you look at the September fixtures there’s a run of games each week that could take us to the end of the season .

There’s no narrative created by showing random games. Non-LoI fans would be familiar with very few players, probably only two or three but being on TV regularly would help that a lot.

1st September Bohs v Rovers

6th Sept Bohs v Shels

13th Sept Shels v Pat’s

20th Sept Derry v Rovers

27th Sept Rovers v Pat’s

4th Oct Derry v Sligo

18th Oct Shels v Waterford

25th Oct Galway v Sligo

1st Nov Final Day

[2 Year Contract]

You're off your head if you think Bohs v Rovers would sell out Aviva stadium for anything other than the cup final. Might get 25k for a title decider

Each to their own, rovers vs Bohs with the winner taking the league title similar to Dundalk v Cork 2014 is bigger than the same two in a cup final IMO. It’s all a moot point anyways really as it’ll never happen

[brendy_éire]

Meanwhile up north, the BBC are showing Larne-Lincoln Red Imps ECL playoff match.

It's online/app only, so maybe that gives them leeway for fewer cameras and the like to cut costs.

Could RTÉ do the same? Aware that RTÉ have a standard they maintain for sport, higher than the likes of Virgin, hence the extra cost.

[placid casual]

As the idea of terrestrial TV gets more redundant by the day,and considering the largest Internet companies have bases here in Ireland, could there be a hook up somewhere there for a digital online TV platform ( I have no earthly idea how that would even work, btw) which a combined LOI clubs could approach these companies,wirh an idea to show case the league online, similar to the YouTube free MLB games and other avenues.
Let's face it RTE is as dead as a dodo (apologies WAR), and persisting with discussions with these people is pointless.
Leave them to their Fair Chitty, bogball from mullinavat,and the omnipresent dead-eyed kathryn thomas.