TV3's football coverage

How come TV3 show English League football on their Sports Tonight programme, when they don't have the rights to show it? RTE have the rights for showing English football here, as they show English League games on Saturdays followed by a highlights programme later. I thought it was ok for TV3 to show English League football, if it was just on their news programmes. Surely it's a different story however, if they show it on their nightly sports programme instead.

Also what will happen to the NL's tv coverage when TV3's contract to show NL games ends at the end of next season? We struggle to get tv coverage already, as it is limited to a few live games each season, and a weekly late-night 40 minute programme with just a 2-3 minute report of each game featured, by a voiceover. The league deserves more coverage than that in the next tv contract. If RTE win it, will the league's coverage be restricted to 10 minutes a week at the end of "The Sunday Game"? Hopefully not.

I don't know if tv3 have a contract to cover Eircom League.They only showed one live game last season as far as I know where as RTE showed 5 or 6 live games in the league and more in Europe so it seems Rte can also show games and have more interest than tv3 have.Tv3 would rather show made for tv movies and imported programmes from UK and USA.

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Originally Posted by mypost

Also what will happen to the NL's tv coverage when TV3's contract to show NL games ends at the end of next season? We struggle to get tv coverage already, as it is limited to a few live games each season, and a weekly late-night 40 minute programme with just a 2-3 minute report of each game featured, by a voiceover. The league deserves more coverage than that in the next tv contract. If RTE win it, will the league's coverage be restricted to 10 minutes a week at the end of "The Sunday Game"? Hopefully not.

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The only way we'll get decent Eircom League coverage is if it's forced out of the broadcasters here. The FAI are the only ones who can do this - tie access to International rights/footage/interviews etc to Eircom League coverage. Don't want to provide the level of Eircom League coverage stipulated by us ? Then you can't access the National Team. Not just matches, but also interviews etc etc. Easy solution, but obviously involves initiative, imagination, leadership, a bit of hard work, and rocking the cosy world of Merrion Square. Therefore, unlikely to happen... :mad:

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Originally Posted by trevy

I don't know if tv3 have a contract to cover Eircom League.They only showed one live game last season as far as I know where as RTE showed 5 or 6 live games in the league and more in Europe so it seems Rte can also show games and have more interest than tv3 have.Tv3 would rather show made for tv movies and imported programmes from UK and USA.

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its all about ratings, if they think alot of people will watch it then they will show it,so obiously there isnt the ratings for a prime time el show at the mo.,give it a few years

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Originally Posted by GalwayFrancis

so obiously there isn't the ratings for a prime time el show at the mo.,give it a few years

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Live eL games have been getting very good ratings of late - comparable to some CL games. RTÉ's eL highlights show had better ratings than the Premiership. Problem is, foreign football is dumped cheaply on RTÉ in the same way as American TV is dumped cheaply on the world, while showing domestic games involves organising your own cameras, outside broadcast units, etc., etc. So long as RTÉ can continue to get foreign football cheaper than domestic football, nothing much will change.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Don't want to provide the level of Eircom League coverage stipulated by us ? Then you can't access the National Team.

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Spot on. :ball:

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

The only way we'll get decent Eircom League coverage is if it's forced out of the broadcasters here. The FAI are the only ones who can do this - tie access to International rights/footage/interviews etc to Eircom League coverage. Don't want to provide the level of Eircom League coverage stipulated by us ? Then you can't access the National Team. Not just matches, but also interviews etc etc. Easy solution, but obviously involves initiative, imagination, leadership, a bit of hard work, and rocking the cosy world of Merrion Square. Therefore, unlikely to happen... :mad:

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Exactly, it's so bloody simple too. Too simple for the FAI, obviously. Force whoever gets the rights for the national team matches to show a minimum amount of league games a good highlights package, the international matches are far too big a thing for RTE to lose so they'd have to go for it.

As it happens, next year should see a load of live games, hopefully. Setanta are showing 10 of their own cup and are showing EL matches too, how many remains to be seen but hopefully alot. RTE suddenly took up a huge interest in the league towards the end and the ratings backed up their decision so they'll hopefully start as they ended last season. Also I think they'll jump on the Euro bandwagon early this season and show at least the CL first round qualifyers and don't TV3 have a contract that states they had to show a minimum amount of games over the course of their contract and they still have to show around four this year or something?

We'll see how it pans out but I reckon next year could be good as far as live games goes but I'd rather see a well produced weekly all inclusive highlights show on at a decent hour.

its all well and good demanding that RTE/TV3/whoever show X number of games in return for the international rights, but face facts- most games on TV are brutal. the camera positions are bad, the sound is bad, the analysis area is bad. Clubs should provide a proper studio/ analysis area, and at least 3 decent camera positions, and the maybe we can think about live games. When people see the shoddy state of some of the grounds and the presentation of matches- 2 lads huddling under an umbrella in front of an empty terrace- it probably puts people off. The ratings have been pretty good for most games that have been shown, but the clubs have to do some major work on facilities before they deserve better coverage

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Originally Posted by Éanna

its all well and good demanding that RTE/TV3/whoever show X number of games in return for the international rights, but face facts- most games on TV are brutal. the camera positions are bad, the sound is bad, the analysis area is bad. Clubs should provide a proper studio/ analysis area, and at least 3 decent camera positions, and the maybe we can think about live games. When people see the shoddy state of some of the grounds and the presentation of matches- 2 lads huddling under an umbrella in front of an empty terrace- it probably puts people off. The ratings have been pretty good for most games that have been shown, but the clubs have to do some major work on facilities before they deserve better coverage

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well said, we have a proper studio on the plans for the flansiro as part of the corperate box area, an upgrading of the camera gantry and the possible addition of a second, which i feel is enough, with a floating sideline camera ( which is possible in flancare.

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Originally Posted by max power

well said, we have a proper studio on the plans for the flansiro as part of the corperate box area, an upgrading of the camera gantry and the possible addition of a second, which i feel is enough, with a floating sideline camera ( which is possible in flancare.

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yeah, that is plenty- well it will be when ready. But when you look at other grounds (including turners cross) there isn't enough there facilitires wise yet- how often do you see floodlight poles blocking cameras etc- it just looks shít.

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Originally Posted by Éanna

yeah, that is plenty- well it will be when ready. But when you look at other grounds (including turners cross) there isn't enough there facilitires wise yet- how often do you see floodlight poles blocking cameras etc- it just looks shít.

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well as soon as our gov grants come through, the whole ground will be covered, car park will be done, tv gantry will be raised and moved. corp boxes will be done too, through time.

we are lookin at underage internationals etc, its long term the league needs to focus and we are the first new ground albe to do it, rovrs will be next......maybe

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Originally Posted by Éanna

its all well and good demanding that RTE/TV3/whoever show X number of games in return for the international rights, but face facts- most games on TV are brutal. the camera positions are bad, the sound is bad, the analysis area is bad. Clubs should provide a proper studio/ analysis area, and at least 3 decent camera positions, and the maybe we can think about live games. When people see the shoddy state of some of the grounds and the presentation of matches- 2 lads huddling under an umbrella in front of an empty terrace- it probably puts people off. The ratings have been pretty good for most games that have been shown, but the clubs have to do some major work on facilities before they deserve better coverage

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Totally agree with you. However, we all know how skint Eircom League clubs are. So - imagine you're on the Board of a club, and you get a E20K grant out of the blue to spend on something structural. at your ground. Would you a) Build a TV gantry/studio-type area for the one occassion every 5yrs that RTE/TV3 decide to screen a live game from your ground (especially if you're outside The Pale, or in the First Division), or b) add a few more seats or a small roofed area for the benefit of your fans who come to watch you week in week out ? Be honest here - what would your likely decision be.......?

It's Catch 22. In a world of little money and harsh fiscal priorities, the lack of TV coverage means there's zero incentive to create cushy facilities for the ****s from D4. That in turn gives them an excuse not to turn up (at least amongst us).

What I will say, however, is that the BBC and Sky seem to have no problem turning up with their full circus at various holes in the ground to screen 3rd round FA Cup 'David and Goliath' games every single season, without a single quam. Not just as one-offs - as many unbalanced ties as arise every single season. I'd even go so far as to say they love doing it. They probably cover as many FA Cup live games from rubbish non-league stadiums every year as RTE/TV3 cover senior games in an entire Eircom League season. Yet we don't hear the English channels complaining....

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

The only way we'll get decent Eircom League coverage is if it's forced out of the broadcasters here. The FAI are the only ones who can do this - tie access to International rights/footage/interviews etc to Eircom League coverage. Don't want to provide the level of Eircom League coverage stipulated by us ? Then you can't access the National Team. Not just matches, but also interviews etc etc. Easy solution, but obviously involves initiative, imagination, leadership, a bit of hard work, and rocking the cosy world of Merrion Square. Therefore, unlikely to happen... :mad:

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Fair point ...... the here is the million dollar question


How can Joe Punter lobby the FAI to actually, really do something about it ??


The fans/supporter clubs at the moment couldn't organise a píss-up anywhere .... we all know the above needs to happen but the FAI's hand will never be forced as they, for the most part do not have a means of finding out what fans want or have any means of finding out what public opinion is !?!


We could talk about this till we are blue in the face but nothing will come of it, .... and we all know this to be true !! :eek:

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Originally Posted by A face

Fair point ...... the here is the million dollar question


How can Joe Punter lobby the FAI to actually, really do something about it ??


The fans/supporter clubs at the moment couldn't organise a píss-up anywhere .... we all know the above needs to happen but the FAI's hand will never be forced as they, for the most part do not have a means of finding out what fans want or have any means of finding out what public opinion is !?!


We could talk about this till we are blue in the face but nothing will come of it, .... and we all know this to be true !! :eek:

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We need a well-organised national Eircom league supporters pressure group. And I don't mean that culchy **** who appears on Sky News/The Late Late every so often claiming to represent over 157m Irish soccer fans. A few active reps from each club, and a couple of hundred passive members beyond that would provide enough moral authority. There is no-one or nothing to in-place to challenge the incompetence of the FAI, other than the occassional passing grumble from the Minister for Sports :mad:

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

We need a well-organised national Eircom league supporters pressure group. And I don't mean that culchy **** who appears on Sky News/The Late Late every so often claiming to represent over 157m Irish soccer fans. A few active reps from each club, and a couple of hundred passive members beyond that would provide enough moral authority. There is no-one or nothing to in-place to challenge the incompetence of the FAI, other than the occassional passing grumble from the Minister for Sports :mad:

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But there have been attempts to set something up but apathy is the biggest pitfall .... supporters wouldn't get involved even though it is in their best interest.

I think the ideal way is the group of already existing supporters clubs to get together and brainstorm and setup a kinda task force to get more people involved.

Even if this happened and only one issue pushed through/resolved ... it would have been a success.

Whatever about the national team and all that goes with, the league most definitely needs this, it is in its own interest and every eL fan shoud welcome it with open arms but ....


and thats a [size=6]BUT[/size]

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Originally Posted by A face

But there have been attempts to set something up but apathy is the biggest pitfall .... supporters wouldn't get involved even though it is in their best interest.

I think the ideal way is the group of already existing supporters clubs to get together and brainstorm and setup a kinda task force to get more people involved.

Even if this happened and only one issue pushed through/resolved ... it would have been a success.

Whatever about the national team and all that goes with, the league most definitely needs this, it is in its own interest and every eL fan shoud welcome it with open arms but ....


and thats a [size=6]BUT[/size]

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Sadly all true. However - you'd only need 5-10 truely committed people to make this work. It's not a numbers game - the key is to have a small but highly active group of leaders with ability, energy and ruthless dedication. Oh - and web production/print production skills :o) Another 100+ signed-up passive members (paying a small subscription of, say, E5 each to show they weren't just pretending to be concerned/interested) across all clubs who did little or nothing other than receive e-mail newsletters and grumble/provide occassional verbal support would then provide the moral back-up required to claim true representation. This could be where the supporters clubs come in.

Would probably need a high profile event to provide the impetus for people to set it up though. Even then, I can't see it happening (and being based in London, I'm about as much use as a chocolate fireguard in trying to kick-start anything like this).

Right - bed time.... :)

This is how most campaigns start. The masses never get involved in anything until it's too late (1916 anyone ?)

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Originally Posted by Éanna

most games on TV are brutal. the camera positions are bad, the sound is bad, the analysis area is bad. Clubs should provide at least 3 decent camera positions. When people see the shoddy state of some of the grounds and the presentation of matches- 2 lads huddling under an umbrella in front of an empty terrace- it probably puts people off. The ratings have been pretty good for most games that have been shown, but the clubs have to do some major work on facilities before they deserve better coverage

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Many of the games on tv are brutal, with lots of low scoring games. Doesn't exactly entice the neutral. Camerawork is bad. There is usually just one camera at a game, all replays are from the same angle. Some of the camera positions are poor. Remember, when Rovers played Cork at Richmond in May '03, when it looked as though the camera was about 40 yards away from the pitch!! :rolleyes:

Ultimately, TV3 don't care about the league. It was a cushy bonus for the international rights. They don't even show a review of the season programme at the end of the year. They show weekly highlights of the league at 11.30 on a Monday night!! If Setanta win the next contract, they may show one live game a week, with highlights of the others. That would be something approaching half-decent tv coverage.

It may be a side show, but one reason why crowds are poor, is because of the irregular kick-off times. Why can't the games start at a later time, on the same day in the week? If you want to travel to Derry from Dublin on a Thursday night, you have to take time off work. If you want to go to a Friday night Dublin derby, you have to leave work, face the traffic, have dinner, then set off for the game, and try to make it there before the 7.45 kick-off. What I would like to see is all games played on Saturday nights at 8.00, or 8.30, where the maximum amount of people can show up, visiting fans can travel, with the least competition with tv football, and no traffic problems. Then a highlights show should be on tv later in the evening, with coverage of all games in the league.

While being thankful to TV3 for their Eircom League Weekly - any coverage was better than none - the format was / is totally uninspiring and predictable.
"Clip of teams running out, clip of first goal, replay of first goal, clip of second goal, replay of second goal. Back to studio. Talk us through the first goal. First goal described in words while shown on screen.And the second goal? Second goal described in words while shown on screen. And Longford will be happy with their win? Yes it breeds confidence, keeps up the momentum, cliche, cliche....."
By the Lord of all things holy, I have a six year old nephew who could have come up with that. At least the Soccer Show had a spark of originality.

Setanta show rugbys Celtic League & the ko for those games are spread throughout the weekend.

IMO different ko times don't matter for tv audience but badly affect people attending games.

TV3 are dire & sooner something replaces them the better. They will never move el weekly from 11.30 slot as have niche captive audience.