LOI TV Coverage 2024

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Originally Posted by 2 Year Contract

You seem to be overlooking the fact that the people who select the matches, Virgin, have access to literally all viewing figures and have televised games such as Cork vs Dublin clubs, as well as Dublin derbies, so they have the data to compare.

The fact that they’ve opted for the derbies in their first announcement of fixtures over the other options should probably tell you all you need to know given that as Brendy says, they’re a commercial company and putting on the matches that do the best viewership numbers is obviously in their best interests



If Pats/Shels/Rovers play Bohs in Dalymount for example, you have only 450 away fans at it, meaning there are thousands watching at home. Bohs sell out Dalymount so they too have thousands watching at home.

The other option being say Cork at home to one of the Dublin clubs. Yes you have a lot of the away club’s fans watching on tv, but for Cork they aren’t selling out and the figure of fans watching on tv is likely to be lower than the amount a Dublin club would have when their home ground is sold out

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You seem to be overlooking the fact that the people who select the matches, Virgin, are based in Dublin. And like the vast majority of key decision makers in this country, have a limited ability to see much beyond Dublin - and no doubt a desire to limit how often they and their staff have to haul their arses to the other side of the country and back again late on Friday nights. Taking an OB van to Cork would easily be a 6hr+ round trip.That's the guts of a regular working day spent just on the rod to get there and back (and doesn't factor in the extra time usually needed for driving out of Dublin mid-afternoon). Then there;s the set-up, set-down and broadcast time to factor in once they get there. Similar journey for Sligo. Derry would be even longer, and on an awful road, so trips there could well even necessitate overnight stays. Amd even Waterford would be at least a 4hr round trip for their truck and crew.

So if we're honest, the difference in viewing figures across most of the games shown in the league is unlikely to be vast. Whereas the logistical, and probably also financial, hassle of traipsing around the country is likely to be a greater source of variance compared with screening games on their doorstep in Dublin. Dublin games will therefore be the easiest, cheapest and laziest option for them.

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

You seem to be overlooking the fact that the people who select the matches, Virgin, are based in Dublin. And like the vast majority of key decision makers in this country, have a limited ability to see much beyond Dublin - and no doubt a desire to limit how often they and their staff have to haul their arses to the other side of the country and back again late on Friday nights. Taking an OB van to Cork would easily be a 6hr+ round trip.That's the guts of a regular working day spent just on the rod to get there and back (and doesn't factor in the extra time usually needed for driving out of Dublin mid-afternoon). Then there;s the set-up, set-down and broadcast time to factor in once they get there. Similar journey for Sligo. Derry would be even longer, and on an awful road, so trips there could well even necessitate overnight stays. Amd even Waterford would be at least a 4hr round trip for their truck and crew.

So if we're honest, the difference in viewing figures across most of the games shown in the league is unlikely to be vast. Whereas the logistical, and probably also financial, hassle of traipsing around the country is likely to be a greater source of variance compared with screening games on their doorstep in Dublin. Dublin games will therefore be the easiest, cheapest and laziest option for them.

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I don't believe Virgin Media use a full OB truck setup. They're effectively using the LOITV setup, but with an extra camera or two. The cameramen will likely be local to the areas too rather than sending up lads from Dublin to do it.

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Originally Posted by nigel-harps1954

I don't believe Virgin Media use a full OB truck setup. They're effectively using the LOITV setup, but with an extra camera or two. The cameramen will likely be local to the areas too rather than sending up lads from Dublin to do it.

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They still have to send SOME people to the games. And if they're using external contractors/freelancers in local locations for the camera work, that would surely be additional cost versus using their own crews?

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

They still have to send SOME people to the games. And if they're using external contractors/freelancers in local locations for the camera work, that would surely be additional cost versus using their own crews?

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Oh I wouldn't think so at all. I'd say its both more convenient and cheaper

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

They still have to send SOME people to the games. And if they're using external contractors/freelancers in local locations for the camera work, that would surely be additional cost versus using their own crews?

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It's a much, much cheaper option than an outside broadcast crew. Much less equipment, more streamlined, and they use their studio in Dublin rather than sending analysis crew too. It'll effectively just be their commentary team and the camera operators.

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Originally Posted by EatYerGreens

You're unintentionally agreeing with me here.

Does a game involving one of the main Dublin teams usually draw a good TV crowd? Yes. Does that game have to involve TWO Dublin teams to do so? No. And often the fact that a proportionately very small number of fans travel from Dublin for games in places like Sligo, Cork, Derry etc means that the TV audience is likely to be amplified by screening Dublin clubs in such away locations. More so than screening a Dublin derby, when the majority/a high proportion of those interested amongst both fanbases will be at the game instead.

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I am intentionally agreeing with you to a point.
Does a game involving one of the main Dublin teams usually draw a good TV crowd? Yes. Does that game have to involve TWO Dublin teams to do so? No. However two Dublin clubs will attract a larger audience than a match involving 1 Dublin club unless the opposition has broken the mould and is really challenging for the league and not just trying to make the top four. Derry came second last year but never really challenged Rovers. Hopefully this year will see a real title race that will involve a none Dublin club or two.

Great to be arguing about which games are being shown and not that none are. We've come a long way.

I think there's only one person arguing in fairness! Everyone else seems to think it's a decent coverage for the opening round of matches

Totally agree, LOI has been great for getting it out the folk who follow the game and not VM taking it to everyone else if they choose to watch it. It's a long way from RTE showing 3 or 4 games a year

Tbf to the betting streams though, they didn't have a Dublin bias.

Wouldn't be too bothered about live TV coverage when they clash with regular First Division football on a Friday night. If the new highlights section is made available as a separate programme, it'll make it more watchable for watching back.