TV Deal

This is tremendous news.

None of us trust or like Delaney - but fair play to him, he's the only one in Merrion Square who seems to have delievered anything for our league.

Maribor's point earlier was right - the Channels involved need to recive a flood of 'thank you/well done' e-mails from us. It's all very well us moaning at them over the years - we need to have the balls to congratulate them as well. Plus, it'll make them feel good about the decision too.... :D

sport@rte.ie
setanta.irl@setanta.com
Can't find a tg4 one ?

GREAT NEWS!!! :D This should mean that the winner of the premier league should win around 75,000 Euro instead of the shabby 18,000 shels won last year! (98,000 by 4.1 is 400,000) so (18,000 by 4.1 is 75,000) :rolleyes:

In the words of a great thinker: "woo-hoo!" :D

and a very good match to open the coverage with!

Now all I have to do is somehow get an Irish Sky Card with Setanta on it over here in England

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Originally Posted by Fintan Cassidy

Agreement is for 5 years through to end-2009 season
Minimum 29 matches to be broadcast during each season
Minimum 24 matches live, with 5 “as live”
RTÉ to screen 8 games live – 5 eircom League and Carlsberg FAI Cup
Setanta to screen 10 games, 5 live and 5 “as live”
TG4 to screen 11 games live – 7 eircom League and 4 Carlsberg FAI Cup
Record prize fund for eircom League increased by 400%
Total of €400,000 now on offer to eircom League clubs

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Throw in a minimum ten Setanta cup matches and, I would assume, more coverage of the European games than before and we're onto a winner here. I'd imagine this will mean that even the first matches in the UEFA and inter toto cup will be shown, espically by Setanta who have very little mid week action.

Sorry I forget who said it but I totally agree with the guy who said that we should send in a few e-mails saying well done, we were all quick to have a go when there was no coverage, and rightly so, so it's only fair we give credit where it's due.

And I never thought I'd say it but.....Fair play to ya Delaney!

Also I assume that TV3 will have access to the proper coverage for their highlights show, when RTE broadcast live games the EL weekly that week was able to show the games with RTEs coverage, ie decent looking and with proper replays from more than one angle, so the knock on effect should be a good improvement on the EL weekly front too. Also Setants said, a while ago when they were considering doing ten league matches a season (The number they are doing) and ten Setanta cup matches a season, again what they're doing, that they would have a el specific show that didn't include just live games, hopefully another highlights package. I'll see if I can dig out what they said for anyone interested.

Great news, what we've been waiting for for ages. And I think it's worth mentioning for those who were cheering against Shels last year in Europe, that the run in Europe we had probably helped convince the stations to jump on board, so there is a clear knock on effect of how clubs doing well in Europe and raising the profile of the league can help everybody else out.

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Originally Posted by Slash/ED

that they would have a el specific show that didn't include just live games, hopefully another highlights package. I'll see if I can dig out what they said for anyone interested.

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I found my old thread that had that in it, have a read here if you're interested. That'd just be the icing on the cake really.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

sport@rte.ie
setanta.irl@setanta.com
Can't find a tg4 one ?

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Fired away a quick email to each

If everyone makes them aware of the benefits it can only be good for the game

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Originally Posted by ThatGuy

I sincerely hope that there isn't a condition that Div 1 games have to be shown too.

That would be disastrous.

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Totally disagree! :mad:
I know it would probably be a lot to ask to show a live First Div game this season but it should be considered for the future. Certainly there should be some highlights shown of a couple of games from the Div. There can be just as entertaining matches in the First as in the Premier. You can't deny that a promotion deciding game at the end of the season wouldn't be worth watching.
All in all the new TV deal is great news. It should also help to generate more revenue for clubs looking for new sponsorship deals in the future.

I sent an email off there to RTE saying what a great deal they did. Im usually first to mouth off about them, so fair play RTE.

Yeah, I agree with Slash/ED, I think the run Shel's got last season in Europe has shown the intrest everyone has in Eircom League clubs in Europe.

Everything looks that much stronger this time round so there is no reason Shels cant make the same progress or even break through to the Champions League or UEFA Cup this time.

I do hope TV3 get RTE's coverage and make a proper highlights programme.

on a side note, maybe with the camera's more regular at the grounds the players wont get stage fright for a better word. I think that affect some of the players last season.

Its good news to have 400K coming in to the league but its far far better that we are getting the TV exposure.

Id be very careful of Delaney and his 400K prize fund.

This TV money should not go anywhere near the final league positions prize fund. He is trying to kill two birds with the one stone. He knows only too well the €18,000 for a league winner is way too low so is thinking of using TV money to bump this up?

Any club would be mad to accept this offer. In the indo today it says a meeting will be held and I hope that most clubs steer well clear of the TV money for prize money idea. The figure of TV money is under 400K but this should be shared among the 22 clubs, lets say 50% of it? Then the remaining money going to teams who are shown on TV.

I dont think 400K is a great deal but Im very happy that we will at last get to see Eircom League on the TV. Now all we have to do is go annoy the barman on a Friday night to turn it on :D

To setanta:

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Hello;
We here at www.ShedEnd.com would like to commend your organisation for its great efforts to aid and publicise our national league, the eircom National League. So long deprived of good publicity, your station has begun to turn the tide. By not only offering to show many more games than the league has enjoyed in previous years, but also being party to deals that has seen the prize money on offer to clubs rise from €40,000 to €250,000, you have earned the respect of not only the Cork City fan's at www.ShedEnd.com, but fans all over the country.
We hope that our relationship grows even stronger and that both organisations benefit from this great deal.
Looking forward to signing a subscription,
Gavin Golden
www.ShedEnd.com

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To RTÉ

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Hello;
We here at www.ShedEnd.com would like to commend your organisation for its great efforts to aid and publicise our national league, the eircom National League. So long deprived of good publicity, your station has helped to begin to turn the tide. By not only offering to show many more games than the league has enjoyed in previous years, but also being party to deals that has seen the prize money on offer to clubs rise from €18,000 to €100,000, you have earned the respect of not only the Cork CIty fan's at www.ShedEnd.com, but fans all over the country. We hope that our relationship grows stronger and that both organisations benefit from this great deal. Our national broadcaster has finally accepted that it is not only its responsibility, but an opportunity, to air National league games.
Looking forward to switching on again,
Gavin Golden
www.ShedEnd.com

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note the slight differences :)

So what is the story ? Will the €400,000 a year be divided evenly between clubs, first and premier ?? Thats the way it should be done anyway.

the press so far suggests its going into prize money, rather than being evenly distributed.

why make a new thread?

€200,000 to be taken out of that to pay clubs who are shown on live games.

The rest to be used as prize money - €150,000 for the premier and €50,000 for the first.

I've heard that yer man Mc Caul wants every club to get a share of the prize money

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Originally Posted by harpskid

I've heard that yer man Mc Caul wants every club to get a share of the prize money

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well if all clubs dont get some money, it will just make the strong teams stronger and they'll leave the rest behind... if shels win the league and setanta cup then tell be miles ahead on the money front....plz dont forgot us down in the first division when the money is divided out

I agree using it as prize money puts those who win it even further ahead of the pack. The divide is big enough, A fair distribution would be grand

disagree, why would a re-elected team get much out of that money... You sow what you reap....

300,000 - Premier Division
100,000 - First division.

scale depending on position, make every position count, not just at the very top or at the very bottom....

rewards have to be success driven...

This is covered in another thread but heres my thoughts......

Delaney I think is doing a decent job so far but he's a CLOWN for coming out with his 400K prize money crap :mad:

The TV deal amounts to 300K as far as I can see...

The idea of him linking this into a prize fund is to cover the fact that we only have €18,000 now for our League Champions and thats not good enough. He wants to pretend that he got a good TV deal and also fixed the issue of a poor prize in the one go???

The TV money should not go towards prize money!

The TV money should be divided between all clubs in some way shape or form. Maybe 50% equally between all 22 clubs and then the rest divided between those who are covered on the TV. Or even a straight forward 30% split between the first division and 70% for the premier or some other ratio.

Linking any of this money into the finishing places is a joke I think. There has to be some money giving to clubs who are televised as it does have an effect on the crowd.

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Originally Posted by higgins

Linking any of this money into the finishing places is a joke I think. There has to be some money giving to clubs who are televised as it does have an effect on the crowd.

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The opposiate is true, if anything. TV games are generally very well attended. The main reason to me seems to be that if people see a games on TV it'll get a bit more of a write up in the media beforehand and it'll get a bit of hype, so people are more likely to goto it. I can't think of (m)any examples where a game being shown on TV has meant the crowd was much lower than expected really.

Anyway

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TV cash to benefit all League clubs
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independ...&issue_id=12149

ALL 22 clubs are likely to benefit from the €300,000 injection to the eircom League prize fund announced by FAI interim chief executive John Delaney.

The money has been generated by a new TV deal that will see up to 30 matches being shown live on RTE, TG4 and Setanta Sports every season for the next five years.

When added to last year's prize fund of €98,200, plus the €37,500 paid out in TV fees, it means the League has an enormous €435,900 to distribute this season.

Delegates from the clubs are scheduled to meet on Monday March 7, when they will be presented with the options available to them but it appears that predictions of a massive increase in prize-money will be off the mark.

The money is likely to be broken into three sections - prize money, TV fees and a participation fee - ensuring that each of the 22 clubs benefit in some way from the massive windfall, possibly to the tune of €5,000 per club.

Last season 10 of the 22 clubs received absolutely nothing in prize money or TV fees. The top six teams in the premier division shared €45,000 in prize money while the first division fund of €22,000 was split among the first four clubs. The last four in the League Cup shared £21,000 with the top two in each division's fair play table splitting €10,200.

Meanwhile, the €37,500 paid out to the teams involved in last season's five televised league games was shared between five premier division clubs.

If each club receives the expected €5,000 per club it will leave €325,900 to be distributed in prize money and TV fees.

The current fees for televised games are €5,000 for home teams and €2,500 for away teams and if this payment scale is maintained then it will mean payments of €217,500 for the minimum 29 matches guaranteed under the new deal.

That would leave just €108,400 to be distributed in prize money, an increase of 10.4 per cent on 2004. This figure will only be increased if the clubs decide not to introduce a participation fee or opt to reduce the TV fees.

No matter what happens on March 7, this deal represents a massive boost to the eircom League, not just because of the cash injection but the huge benefit to its profile.

RTE are committed to showing eight games live, three of which will be in the FAI Carlsberg Cup, while Setanta will show 10 games, five live and five 'as live' and TG4 will televise 11 games, four of them FAI Carlsberg Cup ties. TV3 will continue to cover the eircom League through their weekly highlights programme.

A committee, chaired by the FAI's TV consultant Laurence St John, will decide which games will be shown live. Fourteen days' notice will be given for each match. It has already been decided that the Bohemians v Shamrock Rovers game on March 18 will be shown on Setanta, while TG4 will screen the March 25 meeting of St Pat's and Bohemians.

"This ground-breaking deal will see unprecedented exposure of the game on TV," said Delaney. "I have always held the view that TV rights hold the key to investing in our domestic game.

"This deal shows the ability of the FAI to leverage extra prize money and TV revenues for the eircom League. In the context of a merger I believe that the family of football could increase the prize fund even more significantly if that is agreed for the season after next."

He added that he expects to announce commercial deals in the coming weeks which could lead to future prize fund increases. Companies buying FAI rights would also be sold eircom League rights and a percentage of the fee would be apportioned to the eircom League.

Delaney also stated that the FAI expect the cabinet to make a decision on the Sports Campus at Abbotstown within the next two weeks and he reckoned that the FAI could move out of Merrion Square within six months.

Gerry McDermott

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Gerry has his figures wrong!

He adds in the money we got for TV last season with the prize money and then the 300K for the new TV deal.

Why he adds in last years TV money is strange? I thought that was last years :eek:

He doesnt even add the 3 figures correctly but fair play for him even investigating the issue as the FAI press release and Delaney worded it in a very positive way and had people thinking it was the best thing ever.

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Originally Posted by higgins

He doesnt even add the 3 figures correctly but fair play for him even investigating the issue as the FAI press release and Delaney worded it in a very positive way and had people thinking it was the best thing ever.

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No matter how it was worded, it is still majorly positive news. It's not the best thing ever, that's Davey Rogers left boot, but it's still incredible news no matter what way the money goes.

Does anyone know now how the tv money for eL money compares for other leagues? Scottish premier league is now on 10-12m over 4-5 years???

I think cash should be distributed across the positions in the league. Everyone will benefit but best teams will benefit more which is only fair.

I think this is great news for the league but it is very important that the monies are shared around the league. Giving a significant percentage of the money to the clubs being shown could mean that only a few clubs, probably those with the most money already would really benefit from this. On the other hand, it'd be great to see coverage that wasn't based on showing Dublin derbies with the odd Cork game thrown in. The numbers of games being covered will hopefully mean that affairs at both ends of the table will receive decent coverage. I also think it's time the clubs sat down together and decided that they should always co-operate with the TV companies where ever possible for the good of the league.

I'm not sure there'd be a lot of interest in average division 1 game but chosen carefully there's no reason even a live game wouldn't work. It's easy to rubbish clubs in the first division but in general they survive with virtually no coverage of any kind. This makes it hard to attract fans and sponsors and the whole thing is a vicious circle. I firmly believe that some of the country's better run clubs are in the first division and they deserve a helping hand. I reckon a club that keeps its house in order in the first division and lives within its means is at least as deserving as many premier clubs, especially given that certain premier clubs have been so spectacularly badly run. It'd be great for all clubs to receive a bit of coverage, even if it's only goals being shown. Better coverage for all and a decent share-out of the cash could provide a real boost to the game in this country- especially in the first division. Let's just hope the opportunity is fully seized, and that the teams can provide football that people want to watch.

If it is circa €400k then i think it would be fair to give all 22 clubs €10,000 each and then give the rest to whatever .... the bigger clubs will benefit by having the opportunity to get sponsorship from the games, added attendance, etc. so it will filter abck that way. If we did have five years of that it would really sort out for the league as a whole.
I think rewarding the bigger clubs is shortsighted and these chances wont come around that often. I realise that it wont pan out this way ... but if you look at other leagues (Spain and Italy come to mind) where the money was unevenly divided and the problems it cause from the payments directly and then look at all that it could have been actually achieved, i think it is mad not dividing it evenly.
Tell that to all the club officals foaming at the mouth just waiting to get their hands on the money though. At least ... unlike the grant money, they wont have to account for this meal ticket so they can spend it as foolishly as they wish. Sure its practically on the fuppin' trees at this stage !! :eek: :rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by Réiteoir

Now all I have to do is somehow get an Irish Sky Card with Setanta on it over here in England

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Reiteoir - it takes a good few weeks to get it corted, so you'd wanna be on the phone to Sky a.s.a.p, or you'll be too late for the first game.

The deal as far as I understand is worth 300K ... So about 100K each from the 3 of them.

22 league clubs into 300K doesnt leave you with much. Do you really think this is an incredible deal money wise?? :eek: What will 13K do for your club this season. Its 13K you didnt have but it wont pay for much these days.

The best part of the deal for me is the fact we are going to be shown on the TV as that far outweighs the 300K on offer but we'll stick to the money for now.

I think crowds are effected when the game goes to TV. Its not really fair to go share it in 22 ways is it? Teams who are popular are the main reason the deal was done and they deserve a bigger slice. I dont want it all to go to premier clubs but it has to be weighted in some way. Anyway whatever they do just dont go down the road of final league positions for the money.

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Originally Posted by dcfcsteve

Reiteoir - it takes a good few weeks to get it corted, so you'd wanna be on the phone to Sky a.s.a.p, or you'll be too late for the first game.

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Not ot worry - I'll be travelling over for the Bohs - Rovers game anyway :D

This may be a little bit cheeky what i'm about to ask - so slap me down if so :D

We already have a Sky Digital box (it's the parent's one) - and they already subscribe to the full package in the UK - so I cannot do the re-registering of the original card (as highlighted elsewhere in here).

I have read that you can have more than one card registered to a box.

If someone on here with a residential address in the Homeland would be willing to sort an account out for Sky (basic one with RTÉ, TG4 and Setanta) - and I was to send the money to pay for it over to you - would someone be able to get me a card?

Apparently you only need to order a card - you don't need a new box...

These new developments will finally reward clubs for the efforts they put in through the season. And T.V. companies are finally paying a fairer price for the product.

But the number of cameras in the ground ( or on a cherry-picker just outside it) must be appropiate. Two cameras on the half-way line ( one wide shot, one for closer intimate play) and one behind a goal. Should be a demanded basic requirement from the league. With such a commitment from the companies they may feel justified in a low-cost outside broadcast.

Also, I do remember Bord Gáis/eircom League fans criticising RTÉ for broadcasting a live game during the winter season. The fans agruement was that RTÉ was just using it as a filler during the quiet months. They didn't like the standard of play and preferred an edited ( heavily edited) magazine programme.

When asked why they were afraid of the 90 mins they didn't really have an answer.

I'm concerned that club fans may revert back to shallow agruements about the standard of play. For me, most countries show the local League on T.V. no matter what the standard. The fans may criticise it but they don't say don't broadcast it. In the past football followers here have criticised are national station for daring to show the League. Not very Proud Fans.

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Originally Posted by higgins

I think crowds are effected when the game goes to TV. Its not really fair to go share it in 22 ways is it?

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Why is it not fair ..... all 22 clubs are let play in the league, there is not precondition there !!

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Teams who are popular are the main reason the deal was done and they deserve a bigger slice.

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And how do you decide this ....... Limerick, Waterford, Dundalk, Shamrock Rover, all clubs with big colourful historys .... All clubs that at one stage or another drew in bigger than average crowd, teams that hyped the profile of the league. Who is to say than any other club out of the 22 couldn't become one of the "bigger clubs" sooner rather than later. The bigger clubs now aren't the coosen ones or have a devine right to be there, no one would cliam that.

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I dont want it all to go to premier clubs but it has to be weighted in some way. Anyway whatever they do just dont go down the road of final league positions for the money.

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Agreed ... that would be mad.

I think the league would be alot better off if there was a level playing field as regards this money .... as you said it aint much now anyway so there is no point in squabbling over it. Give an even slice and problem solved.

As regards a TV deal involving all the channels in the jurisidiction I have one observation to make ; as we say on the Northside of Dublin " about bleedin' time!"

Now it is vitally important that the right matches are shown.
Bohs v Rovers is a good start, I would propose that one of the following series of fixtures also be included; Cork City V Shels , which is always entertaining;the Munster Derby between Blaaville and Roylangerberg
I would also think that one of the Derry V Harps derbies be shown
St.Pats V Shels are usually entertaining games and of our own matches UCD V Bray, which again are normally tightly faught games.
Drogs V Derry or Harps would probably work too. Now anybody else any suggestions and as you can see I have mentioned most of the teams in the Division already. As well as maximising the possible entertainment value for the fans watching on TV it would raise the profule of the el in a positive light.

Well I think Drogheda is the best ground looks wise on Tv. The Drogs vs Shels match last year looked excellent on TV.

These definately should be covered
Cork vs Shels at the Cross
Finn Harps vs Derry
Bohs vs Shels (All of them)

Obviously the best clubs should be shown but would be good if the tv companies could leave the pale a bit more often. If top clubs happen to be from dublin then fair enough but Cork City, Longford & drogs are likely to be in the top half of the league in 2005.

I'd still hope that tv games be played on saturdays or mondays otherwise going to have games like shels v ucd moved back 7 forth throughout the season.

Best games from first couple of months.

1. Bohs v Rovers
2. Rovers v Shels
3. Longford v Cork City, Drogs v St Pats
4. Waterford v Bohs, Derry v Shels
5. Bohs v Cork City, Shels v Pats, Harps v Derry
6. Cork City v Drogs

With Shels, City & Longford getting Setanta Cup coverage in few 2 months be good to show other teams where option.

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Originally Posted by pete

2. Rovers v Shels

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Pats v Bohs is on the same night as that one and TG4 are covering that, so I doubt that'll be covered. They wont have games going head to head.

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Originally Posted by harry crumb

Well I think Drogheda is the best ground looks wise on Tv. The Drogs vs Shels match last year looked excellent on TV.

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More like the worst! United park is a kip and it does come across that way on tv.
Dalymount is the best for TV, best looking, best TV facilities and best as per broadcasters.

I have to agree, Dalymount is the best looking of all the grounds on TV. United Park looks awful espically behind the goals. Tolka and The Cross would be so much better if the cameras were pointing towards the bigger stand rather than the smaller one. Oddly enough Richer looks well on the TV as the main camera focuses on the only decent part of it and the Brandywell and Flancare looks decent enough too.

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Originally Posted by Slash/ED

Pats v Bohs is on the same night as that one and TG4 are covering that, so I doubt that'll be covered. They wont have games going head to head.

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I didn't know there was any other games announced yet.

Maybe not good sign that 2 dublin games shown from first 2 but not much options.

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Oddly enough Richer looks well on the TV as the main camera focuses on the only decent part of it and the Brandywell and Flancare looks decent enough too.

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Richmond looks good on tv but a kip. The cross much better "in person" than tv cos of location of camera.

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Originally Posted by pete

I didn't know there was any other games announced yet.

Maybe not good sign that 2 dublin games shown from first 2 but not much options.

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Yeah, they're the only games announced that I know of, I agree I'd like to see some out of Dublin matches too, or at least a game involving a side not from Dublin fairly early on. I'd say Longford V Cork could well be the third game picked.

Anyone know if there's a proviso that evey club be shown at least once, or is it just going to be the big teams getting shown? If there's too much imbalance, it could harm the clubs missing out. This sounds like something all clubs (certainly all Premier clubs) should be allowed to benefit from.

I agree all teams should be shown but some grounds just aren't upto TV standards and would do more harm than good for the image of the league, so while all teams should be shown not all grounds should be shown imo.