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RTÉ in danger of losing rights to League of Ireland games this season
Looks like the league is set for a new exclusive TV deal with Virgin Media. I'm not sure why the FAI want RTE involved considering their track record in regard to promoting the league.
For some reason it feels like there'll be more to this story in the coming weeks. A game a week would be dreamland stuff for us long suffering LOI supporters.
The European games absolutely need to get television coverage too. I'm glad they do be available on LOITV but they need to be visible for the public too.
I won’t lie, I’ll be delighted if the deal gets signed off by the FAI. RTE have treated the LOI with nothing but contempt for years and they are finally getting their comeuppance. Said it before that the future of tv coverage of the league is better off without RTE in the picture.
Virgin Media have the channels to be able to show the games consistently. The LOITV cameras in place suits the more or less ready to broadcast format that Virgin Media want. Should be a good deal for both LOI and VM.
It's great exposure for the league perennial problem though with Friday night coverage is that the audience who would want to watch are at all the other matches. That's nit picking though and it's still a major positive and good to see rte getting what they deservw
The league has been crying out for a broadcast partner for some time, not just a channel thats going to show games whenever. At least Virgin will now promote the games and drive viewing figures upwards
The only reason the FAI are stalling is to their own ends. It’s safe to assume that LOI rights were often used as a sweetener when negotiating coverage of the international teams.
Hopefully this s a positive for the game , great exposure, it has to be professionally presented with decent commentators, co commentators and studio analysts who know what they are talking about. (No token women) If they know what they are talking about then include them. No Brian Kerr, he is the most negative footballing analyst there is.Quote:
Originally Posted by ger121
RTE and Declan McBennett in particular, can get stuffed at this stage. Hearing that they’re apparently ‘devastated’ to potentially be losing the rights is hilarious given how he spoke about the league only a year or so ago. All hail our new Virgin Media overlords!
Friday is still the conundrum. Ideally a standalone kickoff for the star game of the weekend. I know attendances can take a hit from a Thursday or Saturday. I think the discussion should be is the short term hit on attendance a long term investment for establishing a standalone kickoff day and time?Quote:
Originally Posted by sbgawa
Noone obviously wants to make a financial loss for the sake of it. Where is a financial loss an investment?
Always got the impression that broadcasting LOI was like a chore to RTE, they give far more time and effort to GAA, Rugby etc
I don't really get how clubs can be too excited about these arrangements, the only benefits are promoting the club for one game, and maybe your sponsors are happy with the tv coverage.
Until and unless a proper TV deal is done and with all clubs getting a pro rata and decent financial compensation, this is just free tv for the broadcasters.
I know clubs get a bit from LOITV, but not sure that is too much on an annual basis, we need a proper deal running for a number of years with payments made directly to clubs. Then create a bidding between say RTE and Virgin for the next deal, or one to show highlights, again paying for it.
You are correct but we have to start somewhere and getting football televised regularly is the start. A well presented programme, with good hosts and good football will attract viewing numbers. Then the bidding war can begin and clubs will benefit.Quote:
Originally Posted by oriel
Let's hope they don't continue with the daft idea of showing a live game on Friday night while there is a full programme of league games taking place at the same time.
Only other down side I can see - Virgin don't broadcast in HD unless you're a subscriber.
Agreed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Straightstory
I enjoy playing on Friday nights, but I had to have a few games a year switched to a Saturday/Sunday, I could live with it.
Didn't know that's why Virgin isn't HD. It is a poor picture quality, and not really good enough these days.
RTE losing the rights to showing LOI coverage, at a time when the LOI is supposedly very much en vogue and its most anticipated season for many a generation is upcoming, is so very much RTE :).
It'll give declan mcbennett a chance to fulfill his long held desire to have blanket coverage of his "national games" on his dying channel.
And rte will now have more money to give to their "talent" like katherine thomas and daithi oshea....
Personally I can't stand the double act of delaney and kerr but I'll take them over the automaton peter collins.
I believe Virgin Media claim the cost to broadcast in HD on Saorview is excessively expensive and they have been holding their own on that one for years now I assume they have done their cost/benefit analysis
I would expect some Thursday or possibly Saturday KOs amongst those games.
I’d love to know if the clubs are actually going to make any money from this deal. While the extra coverage is always welcome, it really also needs to be putting money in the pockets of the clubs.
Im delighted with the deal. The only thing though the camera work wouldnt be as good as RTEs but the commentary is much better! I know 20 years ago when it was TV 3 they were the first Irish TV broadcaster to have their own highlights show which they had for 5 years until it went to RTE which was a an awful pity!
Good news. Karma for killing MNS.
Works for both parties, VM have a exclusive product to show off and the League gets better coverage for the average Irish TV Viewer(apart from those with their Sky packages..)
Hopefully the games will be able to watch in the North?
Sweetener? I was under the impression that they were an unwanted condition of the international rights. Or has that changed in recent years?Quote:
Originally Posted by D24Saint
This can only be a good thing in the long run. If the FAI & Virgin agree a suitable format, then it may push RTE to reconsider their position in the future.
The main outcome with this news is that there is negotiations going on with one of our main national broadcasters for our domestic game and a 36 weekly game coverage is being proposed.
It can only set the standard for future coverage!
Airtricity LOI Match of the Day! :love:
Is there likely to be a highlights programme again? Thought YouTube highlights are the preference.Quote:
Originally Posted by nr637
Great news this, I hope that gaa lover and his u20 rugby pals lose the internationals too, couldn’t happen to more deserving people. Their coverage when it does reluctantly happen is a token begrudged half arsed effort, awful comms and dreadfully short build up.VM are miles ahead on football coverage.
Will be interesting to see if RTE now make more of an effort with the European fixtures. There is no major sporting competition on this summer (women's Euro's not withstanding) so they really have very little excuse not to broadcast all of Shels game at a minimum.
Hilarious turn of events. The most important part of this is no more Cawley and Collins. Two absolute vampires.
You can get Virgin on Saorview via your aerial almost everywhere bar east Antrim.Quote:
Originally Posted by DCSIL
Otherwise you'll need to use LoITV, I suppose.
As I recall there was a story a few years ago (it’s going back a while, maybe ten years) that RTE actually offered to pay more for the international games so as not to have to show LOI matches. I don’t know how true it was, but let’s face it, would anyone be surprised ?Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
That story is here tooQuote:
Originally Posted by TonyD
https://m.independent.ie/sport/socce...703354183.html
The Fifa World Club Cup is on this summer in America for a month. A proper tournament with 32 teams in itQuote:
Originally Posted by yurt
I wouldn't be surprised if RTE will have to show that, as part of their contract to show World Cup 2026
I meant in terms of a freebie thrown in by the FAI. In the past RTE could do and did what they liked in terms of covering the league. The had a certain quota of games to fill but that was it. Their coverage vanished for months and only really picked up in the latter part of the season.Quote:
Originally Posted by John83
I know it's not the point of your post but that is a Micky mouse tournament to fill fifas coffers. One of the criteria for qualifying was whether Messi played for you. I think Guardiola has already hinted he won't bring his best team and that FIFA can't decide what his best team is.Quote:
Originally Posted by dundalkfc10
On topic it appears DAZN have the exclusive rights to air it.
https://www.fifa.com/en/tournaments/...ally-broadcast
If you thought the last iteration of LOI TV was bad you should try and use the DAZN app. I use it for NFL and it's appalling for how much it costs
FIFA really struggled to sell the media rights to this:Quote:
Originally Posted by Another Bohemia
Fifa finally agree massive $1bn broadcast deal for Club World Cup - one day before draw takes place
Streaming platform DAZN has agreed a worldwide deal to broadcast Fifa’s controversial Club World Cup free to air.
Club sources have previously expressed frustration and concern at Fifa’s failure to sell rights until now for next summer’s tournament in the United States, which has been the catalyst for legal actions against football’s world governing body from player unions and domestic leagues over its scheduling.
https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...-b2658889.html
Of course $1bn seems like they've secured a very good deal, until you read down the above report, to:
Reports in recent months have suggested Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) could purchase a one billion US dollar (£787.6m) stake in DAZN. The platform has done deals within the last year to screen the Saudi Pro League in some European territories, including the UK, as well as for the Riyadh Season boxing bouts and the Six Kings Slam tennis event in the Middle East kingdom.
So then, free-to-air, interspersed with non-stop "Visit Saudi for your hols" adverts I should think.
No mention, either, of the generous "commissions" which will doubtless have been paid to certain people in Switzerland, via their Cayman Island bank accounts. :poo:
Saudi adverts will likely be for the Saudi world cup. Another farce.Quote:
Originally Posted by EalingGreen
Edit: Also for anyone wondering I believe the correct pronunciation of the streaming service is "Da Zone"
A chore? RTE actively despised LOI.Quote:
Originally Posted by Neish
You've obviously not bene following all the scandal and gossip around it all then :eek:Quote:
Originally Posted by dundalkfc10
It's at serious risk of being a bit of a non-event.
'Disown'?Quote:
Originally Posted by Another Bohemia
I think your "token women" comment is unnecessary. If people take that view into watching coverage then they're going to find something wrong with a female contributor's analysis. The men on a panel don't start at a disadvantage of having to prove they are not tokenistic.Quote:
Originally Posted by Shinkicker
Well saidQuote:
Originally Posted by fionnsci
I don't have a problem with women presenting or analysing as long as they contribute positively. There is a female presenter on sky who asks probing questions of the analysts and she contributes to the programme, there one on another channel who is dreadful and does not contribute so I don't watch it. There was a female commentator on LOI TV Sligo games and she was quite good and one or two who commentate on LOI women's games are also good. There are several male commentators on LOI TV who are terrible and should not be part of the show either. If Mr negative Kerr is on I hit the mute button as I can't stand his negativity.Quote:
Originally Posted by fionnsci
Let's see what we get.