TV Deal

**harpskid** · 22/02/2005, 9:39 AM

UP to 30 Eircom League games and FAI Cup ties are set to be screened live in a new television deal agreed by the FAI, writes Gerry McDermott.

The association is expected to announce soon that it has done an historic multi-package deal with RTE, Setanta Sports, TV3 and TG4.

Coverage is expected to commence on Friday, March 18, with the Dublin derby between Bohs and Shamrock Rovers which is likely to be screened on Setanta.

Meanwhile, several clubs are thought to be investigating the option of appealing against the decision of the Eircom League Management Committee to approve a 33-round campaign for the Premier Division.

Cork City manager Pat Dolan is the latest figure to express his annoyance at the fixtures which were published on Saturday at the League's AGM.

**Clones Road Cas** · 22/02/2005, 11:38 AM

Our Acting CEO is beginning to be a bit like Seamus Brennan, making an awful lot of announcements. The cynic in me is wondering has it anything to do with the coming interview process.

ho Hum

**�anna** · 22/02/2005, 11:40 AM

I don't trust Delaney, but there have been some positive developments since he got the job. If he keeps this up, I might have to change my mind

**dcfcsteve** · 22/02/2005, 12:10 PM

Originally Posted by �anna

I don't trust Delaney, but there have been some positive developments since he got the job. If he keeps this up, I might have to change my mind

I think the best thing for FAI posts in future might be to have them on permanent probation

Seems to be the best way to keep them on their toes.......

**Slash/ED** · 22/02/2005, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by harpskid

Meanwhile, several clubs are thought to be investigating the option of appealing against the decision of the Eircom League Management Committee to approve a 33-round campaign for the Premier Division.

ffs

It's far too late for that now, all we need now is to scupper this TV deal by dragging the start of the season out even more.

Otherwise what �anna said, word for word. Not convinced by Delaney yet but if this happens I'll have to give massive credit where it's due.

This would be fantastic news for the league, if we can add in a proper highlights package then it's happy days

**pineapple stu** · 22/02/2005, 12:32 PM

Brilliant news if it's true! That would be a live game every week, pretty much. I'd still prefer to see a decent highlights package over live games, but I'm certainly not going to complain over this!

How are teams planning on taking action against the 33-game season? I thought this was discussed and passed at the recent AGM, with the alternative being proposed by Derry City? If so, what possible grounds for complaint do they have?

**Colm** · 22/02/2005, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

How are teams planning on taking action against the 33-game season??

I don't think it's the 33 game season they are planning to take action against, it's the scandalous set of fixtures which are unfairly favourable to Shels and Bohs and have stacked the odds against Cork City.
Dolan is dead right, it's outrageous and action should be taken.

**Slash/ED** · 22/02/2005, 12:42 PM

Originally Posted by Colm

I don't think it's the 33 game season they are planning to take action against, it's the scandalous set of fixtures which are unfairly favourable to Shels and Bohs and have stacked the odds against Cork City.
Dolan is dead right, it's outrageous and action should be taken.

Action should be taken, what you mean by that is all fixtures from now on should favour Cork and only Cork or you'll take your ball and go home? Wake up ffs, the fixtures had to favour someone that's the stupidity of the system, they switch every year so next year it's advantage Cork, I bet you wont be complaining then, like Dolan wasn't complaining when the fixtures suited SPA.

**pineapple stu** · 22/02/2005, 12:43 PM

Originally Posted by Colm

I don't think it's the 33 game season they are planning to take action against, it's the scandalous set of fixtures which are unfairly favourable to Shels and Bohs and have stacked the odds against Cork City.
Dolan is dead right, it's outrageous and action should be taken.

Aaaarggghhh...so hard to tell if you're being sarcastic or not! I hope I hope there's a smiley face missing from there!

Originally Posted by harpskid

Meanwhile, several clubs are thought to be investigating the option of appealing against the decision of the Eircom League Management Committee to approve a 33-round campaign for the Premier Division.

Would have thought that made it obvious, but no... Facts shmacts.

**Colm** · 22/02/2005, 12:44 PM

Originally Posted by pineapple stu

Aaaarggghhh...so hard to tell if you're being sarcastic or not! I hope I hope there's a smiley face missing from there!

No sarcasm intended.

**pineapple stu** · 22/02/2005, 12:45 PM

Well then I refer you to my above (edited) post. Your post is one of the stupidest I've read and bears absolutely no relation to the facts as set out in the passage originally quoted.

Dolan was complaining about last year's fixtures as well...even though there were four rounds!

**Slash/ED** · 22/02/2005, 12:48 PM

Anyway, about the TV deal, what's so great about having four channels involved is that no Euro ties should be left uncovered now, so you wont have situations like last season where Corks inter toto run was largely ignored.

**Maynard** · 22/02/2005, 12:55 PM

The tv deal sounds like what everyone's been hoping for (therefore I wouldn't get the hopes up just yet

) but if it comes through that would be great. So long as it doesn't become the Shelbourne show (nothing against Shels btw) and they can cherry pick the fixtures with some sense ie derbies, promotion/relegation battles etc then it should be fantastic

**gspain** · 22/02/2005, 12:56 PM

This is great news - 30 live games will really boost the profile of the league.

**�anna** · 22/02/2005, 12:58 PM

Originally Posted by Colm

I don't think it's the 33 game season they are planning to take action against, it's the scandalous set of fixtures which are unfairly favourable to Shels and Bohs and have stacked the odds against Cork City.

so what do we do? Swap them around, and then complain again next season?

The time for action is long gone. The clubs surely knew what was going to happen (someone would get screwed) and no-one said anything, because they hoped it would be someone else. We got the short straw unfortunately, but what can we do.

**holidaysong** · 22/02/2005, 1:00 PM

30 live games...nice

**Danny** · 22/02/2005, 1:35 PM

fux sakes will corkies please stop moaning about the fixtures list and just get on with looking forward to the season
Pats are away twice to shells cork drogs derry Waterford & bray and ye don�t hear us complaining.
This could mean more to us and the bottom of the league than you lot at the top.

**�anna** · 22/02/2005, 1:40 PM

Originally Posted by Danny

Pats are away twice to shells cork drogs derry Waterford & bray and ye don�t hear us complaining.

exactly. We're not the only ones

**patsh** · 22/02/2005, 1:50 PM

I hope that they are 30 games WORTH covering. Some of the sh*te I've seen over the last few years will only turn people off!

**Schumi** · 22/02/2005, 2:17 PM

Wow, this sounds brilliant! Hopefully there'll be a good quality and well timed highlights package too, as people above have said that's more important than the live games. I wonder if the viewing figures for Shels' European games caused a change in attitude in TV companies.