Point taken ..... but once bitten .... They had a press release for the licencing aswell, all over the place .... "22 clubs FAIL" .... ffs !!Originally Posted by Éanna
in fairness, when was the last time they even made that much of an effort
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
I'll reserve judgement for now.
Prediction:
- Setanta Cup will be included.
- RTE to show live game from each round of FAI Cup?
- RTE to show shel$ Champions League games
- RTE2, TG4 & Setanta to show 10 games between them, maybe some show as-live delayed by Setanta?
believe me, I agree with you. When it comes to the FAI, my reaction to everything is "I'll believe it when i see it."
Press Release
FAI agrees 30 game per year, 5 year TV rights agreement for domestic soccer with RTÉ, TG4, Setanta
400% increase in eircom League prize fund
Dublin, February 25th, 2005
The Football Association of Ireland has agreed a unique multi-broadcaster TV deal which will see more than 30 domestic soccer games televised each year and a €400,000 prize fund for the eircom League.
In a groundbreaking 5-year agreement, the games will be broadcast by three broadcasters – RTÉ, TG4 and Setanta Sports.
“This new TV package, together with a 400% increase in prizefunding represents a step change for domestic soccer”, said FAI Chief Executive Officer John Delaney. “Exposure of the game on TV is vital for the future of the game and the securing of this TV package represents a huge leap forward in terms of bringing the game into people’s homes”, he added.
“The FAI is delighted also to provide a 400% increase in prize money for the eircom League”, Delaney said. The total cash available to the League is now a record €400,000, up from €98,000 in 2004.
The key elements of the deal are:
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
Mr Delaney said that the deals announced today were “the most exciting and innovative package of measures to affect the domestic game for many years”. He paid tribute to all three broadcasters for supporting the domestic game so strongly and in a uniquely cooperative way.
“With the TV rights deal for international matches recently concluded, this agreement covering both the eircom League and the Carlsberg FAI Cup starts a new era for the game of football in Ireland and hopefully gives everyone a positive platform for real development of the game here at home”, Delaney added.
The TV agreement will include a minimum of 29 matches to be broadcast during the 2005 domestic season. At least 24 will be live with a minimum of 5 shown on as “as live” basis. The FAI expects that broadcasters will also take up options to transmit above this committed level and the final figure is likely to exceed 30 matches during the year.
The recently appointed Chairman of the eircom League, Paddy McCaul said the scale of the announcement was remarkable. “We are delighted that the FAI has used its strong commercial position to secure a really significant deal for the eircom League and the domestic game as a whole”, he said. “The exposure for the game, along with the cash injection gives the eircom League a huge boost”, he added.
Commenting on the agreement TG4 Ceannasaí, Pol Ó Gallchoir said “We are very pleased to be centrally involved in this innovative partnership with the FAI and colleague broadcasters. This exciting soccer deal extends significantly our channel’s coverage of top-class sport in Ireland,” he said.
Niall Cogley, Chief Executive, Setanta Sports, said; “We are delighted to add the eircom league to our already strong portfolio of football rights from both at home, through the Setanta Cup, and abroad. The partnership with the FAI and the eircom League is good news for Irish Soccer and good news for the viewers,” he concluded.
Glen Killane, RTÉ Head of Sport, said: "RTÉ are fully committed to the eircom League and to domestic soccer. We are delighted to be extending our partnership with the FAI in that respect, and we look forward to continuing to bring coverage to the widest possible audience".
Ends
And professional football in Ireland is kick-started
Excellent news.
judging from the way TG4 did the national leagues and the celtic leagues, their coverage will be top notch. looking forward to it..
Whatever it was I am sure it was better than my plan to get out of this by pretending to be mad. I mean, who would have noticed another madman around here?
Sounds the business
I know its early days yet lads but I for one will be sending a congratulatory email to each of the companies involved. I spent long enought badgering them about not enough coverage, only right to give credit where its due
Muppet. That's a 300% increase! Innumerate clown...
This is great news though. The prize fund increase and the matches will hugely boost the game. However, where are TV3 gone? And if they're still doing eL weekly, will they have access to the above footage, which I would hope wouldn't look like it was filmed with a home video?
Still, surely one of the biggest and best announcements in eL history?
What's the difference between live and "as live"? Is that some sort of euphemism for delayed coverage?
Yes. "As live" means deferred coverage of the full ninety minutes.
A leading authority on League of Ireland football since 2003. You're probably wrong.
All that lovely prize money should be donated to us -as our players are demanding training facilities and footballs and stuff.
In return, we promise to win the league.
This is one of the beat thing the FAI have ever done ! fair play to them. Great news for everyone involved in the eircom League.
Does anyone know when the rights of the name of the league are up ? I'd say there will be any amount of company's wanting to be associated with this now.
I think describingt he announcement as remarkable is a bit too much.
Plus points:
- 5 year Plan
- None of the "we can't show matches cos don't have rights" crap from the past.
- Should open the door for europe games to be shown as different broadcasters will be familiar with the league clubs involved.
Changes from last season
- 4 extra FAI Cup matches by TG4
- 7 live league matches by TG4
- 5 live 7 5 as-live matches by Setanta
No real change from RTE as they've always shown FAI CUP semis & final & would usually show 3-5 league games. Difference is they comitted to 5 years of coverage.
Questions:
- Will clubs who shown on tv receive any direct payment for this?
- Is the 400k extra money or just to be used to pay team shown on tv their match fee?
Would like to see:
- Try move the live games to different time if possible.
- Schedule of tv games to be announced in advance. None of the few days notice stuff from the past.
- Proper highlights show.
Does this mean that these 30 odd games are in addition to the Setanta Cup?
Are these 'as live' repeats of matches from the other channels? Why can't they just be live?
According to the Indo, eL Weekly will continue to be broadcast by TV3. Not that it constitutes a "proper" highlights show in its present format.
A leading authority on League of Ireland football since 2003. You're probably wrong.
Great news. 29 games plus the Setanta Cup.
Presumably EL Weekly will use the coverage from the other companies' live coverage for their highlights so there'll be decent quality for one match most weeks. That might motivate them to improve their coverage of the other games too.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
In fairness, I think that is nit-picking.Are these 'as live' repeats of matches from the other channels? Why can't they just be live?
Only 5 games from the minium of 29 league games broadcast will be "as-live". Presumably because RTE etc have other programmes, soaps etc, to show too.
The deal is fantastic for the league, with absolutely no faults to it whatsoever IMO.
I would also like a schedule to be released and see on it that the cameras will make a few trips outside the pale
Finn Harps Dot Com
www.finnharps.com
The delayed games are only on Setanta. They're probably mixing the live games with Celtic League rugby so they can't show all of them live.
We're not arrogant, we're just better.
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