New TV Deal

**nr637** · 27/01/2025, 10:29 AM

Originally Posted by oriel

Although good to see, I will again ask the question on financials. Yes its great to see and looks very professional, but are the clubs actually going to be paid for this?

If not its still good to see the deal and clubs will still get their 'product' showcased, sponsors will be happy, but still think its a free broadcasting deal to Virgin unless they compensate clubs properly like most other euro leagues of similar size. I think I remember reading one of the leagues in Estonia / Latvia / Lithuania have a TV deal and clubs getting semi decent money.

Let's look on the bright side for once with this TV deal. We have been waiting for so long to get a proper offer. I know the financial side of it is important for the clubs, but if we were sticking to the RTE position, then things would just stay as the status quo.

**Buckett** · 27/01/2025, 10:49 AM

Disappointing to read that they'll be showing live matches on Fridays. The live game should be on another night to the rest of the games imo

**nr637** · 27/01/2025, 11:26 AM

Originally Posted by Buckett

Disappointing to read that they'll be showing live matches on Fridays. The live game should be on another night to the rest of the games imo

Considering the interest and improvement in clubs average attendances, I don't think it will make an affect. The LOI fan support is very loyal to their own clubs and fans don't travel around to support other clubs, not even in Dublin.

**Glen Of Aherlow** · 27/01/2025, 11:30 AM

Originally Posted by nr637

Considering the interest and improvement in clubs average attendances, I don't think it will make an affect. The LOI fan support is very loyal to their own clubs and fans don't travel around to support other clubs, not even in Dublin.

It'll affect viewing figures though as a lot of the people likely to watch a televised game will be at matches

**outspoken** · 27/01/2025, 12:11 PM

Originally Posted by Buckett

Disappointing to read that they'll be showing live matches on Fridays. The live game should be on another night to the rest of the games imo

Can you imagine the crying from fans though if they were constantly having games moved to a thursday for example. Come the business end of the season it's likely to be the same teams on tv.

**Shinkicker** · 27/01/2025, 12:13 PM

Originally Posted by oriel

Although good to see, I will again ask the question on financials. Yes its great to see and looks very professional, but are the clubs actually going to be paid for this?

If not its still good to see the deal and clubs will still get their 'product' showcased, sponsors will be happy, but still think its a free broadcasting deal to Virgin unless they compensate clubs properly like most other euro leagues of similar size. I think I remember reading one of the leagues in Estonia / Latvia / Lithuania have a TV deal and clubs getting semi decent money.

It great to see a long term deal. There may be little or no money to the clubs but they are being televised and advertised. It's up to the clubs to perform and put on a display of good football. If this gets the viewing figures up it will put the league in a better place to negotiate when this contract expires. Let's get it off the ground first. RTE show some absolute sh1t& GAA matches in fairly empty grounds as well as the high profile games in full grounds. This is something VM will have to deal with in the LOI too. Admittedly ground capacities in LOI grounds are lower than most GAA grounds so each game should show a full house which helps viewing. If clubs could move the camera gantry so a full stand is in the frame most of the time it may also help. Let's get it off the ground, make improvements as we go and put ourselves in a better negotiating position. You never know but if viewing numbers are really good RTE may try to get back in and there could be a bit of a bidding war.

**fionnsci** · 27/01/2025, 1:44 PM

I think Friday night is better. Avoids competition with English football which is well established on Saturday and Sunday and helps people firmly associate Fridays with LOI. Friday nights are good for atmosphere, which is good for the tv product. Also means that clubs won't have disruption of having games moved from Friday nights every couple of weeks. Virgin wouldn't sign up for 4 years if the match-going population was their target - I'm sure they want their slice of the mainstream Friday night audience.

**bohsmug** · 27/01/2025, 2:14 PM

The only reason I'd want TV games to be on a different night than Friday is because I want to watch them. From a business point of view I'm not sure that the loss of viewers who'll go to a game on a Friday is enough to dictate whether the "product" is viable or not. I'd prefer it to be another night but can understand how a consistent slot on a Friday is the decision the clubs/FAI/broadcaster have come to. A few reasons mentioned in posts above - teams who are regularly broadcast having to move games too often etc.

Pity though and still hoping the odd game gets moved for unexpected reasons.

**sbgawa** · 27/01/2025, 2:49 PM

Originally Posted by bohsmug

The only reason I'd want TV games to be on a different night than Friday is because I want to watch them. From a business point of view I'm not sure that the loss of viewers who'll go to a game on a Friday is enough to dictate whether the "product" is viable or not. I'd prefer it to be another night but can understand how a consistent slot on a Friday is the decision the clubs/FAI/broadcaster have come to. A few reasons mentioned in posts above - teams who are regularly broadcast having to move games too often etc.

Pity though and still hoping the odd game gets moved for unexpected reasons.

Viewing figures also record "recordings" to watch later so if we all record Virgins coverage to watch when we get home its counted in the figures AFAIK.
Ive seen RTE report on viewing figures "including RTE player"

**WeAreRovers** · 27/01/2025, 3:05 PM

Originally Posted by sbgawa

Viewing figures also record "recordings" to watch later so if we all record Virgins coverage to watch when we get home its counted in the figures AFAIK.
Ive seen RTE report on viewing figures "including RTE player"

For viewing to count in overnight figures it must be what's known as VOSDAL - viewed on same day as live. Player figures are included separately not simply added to VOSDAL TV figures. Consolidated TV figures include everyone who watched live, VOSDAL, or in the 7 days after broadcast.

**EalingGreen** · 27/01/2025, 3:50 PM

BBC NI livestreams (for free) an IL game most Friday nights during the season, which obv doesn't clash with regular games on Saturdays. Seems like a good arrangement, with Larne, one of the clubs which features most, seeming to prefer Friday night games anyhow. (Though I suspect players and management of p-t clubs surely dislike playing on Fridays.) While SKY broadcasts the occasional game, when for whatever reason their usual schedule is diminished.

Anyhow, the BBC NI coverage/production isn't bad imo. While it's generally agreed that it's a very good thing for the IL as a whole for the interest/publicity it generates, if not the money.

**yurt** · 27/01/2025, 5:19 PM

Having a game a week televised up to 2029 is so far ahead of what my expectations were a month ago. The fact this isn't just a gamble which might be binned by virgin after one season means that this will be given the investment and space the grow that it needs.

Friday nights is a great time to have this on in bars around the country as it competes with very little else, maybe just rugby for a couple of game weeks at the beginning and end of the season.

I'm hoping too that this will just end the perpetual group anger towards RTE and their lack of support for the next few years. It's become exhausting being enraged by the same issues season after season. That said I'm pretty sure we'll be having the same whines when it comes to LOI in Europe coverage over the summer.

**Shinkicker** · 27/01/2025, 6:22 PM

Originally Posted by yurt

Having a game a week televised up to 2029 is so far ahead of what my expectations were a month ago. The fact this isn't just a gamble which might be binned by virgin after one season means that this will be given the investment and space the grow that it needs.

Friday nights is a great time to have this on in bars around the country as it competes with very little else, maybe just rugby for a couple of game weeks at the beginning and end of the season.

I'm hoping too that this will just end the perpetual group anger towards RTE and their lack of support for the next few years. It's become exhausting being enraged by the same issues season after season. That said I'm pretty sure we'll be having the same whines when it comes to LOI in Europe coverage over the summer.

Surely VM have a first dibs clause on European games or is that negotiated with UEFA?

**nigel-harps1954** · 27/01/2025, 6:34 PM

By my reading of it, cup games and European games are very much still up for grabs.

**redobit** · 27/01/2025, 7:35 PM

Make Friday night the tv game. All other games on the Saturday. Problem solved.

**yurt** · 27/01/2025, 9:18 PM

I wonder will this rule Sligo out of the tv game slot when they are at home since they are playing on Saturdays? I would imagine it will and they'll be more likely to be selected on the weekday fixtures to balance it out.

**EalingGreen** · 27/01/2025, 10:09 PM

Originally Posted by redobit

Make Friday night the tv game. All other games on the Saturday. Problem solved.

Aside from clashing with Saturday game in England, Scotland etc, don't LOI sides also play on certain Monday nights? (Unsure)

If so, those would then have to be moved to Tuesday nights, which in turn would clash with televised games in GB, or Champions League etc.

**bohsmug** · 27/01/2025, 10:22 PM

Originally Posted by EalingGreen

Aside from clashing with Saturday game in England, Scotland etc, don't LOI sides also play on certain Monday nights? (Unsure)

If so, those would then have to be moved to Tuesday nights, which in turn would clash with televised games in GB, or Champions League etc.

They don't really "have to". I suppose there may be some discussion on which is the preferred option. Unless EPL has dropped it's few Friday night fixtures there'll be the odd clash there too. Very hard not to clash at all with games at the top end of the sport, given their much publicised busy calendar.

**brendy_�ire** · 28/01/2025, 8:56 AM

Originally Posted by outspoken

Can you imagine the crying from fans though if they were constantly having games moved to a thursday for example. Come the business end of the season it's likely to be the same teams on tv.

I would accept moving a few (maybe four?) home games a season to another night for the added bonus of being able to watch more games on Virgin. As it stands with matches being on Friday night, I doubt I'll get to watch many of them.
Point taken that it may be the same teams being asked to move games though.

**oriel** · 28/01/2025, 9:37 AM

John Caulfield when at Cork C made the point that live games should not be on a Fri, pick a night like Thursday, I think a good idea, so all other club fans apart from the two (who would attend) could watch.

Even a Sat early evening might work 5pm or something, but as ever will always be English other big leagues up against it, scheduling.

Plus I know I`m banging the same drum about no monies here, and maybe its a discussion for the next agreement, but this 'deal' is more an 'arrangement' in the absence of any proper financial compensation for clubs, but it is certainly a positive start. Still think next time in discussions, the clubs should be looking to be properly paid.