Irish Broadcasters Net GAA Rights | The Irish Film & Television Network

This will mean that RTÉ will deliver exclusive coverage of the All Ireland Semi-Finals and Finals both on RTÉ Television and RTÉ Radio as well as over 90 live Championship games on RTÉ Television. The broadcaster will also show championship highlights and analysis each week on RTÉ Television’s ‘The Sunday Game’ along with a weekly GAA Championship TV magazine programme.

Director-General of RTÉ, Cathal Goan commented on the tender results, saying: ““Gaelic Games are at the heart of Ireland’s sense of itself and of our country’s passion for Sport. As the national public service broadcaster, RTÉ’s relationship with these games, and making them available to a wider audience, began in 1926 and continues to grow with changing technologies and changing audience expectations. We are delighted to remain at the heart of what is a major Irish shared experience, both sporting and cultural.”

The results saw TV3’s GAA coverage upgraded from the third of five packages to second place. The independent broadcaster will hold the broadcasting rights for All Ireland quarter-finals, provincial finals and qualifiers along with minor matches on All-Ireland final days. In addition, the channel has also secured the television rights to a new mid-week package of live Wednesday night games from the Ulster Bank Third Level Colleges Competitions and the Cadburys U21 Football Championship.

TV3’s Commercial Director, Pat Kiely commented on the channel’s upgrade, saying: “This new package delivers better fixtures for TV3 viewers and a higher proportion of the Championship fixtures available for broadcast. We developed an excellent relationship with the GAA over the last three years and we are thrilled to renew for the next three years. We are delighted to add to this with more impetus to our GAA Championship output.”

TG4 will continue to have exclusive TV rights on Sundays to Allianz League games and will also continue to hold exclusive live television rights to club and colleges games. Furthermore the Irish language broadcaster has also secured a new mid-week package of live Wednesday night games from the Ulster Bank Third Level Colleges Competitions and the Cadburys U21 Football Championship.

TG4’s deputy chief executive, Pádhraic Ó Ciardha says that the Irish language channel is very happy with the outcome of the GAA media rights tender process, stating: "We are extremely satisfied to have retained our Allianz League, AIB Club and Colleges Championship television rights, thus ensuring free to air Sunday coverage for these important components of the GAA calendar. The súil eile approach has driven our GAA coverage from the outset, and this is another exciting and pioneering initiative."

Setanta will have the rights to Saturday games in the same competition.

The GAA will now go to tender for international rights.

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