GAA Go

This thread will go quiet too. Last year only one post between July and December. Before that it was all about Munster hurling, particularly Cork. Then on 04 December somebody discovered that it would be a repeat this year, which produced the expected reaction.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/gaa/arid-41282941.html

After Christmas all went quiet again for a few months. Until our politicians and other interested parties were taken by surprise by Cork not getting on RTE. This happens with the schedule of games as well, which is published in December. Some people are caught out at this time of year by how condensed the season is, and that games have to be settled on the day.

I think you missed the sarcastic intent of my post. Was echoing the sarcasm of the other poster in relation to The Irish Times.

Maybe there should be a text vote on what will be shown on RTE. Clearly state how many games can be shown and give the options.

Use text messages so everyone can have a vote. No web / social media polls.

Not sure if it's still done but didn't the LFGA stream all league games from all 4 divisions on their Facebook page during COVID? I would pay double the current subscription charge just to have all my county league and championship matches streamed. Like all the minor and under 20 championship games are streamed and I wouldnt think they are being streamed at a loss - the senior grade would have multiple of viewer numbers compared to the underage grades. The argument that if you are paying good money for a product then production values need to be upped with the likes of pre and post match analysis and multi camera angles. I don't see that as essential - what's essential is one camera positioned correctly and a constant stream with a commentator and off we go.

This "national outcry" is both politicking with elections coming up, the media looking for clicks and people who moan about anything who in a lot of cases are passing supporters. A good number would have awareness that Cork for example were playing in the hurling, turned on RTE 2 around throw in time and had a fit that it wasn't on free to air.

I honestly believe the vast majority of people that really want to watch a match on GAAGO would have the ways and means to watch it. That might mean asking the young fella down the road to bring the laptop up, going to the local pub for two fanta's etc etc. it's the passing fans that are up in arms for me, if that Saturday night movie was any good or Munster were playing Treviso in Limerick they'd be watching that instead.

Of course the thread will go quiet. GAAGo do not show any club games, the GAA blocks TG4 from showing games abroad but does not put them on GAAGo, although the video is already available. That in itself is a disgrace.

It will be interesting to note if the ground if full on this occasion, neither Galway footballers nor Derry are known for huge support.

An outsider opinion here: I'm not a member of a club, I've no real interest in football, sometimes go to games, and my wider family would watch hurling if it was on TV.

The big fans in my family either went to the games or paid for GAAgo. No issues. I went to some games and didn't pay for GAAgo. My children and wider family saw virtually no hurling this year (maybe TG4).

You maybe won't get many casual fans like me in this thread and our opinions probably aren't heavily considered, but in cities particularly GAA has competition. We're like "undecided" voters in elections or something. And 3 weeks of no senior hurling on TV means that there's been very little hurling shown in our house. Provincial senior rugby competes against underage hurling for screen time. It's nothing like a fair battle.

So I think a question is whether the GAAgo primary goal is broadcasting to an existing audience or growing the sport with new audiences. Because I don't think GAAgo is achieving the latter with the current model. The stated GAA goal is "show the sport to as wide an audience as possible", but since the championship format change our house has seen less hurling than before. And GAAgo isn't really going to stem that tide.

Also, choosing to put Cork on GAAgo 3 weeks in a row looks like shooting yourself in the foot. I understand they're trying to drive people onto the service but it's a double edged sword. And dangerous when your competition aren't doing the same. It's not really the price that's the problem for me more a case of "why would I bother, there's already something interesting on TV". It didn't make me get a subscription anyway.

Finally, the Saturday/Sunday Game TV show, I know it's a different topic entirely but it's dire altogether these days. Not worth watching at all. So that's not helping the situation either!

For context. And given that strategy, it looks like they chose wisely (back in December). There is such a massive audience for the Cork hurling games, that it is a no brainer to put those on pay tv.

"Burns said that while he understood some people's frustration with the Cork-Limerick game going behind a paywall, he stressed the commercial reality was that GAAGO had to include some big games to make the subscription (€69 per year) attractive.

"In order to make GAAGO financially viable we can't just show the peripheral small games that we're not going to have on (otherwise) so we do have to have some games to attract people to the €69 that they will say, 'there's a couple of big games on that will justify my purchase.'

"Remember, we do not have shareholders, we have stakeholders and those stakeholders are demanding that we do our best to fund all of these infrastructure projects and all of the €75m that we give back (to county boards and clubs)."

Did they ring the Shandon Bells?

This would suggest poor marketing, as I did not know this.

To be fair, him inferring GAAGo is a plucky young startup company when RTE and the GAA are behind it is ridiculous and insulting. He is an arrogant pr1ck, imo. He said that to make them the victims and to frame it that the Government should be providing support implicitly due to it being a startup. He should go f*ck himself from a height.

As a fellow city person I don't think any amount of TV coverage or exposure will move the needle.

I've lived through Jackie's Army, Munster rugby and their "greatest fans ever", seen Limerick hurling attendances go up by "coincidentally" the same amount is now missing from Thomond Park and grew up hearing about Finucane, Connolly and a packed out Market's Field.

For the casual city dwelling fan and their family winning and only winning will "promote" the game.

Anyone have trouble with app on an android phone? Tried today for first time this year, not opening for me at all. Updated, reinstalled it etc but no joy. Also i can't find any contact details for support etc on their website??

if the RTE/ GAA gaago venture in its current form ends, theres nothing to stop the GAA starting a new streaming venture independent of RTE and without the alleged conflicts of interest that annoy the politicans.

Sure, if the government forces RTE to renege on a commercial contract you would think that the GAA would be able to sue for compensation for breach of contract which would cover to a reasonable extent the development costs of a non RTE Gaago successor

RTE don't provide OB infrastructure. Its been outsourced for years.

Still having the same issue, been back and forth to support for weeks and no resolution. Wasnt too bothered as tv app works fine but will be at an event today and would like to keep an eye on the games. Anyone else having issues?

Iv'e done all that numerous times but no joy. I can watch on browser alright but cant get it to go full screen

I see Harris sticking his oar in again on the GAAGo issue.

Is there any other issue where the government has been so vocal insisting that an organisation should be giving its product away for less than its market value?

They can review it all they like there will always be complaints unless its scrapped. Rumoured annual 50 mill rte bailout now on top of the license fee / broadcast fee isnt going to help matters.