Profits from GAAGO, the pay-per-view streaming service for GAA matches, have been defended by its director against claims that popular games are being put behind a paywall to drive subscriptions and increase revenue. Declan McBennett, the director of GAAGO, rejected the argument that viewers who pay the licence fee should not have to pay an additional fee to watch certain matches. He also denied that top GAA clashes were being selectively chosen to be shown exclusively on GAAGO.
According to McBennett, the issue with access to GAA matches is mainly due to the condensed nature of the GAA calendar and the need to provide airtime to other sports, rather than a deliberate attempt to restrict access to popular games. He stated that while the focus is often on football, hurling, soccer, and rugby, other sports are in greater need of visibility.
McBennett acknowledged that formal clearance had not been obtained from the consumer watchdog, the CCPC, to extend GAAGO from a service solely for the diaspora to the domestic market. However, he emphasized that GAAGO has played a significant role in increasing live sport coverage, offering over 1,000 hours of live sport over the past four years.
The issue of broadcasting GAA matches on free-to-air channels was also discussed. GAA director general Tom Ryan explained that not every game can realistically be televised, but the decision to broadcast matches is not based on revenue. He stated that income earned from broadcasting is crucial for the GAA to support the sport and meet its financial responsibilities.
The debate also touched on the coverage of women’s sport, specifically Ladies Gaelic Football. Mary O’Connor, the CEO of the Federation of Irish Sport, praised TG4’s dedicated coverage of this sport but noted that more can be done to promote women in sport. Alan Esslemont, the director general of TG4, suggested that there is space to expand the coverage of free-to-air sport, emphasizing the importance of highlighting the value of female athletes and the Irish language.
In conclusion, the discussion surrounding GAAGO’s profits, the broadcasting of GAA matches, and the coverage of women’s sport highlights the ongoing challenges and considerations in providing equal access and visibility to sporting events. While GAAGO has faced criticism for its pay-per-view model, proponents argue that it has significantly increased live sport coverage. The GAA maintains that decisions on broadcasting matches are not driven by revenue, but rather the practical limitations of resources and scheduling. As the debate continues, the focus remains on finding a balance between ensuring fair access to sports and the financial sustainability of sports organizations.
