An own goal? - Sport on television

JUST over a week ago Communications Minister Alex White proposed that Six Nations rugby be put under the free-to-air umbrella designed to ensure free access to events designated culturally significant.

Weekend reports that FAI chief executive John Delaney wants to restrict the number of Ireland’s competitive games at the Aviva Stadium ringfenced for free viewing will add momentum to a debate already enlivened by the GAA’s decision to sell some Championship games to Sky television.

Two years ago, the European Court of Justice ruled against Fifa and Uefa in an action taken by Britain and Belgium to ensure that some European Championship and World Cup games remain free to air but it does seem that this is more a thumb-in-the-dyke ruling than a final settlement. Like all data or entertainment, sport costs a lot to generate and it is probably naive to expect nationalism to permanently trump commerce. It is though, as we begin to mark 1916, a significant cultural shift to have to pay to watch teams that purport to represent us rather than investors.