Sundays will never be the same as RTE change their tune
Montrose producers have been carried by the winds of change blowing through the GAA, finally ditching the James Last composition which has trumpeted the Championship highlights for 25 years.
“We are expecting a bit of flak but we need to change,” said Sunday Game producer Glen Killane.
“It’s a statement of intent that we are moving on.”
Last’s ‘Jagariarten’ composition, picked up from Israeli television in 1979, will be replaced by a piece from John Walsh, who composed the theme music for “The Premiership” on Saturday nights.
But the change in signature tune is only one element of the programme’s evolution for 2004.
Clearly influenced by the pacesetting studio sets, updates and graphics employed by Sky Sports, the Sunday Game will now broadcast live from the chosen venue each week, beginning in Clones on Sunday for the clash of All-Ireland champions Tyrone and Derry.
Additionally, the producers will be flashing live score updates from other grounds as the season progresses, and will be tapping into a new graphics link-up between the GAA and the Press Association.
“From an aesthetic point of view, putting the show on the road each week will help transmit the atmosphere of the occasion to the viewer.
“With regard to live score updates, we feel that people want to be kept informed of events elsewhere. In the past, there might have been the view that it was preferable to keep a lid on things until that night’s highlights show,” explained Mr Killane.
Michael Lyster will continue to chair the live coverage and will have two new panellists in former Dublin footballer Paul Curran and ex-Wexford hurler Larry O’Gorman.
Pat Spillane will continue to host the Sunday night programme.
“The whole thing is quite a significant undertaking,” Killane accepted.
“We are not expecting miracles in the first few weeks. We are looking at this as a long-term strategy. But the whole thing signals that we are progressing.”
The old signature tune heralded the introduction of the Sunday Game back in 1979, and has become synonymous with one of RTÉ’s key ratings- winners over the last two decades.
Bank of Ireland’s sponsorship of the football championship is the most recognisable tie-up in marketing in this country, underlining the penetration of RTÉ’s Championship TV coverage.
The hurling championship will have its first live TV outing on Sunday week from Thurles as Waterford meet Clare in the Munster Championship.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
