GAA games going mobile

GAA fans may be able to watch video clips from championship matches on their mobile phones within the next two years.

Croke Park officials are considering a number of options to utilise new 3G and multi media messaging technology in a bid to maximise the exposure and the financial potential of their product.

3G represents the third generation of wireless communication technology which enables mobile phone users access to videoconferencing and television streaming.

But no deal will be finalised by the GAA until next year at the earliest, according to the Association.

“We are in discussions at the moment and we are looking at a number of options. For example, we may unbundle such rights when we are discussing the existing television contract next year,” the GAA’s marketing director Dermot Power said yesterday.

Last year 3UK, a British video mobile network, launched a service broadcasting FA Barclaycard Premiership games.

The English service had a monthly cost of £30 and a minimum term of 12 months.

Vodafone will launch a similar service on the Irish market next August but the prices are yet to be finalised.

Irish media giant Setanta Sport, one of the world’s largest independent closed circuit satellite broadcasters, are monitoring the Irish situation closely, according to CEO Frank Cronin.

Their media arm (Setanta Media) are pioneers in the development of mobile sports media and are one of Europe’s leading providers of sports information on WAP and SMS.

The Dublin-based company launched one of Europe’s first mobile sports video services delivered to PDAs and also completed redesigned the official GAA website, www.gaa.ie.