Government proposes All-Ireland Senior football quarter-finals be free-to-air

A view of GAA Go microphones ahead of the All-Ireland Senior football quarter-final in Croke Park.

The All-Ireland senior football championship quarter-finals are being proposed by the Government as free-to-air broadcast games.

Two of the last-eight matches this year have already been confirmed for the subscription streaming platform GAAGO, which is jointly owned by the GAA and RTÉ. The service will provide live coverage of the two matches on Saturday, June 29.

However, in a statement today, Media Minister Catherine Martin announced that the two fixtures are being considered as part of a statutory review of the major sporting events designated as free-to-air TV broadcasts.

Fourteen events could be ringfenced including the All-Ireland senior hurling quarter-finals, the All-Ireland semi-finals and provincial finals in both codes and the All-Ireland quarter and semi-finals and provincial deciders in both the senior ladies football and camogie championships.

Outside of the GAA, Ireland’s games in both the men’s and women’s Uefa Nations League are up for consideration as free-to-air events as well as Ireland women’s qualifying games, their tournament game, opening fixtures, semi-finals and finals of the World Cup and European Championships.

Rugby-wise, Ireland’s men’s and women’s games in the Six Nations are included in the provisional list as well as the country’s games in the women’s Rugby World Cup and the final of the men’s European Rugby Champions Cup in the event an Irish provincial team be represented.

For the men’s Six Nations, it is put forward that the current “deferred” broadcast be changed to “live” broadcast.

It is seven years since the last free-to-air review when the All-Ireland senior ladies football and camogie deciders were added to the list. It also includes the Summer Olympics, All-Ireland senior football and hurling finals, Ireland’s men’s home and away qualifying and tournament games in the Euros and World Cup, the opening games, the semi-finals and final of the Euros and World Cup, Ireland’s games in the Rugby World Cup, the Irish Grand National and the Irish Derby and the Nations Cup at the Dublin Horse Show.

The minister said: “The review of the list of free-to-air events provides an opportunity to ensure that our most memorable sporting moments are retained on national TV for the people of Ireland to view together on an equal basis. Watching sporting or other events of national importance together creates a sense of community and national connectedness and should be accessible to everyone.

“I hope to take this opportunity to deliver on a programme for government commitment to increase the visibility of women’s sport. The achievements of our female sporting talent should be available to view on our national broadcasters, providing both entertainment and valuable role models to our younger participants in sport. I encourage all interested parties and stakeholders to contribute to this consultation process.” 

The public consultation lasts until February 20 and interested parties can be submit their views on www.gov.ie/freetoair