RTÉ head of sports makes case for high-profile GAA matches under Friday night lights

ATTRACTIVE: Cork v Tipp drew a huge attendance of 30,910 at SuperValu Páirc Uí Chaoimh under lights on a Saturday night. Picture: INPHO/Ben Brady

Friday night games could be the answer to the increased demand for live GAA games.

RTÉ head of sport Declan McBennett this week defended the organisation's hurling and football coverage, arguing the restricted slots available at weekends limited their options.

McBennett appeared on Morning Ireland to elaborate on his post on social media on Tuesday when he stated: "Post Congress it's time for mature debate on what is wanted/needed with regard to GAA coverage. Priority to Attendance or tv ? How many games given there are more than ever - what level of games & what level of coverage. Simply shouting for the game "I want to see" isn’t enough"

RTÉ and TG4 share the rights to league coverage, with the GAA+ app also showing a handful of games, but counties can't stream matches that aren't picked up by the broadcasters. That's in contrast to the club season, with county boards signing their own deals with individual companies for online coverage.

"I think there needs to be a clear understanding going forward among all stakeholders as to what is possible, what is feasible, what are the factors that are at play, and what's not possible, so that people have a clear understanding as to just how much GAA coverage is available, because the truth is, there is more than ever," said McBennett.

RTÉ head of sport Declan McBennett. Picture: Brendan Moran/Sportsfile

The Friday night slot has been mooted before but was shot down, in part due to the demands it would place on players to take time off work on match days. "The Friday night option is an option that broadcasters have always claimed for and there are many who are in favour of it.

"The GPA are obviously against it, for their own reasons. 

But as we've said before, why Meath and Dublin couldn't play on a Friday night or why Armagh and Down couldn't play in the Marshes or the Athletic Grounds on a Friday night, and claim that space, is another part of the debate that needs to be had."

McBennett also elaborated on how the GAA approaches its media rights.

"I think Tom Ryan has been very clear about this on an annual basis. There are four pillars on which the GAA media strategy is based.

BALANCE

"Number one is the commercial value of their rights, which is money. Number two is eyeballs on their games. Number three is the balance between attendance and coverage and number four is the affinity and affection for the Irish language.

When I took over the job in RTÉ, RTÉ did 40 games per year. Now we do almost double that. 

"TG4 last year did 180, GAA+ do 40, their predecessor Sky Sports did 14, BBC Northern Ireland do games. There are more games than ever.

"I think there has to be an understanding that there are more games than ever, but there has to be a balance as to how many games can be done, otherwise you dilute the games that are at play."

During the league, RTÉ offer Saturday live games, with Galway-Kilkenny on the agenda this weekend, and the Sunday night highlights programme.

TG4 will be showing Limerick-Cork at 7pm on Saturday and Waterford v Tipperary and Clare v Wexford the following day.