Explainer: What you need to know about the GAAGo debate

The basics

The decision to broadcast several high profile games in the GAA championships, particular in the Munster hurling championship, on GAAGo has shone a critical light on the streaming service - particularly what games are available on free to air TV and what games are not.

What’s GAAGo?

The streaming platform was launched as a joint venture by RTÉ and the GAA in 2014 and was primarily targeted at overseas markets. This changed last year when the GAA’s relationship with Sky came to an end, and games previously broadcast on linear TV were moved to the paid streaming service. This year there are 38 championship games being broadcast exclusively on the service, while 31 are being shown free to air on RTÉ.

Why are people upset?

The debate has taken off over the past two weeks due to two games in particular being placed behind the paywall. The victory by Clare over Limerick in the Munster hurling championship on April 30 led to government members Willie O’Dea, a TD for Limerick city, and Timmy Dooley, a senator from Clare, criticising the fact that neither game was broadcast free to air.

This was followed by a slew of political backlash, including from Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Tánaiste Micheál Martin, who criticised the limit on free to air games after last Saturday’s Cork and Tipperary face-off was exclusively shown behind a streaming paywall. Virgin Media has also questioned RTÉ’s editorial position as both rights buyer and business partner with the GAA.

Is this just about money?

No, although that certainly has been at the heart of the debate. GAAGo costs €79 for one year’s subscription - half the cost of the TV license. But there have also been complaints over accessing the stream, particularly for older people.

The service is only available online, meaning many elderly people and others cohorts struggling to operate the technology required (laptops or desktops) to access games.

Secure broadband is also an issue across Ireland, particularly in the GAA’s rural heartland, with some areas unable to access the stream due to lower quality internet.

Is hurling being singled out?

Many complaints are currently centred around hurling due to more top-tier hurling games being broadcast on GAAGo as opposed to linear television. However, hurling’s issue will soon become football’s problem, as high profile gaelic championship games are set to be streamed to facilitate RTÉ broadcasting hurling matches free to air.

Why can’t RTÉ just show all the games?

RTÉ is contracted to show 31 games, 16 of which are predetermined based on importance. These include all provincial finals (6), All Ireland semi finals and finals (6), and four quarter finals (two each in football and hurling). The other 15 are selected on a case by case basis, meaning RTÉ will show games on 5 of the 15 Saturdays where championship games are also on.

What about other broadcasters?

Once the Sky deal ended, the GAA opted to go with RTÉ as its sole linear TV provider and stick with GAAGo for the rest of its games. The current deal provides exclusivity for five years, meaning Virgin Media, Sky, and TG4 can’t access this remainder.

What happens next?

RTÉ and the GAA both insist that there will be no changes until the end of this season, when the five year deal is due to be reviewed. Political backlash, however, may lead to both parties coming under pressure to make some concessions.