GAA's streaming issue: Why can we watch schools action but not Cork league games?

The GAA broadcasting paradox was in full view on Saturday while some matches were anything but.

Earlier that day, both Munster post-primary schools’ football semi-finals were available on Clubber as Hamilton High School went up against the might of Mercy Mounthawk. Subscribers also had the option of tuning into Buttevant’s Munster Junior B hurling semi-final against Cappawhite.

But while club games and grades which never saw the light of TV coverage are opened up to streaming opportunities, dozens of higher-profile inter-county games get no airtime.

That evening, Cork had football and hurling games clashing at 5pm, leaving supporters without the possibility of seeing both their county teams in action. Neither were televised nor streamed despite wide interest in their opening-day fortunes.

Of the 31 Allianz League games that were scheduled to take place across the weekend, six were broadcast live on TV or online. Four were carried on TG4, which also offered two club finals and an LGFA League thriller. 

RTÉ and the BBC iPlayer chipped in with one apiece, with the latter game available for GAAGO members in the south.

But for the postponement of Kerry-Donegal calling for a back-up option, with Roscommon-Down filling the gap, there wouldn’t have been any coverage of the lower three football divisions. The four lowest hurling divisions got no TV slot.

MARQUEE

It’s natural for the TV broadcasters to choose the marquee games and there’s no criticism here for the games selected. But there patently is a market for those lower-tier games. And a giant marketing opportunity too.

What better chance for the Donegal or Tyrone hurlers, who are reaching new heights in Division 2, to draw a few eyeballs, attract some potential fans, spread the game of hurling, and compile a highlights reel than streaming coverage?

Speaking to some of them when compiling Division 2 previews, their hurling evangelists talk with the same raw passion as Seán Óg Ó hAilpín’s viral interviews about the renaissance of North Mon hurling this winter.

Look at Clubber’s highest performing clips online: Cathal O’Sullivan’s wonder score for De La Salle, Waterford, against St Colman’s in the Harty Cup. Charlie Keating’s one-handed catch for Dr Crokes against Castlehaven. 

Barcelona Gaels’ tiki-taka point at Nowlan Park. Winter hurling between Abbeydorney and Cashel King Cormacs. Paul Whyte going from penalty-saving goalkeeper to sharp-shooting hero for Kilrossanty. David Clifford highlight after David Clifford highlight.

There’s potential for incredible moments to be captured at any location.

The six-goal MTU derby was streamed from Bishopstown last Tuesday on the Higher Education GAA YouTube channel and garnered almost 10,000 views.

There were 26,000 people who watched Kilmurry’s All-Ireland JFC semi-final defeat on penalties via TG4’s YouTube channel, while Crossmolina’s emotional Intermediate final victory this weekend captured nearly 50,000 views.

FILLED

TG4’s two most viewed live streams on YouTube involve Rebel teams. The Kerry-Cork Munster minor final during Covid, an extra-time epic, drew 67,000 viewers. Top of the pile remains Fr O’Neills’ All-Ireland Intermediate final loss to Tullaroan in January 2020, whose viewership of 82,000 could’ve filled Croke Park.

The rights and wrongs of county hurling and football matches clashing is another obstacle for dual supporters.

Those most-dedicated supporters should be facilitated as much as possible within the confines of an impossibly complex calendar of fixtures that juggles competing demands across each of the counties involved.

But where that’s not possible, streaming coverage would help to fill that gap.

If the market exists for four Harty Cup or Corn Uí Mhuirí games to receive simultaneous coverage on Clubber, or a slate of Cork championship games to be broadcast on a bespoke Rebels Online platform, there’s no doubting the draw of the country’s largest hurling supporter base to bring a high viewership on these new platforms.

Those match-going supporters will still make the trip. 

LOYAL

The GAA were right with their ‘Nothing Beats Being There’ campaign and those loyal supporters will be first to buy into expanded GAA coverage to compliment those journeys to Wexford, Thurles, and Ennis.

Cheaper technology has enabled Virgin Media to offer an unprecedented 36-game calendar of League of Ireland games every week while the other 500 matches across three divisions are covered on LOITV.

The hot air surrounding the ownership and operation of GAAGO has perhaps slowed its potential expansion but the destination is clear.