Fine Gael TD Alan Dillon has accused RTÉ of being in a "cartel" with the GAA as he called for the licence fee to be docked as arguments over televised matches continue.
The former Mayo GAA All-Star said that transparency is needed about the national broadcaster’s role in the GAAGO app.
The controversy intensified on Tuesday evening as Virgin Media released a blistering statement arguing that it was never approached by the GAA to air games when its contract with Sky Sports was terminated.
READ MORE: Mayo legend calls for GAAGO to be sent to sidelines following weekend backlash
There has been widespread anger in recent days over the decision to air the Munster hurling championship match between Cork and Tipperary on the GAAGO app rather than on television. A subscription for the app costs €79 a year or €12 for a match.
Mr Dillion accused RTÉ of being in a cartel with the GAA, as he suggested that the licence fee should be docked.
He told the Irish Mirror that transparency is needed about RTÉ’s part in the GAAGO app.
He suggested that the €160 tv licence fee should be docked by €50, saying that the app subscription was a “licence fee increase by the backdoor”.
He said: “They’re not putting rugby or soccer behind a paywall
“Given that RTÉ has received increased revenue through this arrangement, it seems unjust to hardcore GAA fans that the burden has been placed back on them. They also have to bear the burden of the current licence fee. RTÉ are looking for an increase in that in the next Budget.
“We should look to drop the licence fee until this issue is resolved.
“This is a five-year deal and that is really concerning. We have the national broadcaster who is in a cartel-like manner with the GAA to put these really important national games behind a paywall on a streaming service, not on mainstream television, when we are still in the middle of the National Broadband rollout. There are thousands of homes who won’t have access to a reliable service for the next number of years.”
Virgin Media released a furious statement saying that it or no other broadcaster was contacted to broadcast matches.
They also stated that RTÉ has a stake in the GAAGO app.
“RTÉ is a 50% shareholder in GAAGO, this has never been clarified in any editorial discussion about GAAGO and the decision not to show key games on Free to Air television.
"When Sky Television decided not to renew its GAA rights, the GAA did not approach other broadcasters to ascertain whether they would be interested in broadcasting these games but arbitrarily decided to put them behind a paywall.
"The question must be asked, did RTÉ pay anything for these rights or did they just agree to keep them behind a paywall to drive incremental revenues for both partners in GAAGO, i.e. RTÉ and the GAA?”
Virgin Media also said that “licence payers [are] now being forced to further subsidise RTÉ by paying for GAA Sports content through its joint-venture with the GAA”.
Niamh Smyth, the chairperson of the Oireachtas Media and Sports Committee, said that she has received correspondence from members calling for RTÉ and the GAA to appear in front of the committee.
The matter will be discussed at its meeting on Wednesday and it is expected that members will all agree to invite the groups in.
She said that while it is important the committee does not interfere with editorial decisions, as public representatives TDs and Senators need to bring up the issue.
“It is our job to get transparency and accountability for the public. There is huge anger out there that has been heightened by the statement from Virgin Media.”
Speaking in the Dáil, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said while all matches cannot be the “most popular and important matches” should be on television, while the rest are kept on the GAAGO app.
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