The GAA has hit back at Virgin Media after what it cited as “factual errors” in a statement the station made about last year’s broadcasting rights deal.
In the statement, Virgin questioned the arrangement which saw GAAGO essentially replace Sky Sports as broadcast partners and wondered if RTE, as a 50-50 partner in GAAGO with the GAA, paid a fee for the rights, suggesting that there was a cartel “to drive incremental revenues for both partners”.
Virgin also stated that the GAA didn’t contact other broadcasters once they couldn’t come to an arrangement with Sky but the GAA has now replied saying Virgin was given ample opportunity earlier in the process to submit a bid but failed to do so.
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“On Tuesday May 9, VMTV (Virgin Media Television) issued a statement that called into question the integrity of the GAA media rights process,” the GAA statement began.
“The statement contained several factual errors and misleading comments.
“The GAA contacted VMTV and requested that they correct their statement. Since this has not been forthcoming, the GAA, reluctantly, issues the following to correct the record.”
The statement went on to outline how the GAA has a bias towards free-to-air stations and TG4 as a channel dedicated to the Irish language, while saying that they “seek to keep commercial tension to the fore by seeking an agile, competent third party”.
The GAA explained how there was back and forth between them and Virgin as far back as February 2021 around the new media rights deal which would kick in after the 2022 inter-county season, but that ultimately there was no expression of interest from the broadcaster.
They made contact again in June 2022 but “VMTV were clear that their model was not to acquire rights but rather to acquire ‘ready to go’ packages, ie productions which don’t require outside broadcast set-ups for live match coverage”.
The statement added: “In short, VMTV were afforded every opportunity to discuss options, variations to packages and to submit a confidential offer. VMTV chose not to bid.
“Specifically in respect of one party, the GAA was unable to deliver Sky’s preferred selection as strategically we wanted greater free to air coverage for our National League Package. These rights subsequently went to TG4 and RTÉ.
“Whilst Sky did bid for a lesser package, the GAA decided to progress with GAAGO. This was because GAAGO could facilitate greater flexibility on match schedules, provide coverage for an additional 24 games and offer the opportunity for more flexible pricing for viewers and members. The finances involved were in fact similar.”
The GAA also said that, in light of criticism of the games allocated to GAAGO of late, a “comprehensive review of its operation at season end”.
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