As controversy surrounds the GAAGO service, the Irish Minister for Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media, Catherine Martin, has stated that it is “not appropriate” for her to engage with either the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) or RTÉ over the issue. This has led to calls for greater transparency from both organizations.
In recent weeks, the GAAGO service has come under scrutiny for its decision to charge viewers €14.99 for access to live coverage of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling and Gaelic Football Championships. Previously, these games had been available to viewers free of charge on RTÉ and the GAA’s websites.
Tom Ryan, the GAA’s Director General, has defended the decision to introduce a fee for GAAGO, stating that it is necessary to cover the costs of producing high-quality coverage of the games. However, some have argued that this move is unfair to fans who have supported the GAA and RTÉ by watching their coverage for years.
One of the issues that has been raised in relation to GAAGO is the fact that it is only available to viewers outside of Ireland and the UK. This has led to accusations that the GAA is neglecting its domestic audience in favor of reaching a wider international audience. Some have suggested that the GAA and RTÉ should make the coverage available for free to viewers in Ireland and the UK, while charging non-Irish viewers a fee.
There has also been criticism of the quality of GAAGO’s coverage. Some viewers have reported buffering and other issues with the service, which has led to calls for the GAA and RTÉ to improve the quality of their online coverage.
Despite these concerns, Minister Martin has refused to comment on the controversy or engage with the GAA or RTÉ on the issue. This has led to criticism from some quarters, with politicians and fans alike calling for greater transparency from all parties involved.
It remains to be seen how the GAAGO controversy will play out in the coming weeks and months. However, it is clear that there is a need for greater transparency and communication from both the GAA and RTÉ, as well as from the government and other stakeholders. Ultimately, the goal should be to ensure that fans are able to enjoy high-quality coverage of Ireland’s most popular sports, without being charged excessive fees or facing technical difficulties.