Profits from GAAGO used to broadcast more matches – RTÉ

RTÉ’s group head of sport has said any profits made on GAAGO is used to broadcast more GAA matches for free.

Declan McBennett, who is a director of GAAGO, said that he does not accept the argument that has been made that people who are paying for the licence fee should not have to pay a second fee to watch more games.

Mr McBennett also denied the assertion that the top GAA clashes were being “cherrypicked” to be put behind a paywall in order to drive subscriptions and profits.

He said that the issue with the player was mainly access, and also the condensed nature of the GAA calendar.

He also said that while a lot of focus was on football, hurling, soccer and rugby, that other sports are more in need of airtime.

“While much of the sporting landscape and much of the sporting debate that has been ongoing has been largely around the four main sports, it’s actually the other sports who are arguably in greater need of visibility,” he said.

He also said he understands that “clearance has not been formalised” from the consumer watchdog, the CCPC, with regards to GAAGO being extended from just for the diaspora to a domestic market.

It follows a backlash to matches being shown exclusively on the pay-per-view GAAGO rather than on RTÉ, including Clare and Limerick's Munster Hurling Championship clash.

GAAGO is a joint venture between the GAA sports body and RTÉ.

It comes as the GAA told the same committee that deciding which matches are available on free-to-air channels is not based on revenue.

GAA director general Tom Ryan told the Oireachtas Media and Sports Committee on Wednesday that although it was “great” that people want to see football and hurling matches, he said “the expectation that every single game should be on