When it comes to this year's championship coverage, quite a few GAA fans are unhappy with the way it has been handled.
This season saw a major change to the way matches have been broadcast, with Sky Sports' exit from the market leaving a sizeable hole to be filled in covering games. It was quickly decided that GAAGO would step into the breach, with a huge amount of championship fixtures being shown on the streaming service since the start of the provincial championships.
That move has been a controversial one for a number of reasons.
Questions were asked about the process that saw the rights be given to a joint venture between RTÉ and the GAA, with Virgin Media wondering why they were not approached to bid for them.
It has also burned a hole in the pocket of supporters, especially those who did not purchase an annual pass. Games have usually cost around €12 to purchase on an individual basis, meaning the price quickly adds up if you wanted to watch even a handful of GAAGO exclusive matches. That is without even mentioning the fact that the service has not worked correctly on occasion.
When it comes to selecting what games were put behind the paywall, that has been a controversial matter in itself.
GAA: Pat Spillane has one issue with GAAGO
Numerous high profile GAA figures in both codes have complained about big championship matches being shown exclusively on GAAGO in recent months.
It has been suggested by some that matches featuring the most successful teams were chosen in a bid to boost revenue, with Pat Spillane among them.
Writing in the Sunday World, the Kerry legend said that has no issue with GAAGO as a concept. However, he does have a problem with the way they have chosen games to be shown on the service in 2023.
On a personal level I have no issue with GAAGO. But I do have a problem with what matches they decide to put behind the paywall.
Yesterday Kerry played their sixth game in this year’s championship. Only one of them – the Munster final was free to air, which RTÉ was contractually obliged to show it.
Kerry are the All-Ireland champions and box office gold. One wonders are they being shown by GAAGO to boost their subscriptions.
He has a point here.
Kerry are a county that have had nearly all of their games being shown on GAAGO, meaning fans would have had to pay quite a bit to purchase each game individually.
This is something the GAA should look, with a more even distribution among all counties probably a fairer way to handle the issue moving forward.
SEE ALSO: Monaghan Fans Were Not Happy With Coverage Of County On The Sunday Game
