Tipperary Independent TD Mattie McGrath has asked for senior Management of the GAA and RTE to be brought before the Joint Oireacthas Committee on Tourism, Culture, Arts, Sport and Media to discuss the growing number of GAA matches that are broadcast on a pay per view basis.
The Tipperary TD, who is a member of the Joint Oireacthas Committee has written to the Committee Chair Niamh Smyth TD to ask an examination of the promotion of Ireland’s national games.
The Tipperary TD says the fact that 3 of the key Munster championship matches to date have been locked behind a paywall “is unthinkable and smacks of greed and a lack of interest in the promotion of hurling.” The TD also hit out at the GAA’s decision to sell match tickets in advance online rather than accept cash on match day.
Earlier today the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin also supported the call for a review of the use of pay-per-view television for GAA matches. The current media rights deal between RTE and the GAA which includes the pay per view service on GAAGO is to run until 2027.
