Many headlines last year covered the GAA GO controversy. As we are starting into a new GAA season, now is a good time to investigate the controversy and see if any improvements could be considered.
Last year’s controversy mainly surrounded the streaming platform having sole rights to many of the most entertaining hurling matches last season. A flashpoint occurred last year when Donal Óg Cusack was critical of the streaming platform on the Sunday game live in early May last year.
The controversy is because many of last year’s Munster hurling championship matches were only available to the public if they bought a GAAGO pass. Many critics have stated that it is against the fundamental values of the GAA to not allow these matches to be shown on RTÉ or TG4.
Another part of the controversy is that the GAA is an amateur athletic association, and as of this, its players do not get paid and receive no financial incentive to play.
For years, fans have loved the amateur aspect of the GAA as it attests to the true values of amateur sport, watching the players give their all for their county. However, as the players don’t get paid, fans struggle to see why businessmen should profit from the players’ hard work and dedication. This has made people feel it is unfair that those who dedicate their lives to the sport are expected to play for no financial gain while third parties, such as the streaming service GAAGO, make millions in profit.
We are told that the players play for the love of the game and to make their families and parishes proud. Is it too much to ask that their families and friends might be able to view them playing free of charge?
Another hot topic for debate surrounding this story has been the fact that the introduction of the streaming platform GAAGO has put many matches out of the reach of some older people and those who are digitally illiterate.
Age Action states, “three in ten older people didn’t even have access to the internet last year.” The GAA should address this. The GAA brings a lot of joy to the older generation of this country, as I’ve seen it even within older members of my own family. The GAA and RTÉ should do their best to solve this growing problem.”
The GAA was once something Irish people could be proud of; sadly, now many are starting to become disillusioned with the association, believing it does not stand for the values it was once famous for. They are an association out of touch with reality and risk a major backlash if they ignore the warnings of the people of Ireland for too long.
I am not against the streaming platform GAAGO. It can be an excellent way of bringing the games to a broader worldwide audience. So many young people are emigrating, and I feel the GAA have an opportunity with this streaming service to give them a real sense of homeliness by letting them watch the games free of charge on GAAGO while also promoting the GAA in other countries hopefully leading to more foreign investment in the GAA.
However, this should not be at an expense to the older, more vulnerable population at home. It is worth remembering that the GAA would not exist today without the thankless hours volunteers put into making it what it is today. Without them, the GAA would not exist, and the GAA would be wise not to forget them in future decision making.
I acknowledge it is feasibly impossible for all GAA games to be covered on RTÉ and TG4 alone, I think the GAA may rethink their streaming programme. I don’t think it should charge the people of Ireland for these matches.
It has also been noted in the media lately that GAAGO is co-owned by RTÉ and the GAA. As RTÉ receives funding from television licensing to pay for the live sporting events they broadcast, it seems a little immoral that they would further charge people for using their streaming program GAAGO.
I believe a better alternative would be to implement a setup similar to that of the BBC red button in Britain in which viewers would be able to access the other matches that are being streamed free of charge through RTÉ but just on a different channel or perhaps our very own RTÉ green button; this would also allow for the streaming service GAAGO to be perhaps moulded towards a more global audience or potentially being incorporated in some way into the RTÉ Player.
I would also like to think that if there was profit being made from the streaming service, they might think of using it to reward its volunteers, spreading profits among clubs at Christmas to be shared among volunteers as a thank you. Moves like this would significantly improve relationships between the communities and the GAA while putting the controversy in the past and allowing for further growth in the Gaelic Games in the coming years.