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Press Releases
New GAA deal secured by BBC Northern Ireland
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BBC Northern Ireland, RTE and the GAA have agreed a new
television deal that will mean significantly more GAA matches
being broadcast live on BBC NI over the next three years.
Under this new agreement BBC Northern Ireland will now be able to
broadcast live all Ulster Championship games which RTE are also
broadcasting.
The agreement comes after months of discussions and negotiations
involving BBC Sport NI, RTE and the GAA and was revealed last night at
Croke Park.
Shane Glynn, Executive Producer, Sport, BBC Northern Ireland, said: "This is fantastic news for GAA fans in Ulster and we're
delighted that we have secured this deal for our viewers.
"We'll
be sitting down with RTE and the GAA over the coming weeks to
work out the specifics of the agreement. But, basically, it means
if RTE is showing an Ulster Championship game we can also show it
live.
"The ambition and aim is that this agreement will see BBC
Northern Ireland broadcast live all eight games in the Ulster
Championship.
"Securing this deal has been a lengthy process that started over
six months ago, but we're delighted to have now reached agreement
with the support and help of our partners in RTE Sport, the
Ulster Council of the GAA, and the GAA centrally at Croke Park."
Mike Edgar, Head of Sport, BBC Northern Ireland, said:
"The cornerstone of our sports portfolio is our commitment to
secure the best possible live action for fans.
"We have been
involved in negotiations with the GAA for some time and it's
always been our intention since last year to have live GAA action
on BBC Northern Ireland television. And that's what we've done.
"Our great relationship with our colleagues in RTE Sport and
months of positive negotiations between the GAA, the Ulster
Council and the two broadcasters has produced a brilliant result
for Ulster GAA fans, no matter which county they'll be supporting
in this year's Championship."
The President of the Ulster Council of the GAA, Tom Daly, welcomed
the announcement: "I want to specifically acknowledge that the
GAA at a national level, especially the President Nickey Brennan,
has listened to our voice in a very clear way.
"Based on what we all know of the skill of BBC NI's team of
journalists and reporters I am confident that the standard of
coverage of Gaelic Games in Ulster this year will be at a very
high level."
BBC Northern Ireland is still in discussions with the GAA and
other broadcasters about showing live games involving Ulster
Counties in the All Ireland Stages of the Championship.
BBC Northern Ireland Press Office
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