RTE and the GAA have been challenged to explain a “disgraceful” snub after it enforced a TV blackout of a crunch Donegal All-Ireland match.
The county is fighting for automatic qualification to this year’s championship quarter-finals in a high-profile contest against Cork this coming Saturday in a first homecoming match at Ballybofey’s MacCumhaill Park since a €500,000 renovation.
But GAA fans’ fury was sparked when it was revealed that the biggest Donegal match of the season so far will controversially not be televised on either RTE, which charges a €160 yearly license fee, or the annual €95 GAA+ subscription service.
Some supporters blasted the national broadcaster’s TV shutdown as an “absolute disgrace”.
Football fan Jack Murray, who is a County councillor from Inishowen, is one of many to blast the blackout – and he has demanded that the decision-makers explain the blackout.
He told the Donegal News: “It is absolutely disgraceful. There now needs to be full transparency around how this decision was made.
“Supporters deserve a clear explanation as to why such a high-profile fixture has been left without live coverage.
“What criteria were used in reaching that decision? It makes absolutely no logical sense to me.”
Jack Murray, who is a Donegal Co Cllr, with his wife Sabrina and daughter Bláithín.
The well-known Donegal GAA supporter, who goes to matches with his wife Sabrina and daughter Bláithín, added: “GAA+ was promoted as a way of making our games more accessible. But where is that accessibility now?
“Donegal are National League champions and last year’s All-Ireland finalists.
“Cork are a county clearly on the way up. This has all the makings of an enthralling encounter and a brilliant advertisement for the game.
“Yet Donegal people living abroad, older supporters, people with disabilities, those working, families who cannot get tickets or travel, Cork supporters facing the long journey north, and anyone who simply cannot make it to MacCumhaill Park, are being completely shut out.
“These are exactly the people who should be helped to stay connected with their county, their community and our national games.
“The GAA belongs to the people. It belongs to the supporters at home and abroad who follow their county through thick and thin.
“For a major All-Ireland Championship match of this quality not to be available live anywhere is simply not good enough.”
The current broadcast deal for live GAA championship matches involves RTÉ, BBC, and streaming service GAA+ sharing 40 games each season until the end of next year.
GAA director of communications Alan Milton last month suggested that GAA+ would focus on blockbuster clashes.
He said: “GAA+ can’t just carry games that are of mediocre interest.”
He added: “It needs to have games that are highly attractive. GAA+ will get plum games.”
GAA director of communications Alan Milton. Credit – RTE.
Donegal will host Cork in Ballybofey this coming Saturday, June 13, with a 3pm throw-in.
It is the first inter-county match at MacCumhaill Park since the famous ground’s €500,000 renovation.
The match in the 18,000-capacity ground was seen as a homecoming by fans after the resurfacing works.
The winners will advance straight to the All-Ireland quarter-finals.
The games chosen for broadcast this Saturday on GAA+ instead of Donegal v Cork are Monaghan v Roscommon at 4.30pm and Derry v Meath at 7pm.
The clash on Saturday between Kildare and reigning All-Ireland football champions Kerry is also not being broadcast.
On Sunday, the matches picked for broadcast are Louth v Armagh on RTE at 1pm, followed by Galway v Westmeath on GAA+ at 2pm, and Tyrone v Mayo on RTE at 3.30pm.
The Cavan v Dublin match at 2pm on Sunday is not being televised.
RTE has been contacted for a response.