BBC Northern Ireland announces new deal for GAA coverage
BBC Northern Ireland is delighted to announce a new agreement with the GAA for continued coverage of Gaelic Games over the next five seasons. And for the first time BBC Northern Ireland has secured digital rights to matches played in the Ulster Championship.
Published: 9 December 2016
We’re always looking at ways to enhance our coverage for audiences and the availability of games now on the BBC iPlayer is a great example of this.
On television, BBC Northern Ireland will broadcast live any Ulster Championship match selected for live broadcast by RTÉ, including the Ulster Final. For the first time, all matches which are shown by BBC Northern Ireland, either live or deferred, can also be viewed via the BBC’s iPlayer catch-up service – on desktop, mobile or tablet devices, or on smart TVs.
BBC Radio Ulster’s extensive and highly regarded coverage of Gaelic Games will continue, with live coverage of the Ulster Club Championship, live coverage of any matches involving Ulster teams in the All-Ireland club championships, live coverage of games involving Ulster teams in the National League, live coverage of all Ulster Championship matches, and live coverage of Ulster teams in the qualifiers and All-Ireland stages of the Championship. These commentaries will also be live streamed via the BBC Sport NI website.
We will continue to provide first class reaction, analysis, previews and match reports across our online services and social media channels, and on our News services.
Peter Johnston, Director BBC Northern Ireland says: “We’re delighted to have secured this agreement with the GAA for the next five years. We’re always looking at ways to enhance our coverage for audiences and the availability of games now on the BBC iPlayer is a great example of this.”
Shane Glynn, BBC Northern Ireland’s Managing Editor of Productions says: “It’s fantastic to have certainty for our audience about the level of our Gaelic Games coverage across our platforms for the next five seasons, and we’re grateful to the GAA for their continued support in what is a very complex, international rights market. I’m particularly pleased that, for the first time, we’ve been able to secure iPlayer rights for the matches we broadcast in the Ulster Championship, potentially bringing our coverage of Gaelic Games to a whole new audience.”
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Aogán Ó Fearghail says: "We are pleased to extend our long-running relationship with BBC Northern Ireland as part of our efforts to bring our games right across the island.
"Over the course of our partnership they have brought their own unique style to their coverage and we can expect more of the same in the months and years ahead.
"The Ulster Football Championship has traditionally been one of the most competitive competitions we have and I look forward, not only to next summer’s instalment, but to the efforts of Ulster teams on the national stage too."
The new deal begins with the 2017 Ulster Championship and runs until the end of the National League in 2022.
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Notes to Editors
- Matches from the Ulster Championship shown either live or deferred by BBC NI will be available to view via the BBC’s iPlayer catch-up service from 9am on the following Tuesday morning.
