RTE's coverage to go ahead

RTÉ will start their live championship coverage as planned on Sunday week after setting aside their recent conflict with the GAA over international TV rights.

The threat to summer coverage arose last month after RTÉ became available on the Sky Digital platform, thus allowing overseas viewers to receive RTÉ on satellite but undermining the GAA's overseas rights holders Setanta Sport.

"The threat to championship coverage has been set aside for the moment," an RTÉ spokesman said yesterday. "But there will be further negotiations taking place on how to deal with this matter down the road."

RTÉ has already released their schedule of broadcasts, which is set to include 39 live matches in total, starting on Sunday week with Donegal against Cavan (2.40 p.m.) and Carlow against Westmeath (4.30 p.m.). For the time being, however, those opening games will not be available as part of RTÉ's broadcast on the digital platform.

The overseas rights deal has become very important to the GAA. It is now more lucrative than the domestic coverage and has raised the association's media revenue, which in the last five years has risen from just over €1 million to nearly €4.5 million.