CONFIRMED: GAA to stream 40 championship games this summer as GAA+ is launched
New subscription streaming service is owned by the GAA
The GAA has confirmed its new streaming platform, GAA+, will provide exclusive coverage of 40 championship matches this summer.
Beginning this coming Sunday, the subscription service will feature football and hurling games from venues across the country and overseas - in New York and London.
The matches featured on GAA+ are in addition to those which will be broadcast by RTÉ and by the BBC in Northern Ireland and RTÉ will continue to broadcast a highlights programme - The Sunday Game - on Sunday nights.
Speaking in Croke Park at the launch of GAA+ and the fixtures announcement Jarlath Burns, Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael, said: “This is a landmark day for the GAA. I will reiterate the comments I made at Congress when I stated that the inception of GAA+ is a strategic move that guarantees exposure of our games in a small but intensely competitive Irish broadcast market."
“We are proud leaders in the indigenous sports OTT space, a commitment that ensures we meet growing GAA member demand whilst creating a commercial return that will be definitively reinvested in ongoing GAA initiatives around the country”.
GAA+ says a number of familiar faces will return to anchor, analyse and commentate across both codes. The live action will be presented around the country by Aisling O’Reilly and Gráinne McElwain, with commentary from Dave McIntyre, Mike Finnerty and Liam Aherne.
Commenting at the launch Noel Quinn, Head of GAA+, said: “Launching GAA+ is a result of a decade-long GAA broadcast strategy which has seen the GAA evolve from being a media rights seller, to moderator, to live broadcaster. Taking ownership of our broadcast destiny not only follows best practice but ensures that our members’ growing live and on-demand content expectations will be met.
“We will invest in improving stream quality on web and app, accessibility features and a new studio in Croke Park – all of which is good news for viewers as we strive to deliver for them.”