RTE sports boss defends GAA coverage after criticism from fans
RTE Head of Sport Declan McBennett has been forced to defend the broadcaster's coverage of GAA after facing criticism from fans on Saturday.
Once again, fans from around the country were disappointed that certain games weren't being televised or streamed on RTE or the GAA owned streaming service GAA+.
Meath supporters were the most aggrieved party on Saturday as their famous win over Kerry was unavailable to stream or watch on TV, with highlights being shown this evening on the Sunday Game instead.
Taking to social media on Friday afternoon - a full day before Meath's game even took place - Fergal Lynch, sports editor for the Meath Chronicle website, took issue with the decision not to show the game on TV or online.
"If RTE or GAA+ couldn't be arsed to show certain games then what harm would it be to let @clubber provide coverage at a PPV cost..
"Clubber provide a great service and I'm sure Meath fans in hospitals, nursing homes and abroad would love to watch their team play.."
The post clearly struck a chord with fans as it earned hundreds of likes on Twitter, and it also drew a response from RTE's McBennett, who wrote "Maybe as a sports 'editor' you might want to do some journalism and ask questions as to why as opposed to playing to the gallery.
"If you did you would see its for contractual reasons, nothing to do with being 'ar**d'. More games than ever available via RTE GAA+ TG4 and BBCNI."
This isn't the first time that the coverage of GAA has been criticised by fans. It can be argued that the issue has been around since Sky Sports began showing GAA behind a paywall for the first time over a decade ago.
Since the end of the Sky Sports deal a couple of years ago, games have been streamed first on GAAGO and now GAA+ along with RTE's traditional TV coverage.
But despite more games being shown than ever before, fans are often left frustrated that in 2025 they are unable to watch their county play more often than not even when the matches they are involved in are crucial All-Ireland clashes.
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