THE GAA’s leading officials will appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Transport and Communications today to be questioned on the details of the broadcasting deal with Sky Sports.
Sky Sports were awarded the exclusive rights to show certain hurling and football matches over the next three years, including the All-Ireland semi-finals and finals.
GAA President Liam O'Neill and the Association’s director-general Páraic Duffy will be asked to explain the reasoning behind the deal and outline its benefits.
Since being announced earlier this month, the Sky Sports deal has triggered much debate.
The Oireachtas Committee includes former Wexford Youths manager Mick Wallace TD, 5000m World Champion Eamonn Coghlan and former Galway and Mayo senior football manager John O'Mahony TD.
O’ Mahony said: “The decision announced in recent weeks by the GAA to grant Sky Sports exclusive rights to championship games has provoked considerable public debate.
“As a committee with responsibilities in the areas of both sport and communications, we look forward to hearing from Liam O’ Neill and Páraic Duffy on the benefits they see accruing to their Association on foot of the deal.
“Committee members will have an opportunity to raise any concerns around new arrangements which will see 14 matches available only behind Sky’s paywall.”
The Association maintain that the deal will provide emigrants with greater to televised games, but they have refused to announce the financial details of the deal, citing 'commercial sensitivity.'
See More: GAA, Liam O'Neill, Oireachtas, Páraic Duffy, Sky Sports
