TV3 granted rights to live matches

GAELIC GAMES:TV3 have become the first independent broadcaster to be granted rights to live GAA championship matches.

The news emerged yesterday that the channel has secured a package that will entitle it to show provincial finals, semi-finals and three football championship qualifiers.

Asked about the agreement, GAA commercial manager Dermot Power said that despite the announcement, the broadcast rights for the next three years were still under negotiation.

"The TV3 deal is one of eight packages that we have finalised out of the 25 put out to tender. Given that the tender process is still ongoing and about to enter round two, we'd prefer not to say anything further at this stage."

It is, however, believed that the TV3 package is number three on the list of those available. Number one entails the All-Ireland finals, semi-finals and first-choice on a number of quarter-finals. Number two the remaining quarter-finals, first-choice on the provincial finals, the balance of the quarter-finals and some All-Ireland qualifiers.

Of the eight packages confirmed only TV3's and a club championship package, believed to have gone to TG4, concerned broadcast rights.

The staggering of the tenders is believed to be tactical, as it allows for the improvement of proposals in the later rounds and news of TV3's success will intensify traditional rights holder RTÉ's anxiety to secure the top two packages. Since regular live broadcasts of championship matches began 12 years ago, RTÉ have had the overall rights.

The success of TV3 is further evidence of the independent broadcaster's interest in sport.

During the recent Rugby World Cup, TV3 had the terrestrial rights to Ireland's matches, having successfully negotiated with the overall rights holder Setanta, which will itself be in the reckoning for a rights package after winning the deal to broadcast floodlit National League matches on subscription television. The final details of the remaining packages are not expected until early in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Dublin County Board chief executive John Costello has expressed mystification at reports that Parnell Park was about to be the subject of a bid from an unnamed property developer.

"It's news to me," he said yesterday. "There have been a couple of isolated approaches in the past but we have turned them down. We're not interested. The ground is too useful for us. We need it for local games as well as intercounty and capacity isn't a problem, as there are only a few league games that the capacity can't cater for."

The report linked the potential redevelopment of the ground with the proposed acquisition for similar purposes of Clontarf Golf Club, beside Parnell Park. A meeting of the golf club tonight will discuss the matter.

There are serious development issues with the properties given the lack of access roads with the golf club entrance on the Malahide Road having only been recently augmented by a new one on Collins Avenue and Parnell Park with only access and egress point.