GAAGONE?

Armchair fans are up in arms with games behind paywall but TV channels old news insists boss

- KARL O'KANE

GAAGO chief Noel Quinn says that setting up a dedicated GAA TV channel could have been throwing good money after bad.

Association chiefs have faced a major backlash from fans in recent weeks after the Limerick-Clare and Cork-Tipperary Munster hurling epics featured on GAAGO and not RTE.

This meant fans had to shell out €12 per game or invest in a Championship pass at €79 for 38 live and exclusive summer ties.

GAAGO have filled the gap in the market left by Sky leaving last year.

But the GAA subscription channel has added another layer of matches, effectively tripling the number of live games on offer.

Critics have pointed out the difficulty for older members of accessing the technology, as well as the costs involved.

Quinn believes that the GAA will eventually arrive at a stage where you can press a button on your remote control to access games, possibly as part of a TV package from the main providers.

A dedicated GAA TV channel has been mooted in the past but the pace of change with technology has left the Association reluctant to invest heavily in such a move.

"I wouldn't call it TV any more," said Quinn. "Screens are changing at such a rapid pace.