RTE signed a £12.5 million three-year TV and radio deal with the GAA in 2004, but according to reports in the local press, a source close to the GAA thinks that the rights fee will rise to between £17 million and £21 million for the next three years as pay-channel Setanta makes a bid for more rights.
Niall Cogly, Setanta’s Head of Sport said: “We genuinely believe we can bring something new to the table in terms of the way both hurling and GAA are presented”.
While there would likely be a national outcry if the GAA were to sell all games to the pay channel, one possible tactic could be for Setanta to produce a joint bid with co-owned channel, TV3.
The GAA is expected to award the rights by the end of the year.
