BBC Strikes Gaa Broadcast Deal

The BBC has announced a five-year broadcasting rights agreement with the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) to air the All-Ireland senior football and hurling finals in the UK and Ireland.

The All-Ireland semi-finals will also be broadcast on iPlayer, with either the football or hurling final shown live on BBC network television as part of the deal that will bring the fixtures to a UK-wide terrestrial television audience. 

The All-Ireland finals and semi-finals will also be broadcast live on BBC Two NI.

The games are in addition to live coverage of up to eight Ulster Senior Football Championship matches.

In addition, BBC Sport and the GAA have agreed that up to 10 matches in the Allianz National Leagues will be streamed each year on iPlayer.

The comes days after UK pay-television provider Sky Sports ended its broadcast partnership with the GAA in the UK and Ireland after failing to agree a new deal.

Sky was thought to be keen on extending its nine-year relationship with Gaelic football’s governing body until 2027 but the two partners failed to come to an agreement following lengthy negotiations. 

Sky had provided coverage for fixtures from the All-Ireland Gaelic football and hurling championships, but reportedly wanted additional fixtures from the National League competitions in any future deal. 

Neil Brittain, Executive Editor of BBC Sport NI, commented, “The All-Ireland Senior Football and Hurling finals are significant sporting events, and we look forward to bringing them to viewers across the UK via the BBC’s digital and linear platforms.

“This new broadcast deal will transform the BBC’s coverage of Gaelic Games and delivers free-to-air coverage of the Ulster Senior Football Championship, the Allianz Leagues and the All-Ireland series via BBC iPlayer, BBC Sounds, and the BBC Sport website.

“This agreement adds to the long-term contracts that BBC Sport NI already has in place for football, rugby and the North West 200.”