THE GAA’S TV rights deal with Sky Sports has the capability to open up ‘a huge can of worms’.
That’s the view of Brian Whelehan, a former President of the GPA, and the manager of the Offaly hurling side that will feature in Sky Sports first televised game when the Faithful play Kilkenny in the Leinster championship on June 7th.
Whelehan believes it’s ‘a very brave step’ for the GAA but reckons it will add to the occasion for his side in Nowlan Park next month.
“It’s a very brave step for the GAA to take, I think. They have to be commended on that, from that point of view.
“In three years’ time, we’ll be definitely able to answer that with a lot more authority. But it has the capability of opening up a huge can of worms. I mean it in a way that I don’t think we would have envisaged.
“From a player point of view and everything else like that. It depends on where Sky take it after this current term.
“In fairness to Sky they do it very well. That’s their job. They’re the big broadcasting company and know how to promote every event to the fullest. In hindsight it’ll be very interesting to look back and see what overall effect it has had on the GAA.
“But I just think it’s going to add to the whole occasion. Everyone would know what Sky has brought to the Premiership, and any sporting event that they’ve ever covered.
“They promote it to the end, and it’s just adding to the whole occasion of going down to Nowlan Park and playing Kilkenny in Nowlan Park. It will keep their focus very much in tune as well.”
