The way we consume football has changed drastically over the last decade. Traditional television deals that once dominated the sport are now competing with the rise of streaming services, and the League of Ireland finds itself at a crossroads. Is major TV deals the way to go or is a dedicated streaming service like LOITV the best way forward?
The Case for Traditional TV Coverage
For years, the lack of mainstream television exposure has been a major complaint among League of Ireland fans. RTÉ provided limited live coverage when they had the tv rights to the League Of Ireland and was fair to say RTÉ didn’t have the willingness to provide the coverage of the League Of Ireland and it often showed in the few games they did show. However, the recent Virgin Media deal marks a significant step forward, offering increased exposure for the league and bringing key games to a wider audience. The difference in the quality of production that Virgin Media has provided since gaining the rights to the League Of Ireland is 100 times better than what RTÉ produced, whether it be the numerous camera angles or the drones flying above the stadium before kickoff, It’s clear to see Virgin Media have bought into the rise of the League Of Ireland and long may it continue.
There are obviously many benefits to a major TV deal like Virgin Media have secured with the League Of Ireland. With a game on every Friday night there is a higher chance of football fans who wouldn’t normally watch the League Of Ireland tuning into games if they are free to air on television instead of having to buy the LOI TV Subscription.
The increased TV coverage also brings in more sponsorships, which benefits both the Leagues and the clubs.
The Rise of LOITV and Streaming
With the introduction of LOITV during the Covid 19 Pandemic, the League of Ireland has taken broadcasting into its own hands. While it provides fans with access to every game, there are challenges to this model:
Main issue since the start of the season is the LOITV app/website not working. The first gameweek of the season majority of people who were looking to tune into games couldn’t because LOITV was down. While it has gradually started to improve it a good number of people are still experiencing problems with games on Friday nights.
I think having LOITV is a brilliant addition to our coverage of games because all games from the Premier Division, First Division and Women’s Premier Division is available every Friday and Saturday to watch live which is something you don’t see in other sports. Take the GAA for example with their GAA +. Not every game of the championship will be shown on GAA+ and you can see the GAA supporters making the argument if the League Of Ireland can do it why can’t we?
The way forward for League of Ireland coverage isn’t a simple choice between TV and streaming—it’s about creating the best possible mix of both. With the Virgin Media deal now in place, the league has taken a positive step towards greater exposure. If this momentum continues, the LOI could finally get the attention it deserves and bring in a new generation of fans. Investment is badly needed in LOITV if it is to be the long term solution for the streaming of the games and ensuring the issues with the app don’t continue to happen.
The League Of Ireland is on the cusp of a wave of interest across the country at the moment. People are starting to realise that we have a brilliant league here at home and don’t have to travel to the UK to watch live football every weekend. Shamrock Rovers run in the UEFA Conference League shows League Of Ireland teams are capable of going on these brilliant runs in Europe. Stadiums are regularly selling out and we even smashed the attendance record at a League Of Ireland game taking place in the Aviva Stadium on the opening weekend of the season with over 30,000 in attendance for the Dublin Derby.
The old saying “Build it and they will come” is a very relevant one for the League Of Ireland.