GAAGO have chosen just one Ulster SFC game for live coverage this summer, suggesting that RTÉ and BBC NI are likely to go heavy on the northern provincial championship.
The streaming platform, which came in for criticism throughout its maiden year and was subject to an Oireachtas hearing over the infringement on free-to-air coverage of games, will show 38 live games and launch a new midweek show in 2024.
The Ulster semi-final between Down or Antrim and Fermanagh or Armagh will be their sole live game in the provincial series, listed for Saturday 27 April.
The second semi-final will also take place that weekend, although it’s understood no final decision has yet been taken on which game will be Saturday and which will be Sunday.
Ulster’s draft fixture schedule will mimic last season’s, beginning with the Monaghan v Cavan preliminary round tie on Sunday 7 April.
Down will face Antrim the following Saturday, April 13, with Fermanagh hosting Armagh a day later.
The only ties still to be confirmed are the heavyweight clashes on the weekend of April 20/21 and the order of the semi-finals, although traditionally the first two winning quarter-finalists play in the first semi-final.
Derry host Donegal with Tyrone facing the winners of the preliminary round. One will take place on Saturday 20th and the other on the Sunday, but it’s not yet clear which game will be on which date.
Given the expected interest in the meeting of Jim McGuinness and Mickey Harte, the latest instalment of the Monaghan-Cavan rivalry and the winners of that against Tyrone are all on one side of the draw, RTÉ and BBC NI look likely to pair up for at least a couple of those ties.
Ulster CCC are due to meet in the coming days to confirm the fixture arrangements.
This year’s Ulster final will take place on Sunday 12 May and will be shown on RTÉ, as all provincial finals must be under the terms of their broadcast agreement with the GAA.
GAAGO have chosen to show the Munster semi-final between Kerry and Cork/Limerick that Saturday and the Munster SHC clash of Waterford and Cork on the Sunday.
In all GAAGO will show 38 games, of which 22 will be football and nine hurling.
While the first four games are all football, the platform’s early-season focus is very much on hurling, with their footballing interest weighted towards the All-Ireland round robin series and the early knockout rounds, of which they’ll have all four preliminary quarter-finals and two All-Ireland quarter-finals exclusive.
Antrim hurlers will get the live treatment when they host Wexford in Corrigan Park for round two of the Leinster round robin on April 27.
Michael Murphy and Aaron Kernan remain as panellists alongside Marc Ó Sé and Paddy Andrews, with former Hurler of the Year Richie Hogan added to the hurling punditry stable. Irish News columnist Grainne McElwain will continue her hosting duties.
An annual pass can be purchased pre-Christmas for €69, with GAA members receiving a 10 per cent discount while clubs can avail of a clubhouse rate.
The price-per-game to pay individually through the year is €12, with three-for-two bundles priced at €24.
Care-giving locations will be given free access to games.
2024 Ulster SFC dates
Sunday 7 April: Monaghan v Cavan
Saturday 13 April: Down v Antrim
Sunday 14 April: Fermanagh v Armagh
April 20/21: Derry v Donegal, Tyrone v Monaghan/Cavan
April 27/28: Semi-finals
May 12: Final
2024 GAA schedule
April 6: Connacht SFC, London v Galway
April 7: Connacht SFC, New York v Mayo
April 13/14: Leinster SFC, Kildare v Westmeath/Wicklow
April 20: Munster SFC, Kerry v Cork/Limerick
April 21: Munster SHC, Waterford v Cork
April 27: Leinster SHC, Antrim v Wexford; Ulster SFC: Fermanagh/Armagh v Down/Antrim
April 28: Munster SHC, Cork v Clare; Leinster SFC, both semi-finals
May 4: Munster SHC, Waterford v Tipperary; Leinster SHC: Wexford v Galway
May 11: Munster SHC, Cork v Limerick; Leinster SHC: Carlow v Kilkenny; Tailteann Cup round one game
May 18: All-Ireland SFC round robin (x2); Tailteann Cup round two game; Leinster SHC, Dublin v Kilkenny
May 25: All-Ireland SFC round robin (x2)
May 26: Leinster SHC, TBC
June 1: All-Ireland SFC round robin (x2); Tailteann Cup round three game
June 8: Tailteann Cup preliminary quarter-finals (x2)
June 15: All-Ireland SFC round robin (x2); Tailteann Cup quarter-finals (x2)
June 16: All-Ireland SFC round robin game
June 22/23: All-Ireland SFC preliminary quarter-finals (x4)
June 29: All-Ireland SFC quarter-finals (x2)
