I see both RTÉ and Sky are getting a kicking for not ‘helping’ TG4 with the venue change. It really isn’t that simple, and the crews that work hard to televise these games work for all the tv channels. It’s not them ‘not helping’ but it really isn’t that simple to rig quickly.

They expected a televised game throwing in at 3:30 and they’ve had planned it down to the last minute to get the coverage just right. The equipment takes time, staff need breaks, they travel long distances and Covid restrictions make it even harder.

A 3;30 throw in means rigging from 8am to go to air perhaps at 3pm. So a 1pm throw in, with a crew already rigged at another venue, just isn’t feasible to ‘throw on air.’ TV takes time. Quality live tv takes even more time, skill and staff.

Some people are reasonably asking about streaming. You need the satellite van in place, rigged up to mix the cameras and beam it out, even if it is over the internet. Not as simple as pressing ‘stream’ or ‘go live.’