The GAA has issued a statement stating that it did contact Virgin Media Television seeking an expression of interest in acquiring broadcast right packages for games, but the broadcaster made it clear they were focusing on 'ready to go' rights.
The GAA also said that subscription service GAAGO has been the subject of "considerable commentary" recently and a "comprehensive review of its operation" will be carried out at the end of the inter-county season.
Earlier this week Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs Micheál Martin said the broadcasting of senior inter-county hurling matches on a pay-per-view service should be reviewed.
He said he believes all GAA games should be shown free-to-air.
The Tánaiste also said a significant audience missed the game because it was only available live on GAAGO.
His comments were echoed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and Green Party leader Eamon Ryan, who also called for a review of the streaming of big GAA games on GAAGO.
On Tuesday, in the wake of the GAAGO controversy and why Munster hurling championship matches were put behind a pay wall, the independent broadcaster brought out a statement saying that no communication came from Croke Park on bidding for rights following Sky Television's decision to end their nine-year partnership with the GAA.
The statement read: "When Sky Television decided not to renew its GAA rights, the GAA did not approach other broadcasters to ascertain whether they would be interested in broadcasting these games but arbitrarily decided to put them behind a paywall.
"The question must be asked, did RTE pay anything for these rights or did they just agree to keep them behind a paywall to drive incremental revenues for both partners in GAAGO, i.e. RTÉ and the GAA.
"Given the multi-million increases in State funding to RTÉ over recent years, RTÉ now has more Sports rights than it can show on its channels, with licence payers now being forced to further subsidise RTÉ by paying for GAA Sports content through its joint-venture with the GAA."
In response the GAA say the above statement "contained several factual errors and misleading comments".
The organisation asked Virgin Media to correct their statement, but not having received a response it felt obliged to correct the record and to say that Virgin Media and other parties were contacted as to their interest in acquiring broadcast packages.
The GAA's response read: "From as early as February 2021, the GAA contacted VMTV and other parties to gauge their interest in acquiring rights packages that would become available in the renewal of the GAA media rights in 2022.
"The initial call was followed up by a detailed description of the various packages available. Thereafter followed several meetings, telephone calls, emails and document exchanges between the parties.
"The GAA did not receive a formal bid from VMTV or an expression of interest. In June 2022, VMTV were again contacted to clarify that they did not intend to make a bid.
"VMTV were clear that their model was not to acquire rights rather to acquire 'ready to go' packages ie productions which don’t require outside broadcast set-ups for live match coverage. In short, VMTV were afforded every opportunity to discuss options, variations to packages and to submit a confidential offer. VMTV choose not to bid."
The GAA added that Sky Television did make a bid to continue its partnership, but instead opted to go with GAAGO, who could, according to the association "facilitate greater flexibility on match schedules, provide coverage for an additional 24 games and offer the opportunity for more flexible pricing for viewers and members"
On Sky's departure, the GAA statement read: "Specifically in respect of one party, the GAA was unable to deliver Sky's preferred selection as strategically we wanted greater free to air coverage for our National League Package. These rights subsequently went to TG4 and RTÉ. Whilst Sky did bid for a lesser package, the GAA decided to progress with GAAGO.
"This was because GAAGO could facilitate greater flexibility on match schedules, provide coverage for an additional 24 games and offer the opportunity for more flexible pricing for viewers and members. The finances involved were in fact similar."
