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RTÉ 'live' coverage will tell much

With the news that Raidió Teilifís Éireann are to broadcast their first 'live' game of the 1999-2000 Eircom League season, National League supporters can finally now look forward to some television coverage of domestic Irish soccer 'live'.

The fact that it has taken our National Broadcasters well over two months of soccer action to actually film a 'live' game is yet another worrying fact. When Shelbourne host Derry City in the first 'live' game on October 22nd, 10 of the 33 weeks of the season will have been played, which is almost a third. Hence, RTÉ have began their 'live' programme of games with the various teams firmly established and as a result the exciting feeling of expectancy and of the unknown associated with the early part of the season will have all but died for another year.

Consequently, the schedule of Friday night televised games will end probably at the climax of the season, but will have started with almost one third of the season consigned to history.

Fundamentally, this is hardly acceptable or professional and is frankly intolerable.

There lies one of the main problems attached to RTÉ's coverage of the National League. Knowledge of RTÉ's comprehensive and quality coverage of foreign soccer is frustrating for many supporters of the Eircom League. Every Saturday night, beginning at the start and ending at the end of the Premiership season, RTÉ broadcast "The Premiership", an impressive weekly review of England's League. The schedule is well established and professional.

Due in part to a big promotion of their "Premiership" slot, the programme has attracted viewers. Amazingly though, National League 'live' games are advertised much less. Despite the unpredictability of the schedule of NL games, the 'live' games are advertised on RTÉ much less than Premiership games. This is extremely questionable.

Therefore, the viewing figures for National League 'live' Friday night games represent an underachievement. These games are broadcast once every three Friday's variably, yet despite the consequent lack of knowledge about their existence, RTÉ have launched a rather inaptly inadequate advertising campaign of their National League 'live' coverage.

However, the National League coverage would be perhaps more acceptable if the above was the only relevant qualm from the armchair fan.

Unfortunately, it isn't. Or at least it wasn't. Last season the quality of the production of the 'live' action was disappointing. The reasons being: substandard commentary, incorrect camera locations, embarrassing "cock ups" during crucial games, woeful analysis of the action and an evident general lack of professionalism. (And this is to name but a few).

Last season, Ger Canning and Eoin Hand were generally the commentating duo. However, Ger was on occasions replaced by George Hamilton, while Eoin was replaced occasionally by Pat Dolan. It is debatable as to what is the most suitable partnership, yet it is indisputable that chopping and changing is not at all appropriate and yet again it fails to set a standard, much like their unpredictable programme of games.

Due to the substandard performance by RTÉ, the picture created for potential fans of the NL is poor, and there is unquestionably an element of banality therefore attached to the League. This is something quite annoying, as the superior quality of the Premiership, allied with the accordingly superior television coverage, makes the National League seem incomparable and hugely inferior to the Premiership. Therefore soccer supporters with their allegiance towards English soccer find it difficult to extract enjoyment from the NL.

The blame in this respect lies solely with RTÉ. National League fans moderately demand televised coverage by RTÉ, which respects the League in a similar light as the Premiership. This is a modest wish.

Needless to say, it is therefore unacceptable if RTÉ do not improve on their coverage of last season vis a vis the NL. This implies that there must be a commentary team assigned to cover the National League which will not be unnecessarily altered and a studio arranged to house the pre-match and post-match analysis. Additionally, RTÉ must locate their cameras in a position that creates the best picture of the product, and above all illustrate that they can be professional. These features, added to an adequate campaign of advertising, will please many NL supporters and will attract soccer fans not already interested in the League. The domestic League will be seen at its best.

That is our request. Yet ironically, despite the fact that all of the above recommendations would arguably be of benefit to RTÉ if implemented, they will probably not be in evidence this season. And, if as expected RTÉ miserably fail to improve on last year's disrespectful coverage, the founded criticism aimed in their direction will be still on show. It is their choice.

Editor's Comment, 27th October: The above mentioned Shelbourne - Derry City game has now been played and unsurprisingly RTÉ performed to a disappointing standard. There was no match studio, commentary from Jimmy McGee which is yet another alteration, and a disrespectful advertising campaign beforehand. It is still the perception of many that our State Broadcasters still have failed to grasp that their poor coverage is of little benefit to themselves or the Eircom League.
Relating all of this to the subject of the above Editorial, it is safe to say that RTÉ's coverage has told much, i.e. that they are still in the main working apathetically towards the Eircom League.