Laois take back seat to TV rights

I wrote earlier this year that TV scheduling would increasingly have an impact on when and where games would be played and that the GAA would lose some of its control over fixtures.
There have already been a number of games played at ungodly hours on a Sunday night so that they would not clash with other TV fare.
However, one of the best examples to date of the power of the new TV deal hammered out by the GAA for this season sees Laois and Wexford play this Sunday despite a request for a week's grace from Laois.
The Laois request was not designed to influence the game in any way it was simply a response to the fact that Laois along with Offaly are hosting the All-Ireland Féile na nGael championships.
On another year their request may have had a favourable hearing.
This year however, the Leinster Council simply couldn't grant the request because the rights to televise the game are contracted out to TV3.
What I hope would happen in future is that when the deals are being done about the games that the GAA takes on board the GAA calendar of events for the season to ensure that no major events will clash with each other.
Although in this week's case Laois will be disappointed the TV deal may have the effect of ensuring in the future that the Association's planning for the year is much more professional.