Rebels go on another rising over new DVD

The Gaelic Players' Association's (GPA) campaign to share in the GAA's broadcast rights was a factor in the decision of the Cork hurlers not to co-operate with the DVD Rebel Rising, produced by Setanta Television.

"It seems illogical to players that Setanta can pay millions of euro to the GAA to acquire the rights to our games," said Cork goalkeeper Donal Óg Cusack in a statement released by the GPA, "yet players see nothing from a venture such as this."

According to the GPA: "Whilst Setanta retain the rights to utilise GAA match footage for video and DVD productions, the Cork players were aggrieved at the attitude adopted by the company towards the All-Ireland winning squad."

Cusack went on to outline the players' grievances. "The Rebel Rising is a slick commercial venture depicting our success this year, yet the concept of a co-operative commercial alliance between Setanta and the Cork senior hurling squad to maximise awareness and sales of the product was rejected outright.

"An endorsement by the Cork hurling squad would arguably increase sales of Rebel Rising and contribute to our players' holiday fund, yet all we were offered was a small fee for three player interviews. The players feel it is important that Cork fans are fully aware of our position with regard to this product."

A spokesperson for Setanta said that whereas the company didn't wish to comment on the GPA press release, they disputed that the Cork players' proposals had been "rejected outright".

"We're not making any comment on the rights issue, which is a matter between the GPA and the GAA, but the idea of a commercial alliance wasn't rejected outright. We talked to the GPA and made an offer that we felt was pretty good and probably better than the percentage they had in mind."

Speaking on Today FM's Last Word, Cusack said: "We've no problems with RTÉ showing games and things like that, but we see these productions as there for financial profit. Then these people come along and expect us to take part in it and show us complete disrespect by offering us something like 750 for three players."

He went on to say that they had looked for a figure in the region of €5,000 as a contribution to the team's holiday fund in return for support in the marketing and promotion of the DVD.

The GAA are dubious, however, about the commercial possibilities involved in these productions. "More often than not," says the association's public relations manager, Danny Lynch, "we have to cajole end-of-year videos out of production companies as loss-making promotional exercises."

The rights to make videos and DVDs have generally been assigned as part of the overseas rights package. But it is seen by the companies such as Setanta as part of the price to be paid for the overseas rights rather than a commercial opportunity in itself.

The best selling GAA video was A Year Till Sunday by Galway panellist Pat Comer, whose account of the county's first All-Ireland football title in 32 years sold around 30,000. But end-of-year productions haven't been as successful, with the 2001 hurling year the best performer with around 10,000 sales.

The chairman of Westmeath County Board has slammed "quick-buck merchants" who are trying to cash in on the county team's success in 2004. Séamus Whelan has advised supporters of the reigning Leinster champions that only one official framed team photograph is in circulation.

"Some people are trying to sell various items, including framed team photos, on the back on Westmeath's great run this year," said Whelan. "The official team photo is being sold by the Westmeath GAA Supporters' Club officials. All monies raised go towards the Supporters' Club and are ploughed back into the game in Westmeath."