TV3 will pay the GAA approximately €6 million for what has been termed the number three package of live championship matches for the next three years, starting in 2008. This includes two provincial finals and a number of football qualifiers.

Outgoing director general Liam Mulvihill confirmed as much when commenting on the television rights negotiation process at a press conference on the All Stars tour in New York yesterday.

"Approximately 50 per cent of the total RTÉ gave the last time," was Mulvihill's response to how much TV3 must pay to broadcast live championship matches for the first time. RTÉ's last one-year deal for the total championship rights package was around €4 million.

Under the new arrangement the GAA total media earnings over the next three years is expected to exceed €20 million. There are 25 packages divided among television and radio outlets for next year's championship.

UTV can now show clips of championship games, while Today FM have acquired the rights for "score flashes". TG4 will continue to broadcast club championship games.

GAA president Nickey Brennan, also speaking yesterday from the Helmsley Hotel in Manhattan, noted the criterion for selection was not primarily the bottom line submitted in each media outlet's tender. "It's not about money . . . It's about looking at the whole presentation of our games and looking at how we can attract a new audience.

"All the big stuff is there on the table to be played for still but we feel there is an opportunity to broaden the appeal of Gaelic games to a new audience. We were impressed by the presentation TV3 gave us in relation to the particular package they were awarded."

The recipients of numbers one and two could be announced before Christmas with RTÉ strongly expected to retain live coverage of the latter stages of the championship.

"We've now gone back to round two," explained Brennan. "We met various people who submitted bids. They've now got a document from our consultant, Mark Oliver, which has outlined some issues relating to the second-round bids. We should have those in about two weeks."

The new layered sponsorship structure, similar to the Champions League format, is also being ironed out with an announcement expected before Christmas or early in the New Year.

Meanwhile, Brennan rejected the suggestion the threat of a Gaelic Players Association co-ordinated strike was the main reason behind the GAA reaching an agreement with the players' body and Government over the €3.5 million player grants.

"I suppose some people will look at it that way. You have to bear in mind we had an election, a new Government and a new Minister for Sport. The Minister was indisposed for a period of time but since (former Minister for Sport) John O'Donoghue announced the €5 million there were a lot of other things on the fringes that were impacting the pace at which negotiations could take place. But once we got into the serious negotiations we were utterly determined.

"Did the strike (threat) focus the minds? Maybe it does but we were at the table and seriously negotiating it anyway. I wouldn't like to think people will read into this that the GAA will succumb any time the threat is put before us. We are satisfied with what we got out of it - to secure our amateur status, our ongoing funding and other issues."

Brennan described the initial €5 million infrastructural funding proposed by O'Donoghue as "not a particularly bright idea in the first place. We certainly weren't going to get caught in that. He announced it without thinking how it might be implemented. The GAA had difficulties with his original proposal and how it was going to be implemented.

"It is important to state the association has always been supportive of the grants issue. We had major issues with some aspects of it but I am glad we have come to an agreement and the GAA concerns have been addressed."

Although the logistics of handing out the money have yet to be agreed, 30-man intercounty panels will receive payment on a sliding scale of €2,800 per man for the top level down to €1,650. None of this money will be taxed as it is termed "player awards".

To receive payment certain players must contribute to promotional work and meet the requirements of the intercounty panel. "If players don't deliver there will be questions to ask. It's optional for players to take this. Panels may decide to pool money for holiday or training weekend. That's contained within the agreement."

Brennan said talks on formal recognition of the GPA will start in January.

Finally, Limerick manager Richie Bennis sends the 2007 All Stars out against Kilkenny manager Brian Cody's 2006 version at Gaelic Park this evening. Throw-in is 11pm Irish time.