RTE'S DECISION not to show the Paralympics live has beendescribed as 'bitterly disappointing' by Labour's disabilityspokeswoman Senator Mary Moran.
Ms Moran, who has a child with an intellectual disability, saidshe was 'absolutely shocked' that Saturday's athletics, at whichIreland won two gold medals, was not shown live on RTE. She alsocriticised the scheduling of the highlights programmes which arebeing shown late at night.
'While RTE's live coverage of the Games in London in August, andin particular the attention surrounding Katie Taylor's outstandingboxing performances gave the country a very welcome boost, I amdisappointed that the same cannot be said of the coverage for theParalympic Games,' she said.
'Indeed, coverage of our national performances in the Games overthe weekend, which saw Ireland secure three gold medals in threehours on Saturday, was limited to half an hour's highlights and wastelevised late at night.'
The Senator has written to RTE director general Noel Currancomplaining about the coverage. She has also appealed to RTE torevise its schedule for the rest of the week and show liveParalympic action.
Others have complained too on social media blogs and particularlyRTE Sport's Facebook page.
Though RTE is a member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU)which secured the rights to show the Games and would have been ableto show them live, it has opted instead to show eight half-hourhighlights programmes.
Comprehensive coverage of the Paralympics live is being shown onSetanta, though it is does not have exclusive access to thecoverage.
Setanta marketing director Brian Quinn said the rights weresecured on a non-exclusive basis and they were showing the Gamesbecause they believed they should be shown live.
'We are showing them on a free-to-air basis because we want asmany fans as possible to see live Irish coverage. In Beijing therewas no live coverage for Irish fans so our 73 live hours plushighlights is a huge step forward.'
A statement from RTE defended its coverage. RTE said in additionto its television coverage it was screening 450 hours live onRTE.ie. The broadcaster pointed out that RTE has 15 people in Londonworking across television, radio and news.
It also said much of the action happens late into the evening andthe production team needs time to turn the programme around.
RTE also said it has been covering the Paralympics since 2000 andits coverage this year is 30 per cent up on Beijing.
Channel 4, which won the exclusive rights to the Paralympicsahead of the BBC, has announced that it is extending its coveragebecause of strong ratings. Some 4.5 million people watched the T44(for amputees) 200m men's final on Sunday night which featured SouthAfrica's Oscar Pistorius who was controversially beaten by Brazil'sAlan Oliveira.
Channel 4 will now broadcast daily from 7am to 11.15pm with justa half an hour break for the Channel 4 News at 7pm.
