There has been a huge backlash against RTE for their failure to show Ireland's Annalise Murphy absolutely tearing it up in the Rio Olympics sailing. Murphy currently lies first in the Women's Laser Radial after six races-but viewers are furious that they have had to watch an eclectic mixture of kayaking, diving and badminton instead of Murphy flying up the standings.
RTE Presenter Darragh Maloney was forced to make an apology to the Twitterati who had been venting their collective spleens at the lack of coverage. Maloney said:
We should point out the following: how the Olympic Games receives television coverage is solely decided by the Games host broadcasters, the Olympic broadcasting service. Each of the race classes is given live race coverage on one day of their preliminary rounds-for example on Tuesday it was the men's windsurfing and Annalise Murphy's radial class, but on Wednesday it was Finn Lynch and the women's windsurfing.
So the remaining classes on any given day are covered on a single camera, but that material is not made available to us until 10PM Rio time-that's 2 o'clock in the morning here. And it's not permitted for any broadcaster to arrange for their own multi-camera coverage of any Olympic event.
We had said that the people of Ireland had let their feelings known in that great cauldron of intellectual debate, discussion and reflection, Twitter. Here's what they had to say:
@RTEsport why are you showing Olympic kayak with no Irish, while one of our best medal chances in Annalise Murphy is sailing now.#rtesport
— Fergal Brosnan (@fergalbros) August 10, 2016
The sailing is definitely more exciting to follow on twitter than to actually watch. Fair play to RTE for not showing it #Rio2016
— Niall C (@Nialler67) August 9, 2016
Annalise Murphy sailing brilliantly in major race now...while RTE gets excited about Eastern European kayakers and badminton on two channels
— Bill Tyson (@BillTyson8) August 10, 2016
@rte what about @Annalise_Murphy and sailing? Not interested in De Silva in Slalom. Shame only getting info from @Annalise_Murphy TL
— Siobhán (@carnsoreboxer) August 10, 2016
Same yesterday with 2/2 channels showing equestrian while @Annalise_Murphy is sailing. Could also have more streams on Player @RTE_Rio2016
— Kevin Brett (@kevintbrett) August 9, 2016
But RTE quickly sought to defend themselves via the same outlet, clarifying the scenario with a fairly reasonable explanation.
How the Games sailing event receives television coverage is solely decided by the Games host broadcasters, Olympic Broadcasting Service. 1
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2016
Each of the classes is given live coverage on 1 day of the prelim rounds. For example, Tuesday it was Men's Windsurfing & Annalise
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2016
The remaining classes on a given day are covered on single camera but that material is not made available until 10pm in Rio, 2am here. Pt 3
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2016
It is not permitted for any broadcaster to arrange for their own multi-camera coverage of any Olympic event.
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) August 10, 2016
In fairness to RTE, their coverage of the Olympics has, in general, been fantastic, with particular highlights being Barry Murphy and Daire O'Brien's craic-filled love-in on the morning highlights show and the as-ever brilliant insight from the boxing analysts; former Olympic bronze medalist Eric Donovan in particular received lots of praise for his dissection of Albert Selimov, opponent of David Oliver Joyce, before the Mullingar man's losing bout.
Simply brilliant boxing preview of the Albert Selimov & David Joyce contest with Eric Donovan on RTE. Absolutely riveting
— Joe Brolly (@JoeBrolly1993) August 9, 2016
Hilarious! "Get in and see the mEEt" Great job @Barry_J_Murphy enjoying the swimming coverage @RTEsport
— Martyn Irvine (@Martyn_Irvine) August 9, 2016
Maloney, Peter Collins and Joanne Cantwell have been very effective presenters thus far, although Maloney will be hoping that he isn't forced to make any more apologies to the angry Twitter masses.
You have to feel sorry for the sailing analysts, though. It's one thing trying to analyse a race, it's another thing entirely to decipher it when you can't actually see the thing.
