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Sky loses exclusive rights to EPL coverage
againstpaytv
Posts: 211 Forum Member
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Sky will be forced to share matches with another broadcaster from the start of thr 2007 season, there will be 5 packages of 28 games, and Sky will only be allowed a maximum of 4, leaving the last to be bid for by ITV, BBC, or anyone else.
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Then there is also Setanta who might bid, this could shape up to be an exciting auction.
Sky currently pay £340m per year, i think.
Why does the EU care so much about Premier League rights - other EU countries have exclusive contracts in place, 1 for even more than the Sky / Premier League deal.
it will only mean dearer sky subs
Five packages won't change that much.
I don't see how Setanta's 2 bob operation can pull in the revenue to buy even the last package. With ITV, Five and the BBC after some of the action the chances of Sky winning top top 3/4 and the last 1/2 going to one of those are much higher.
There is word going about that Setanta will buy a package for broadcast on a PPV basis - Cable/Satellite viewers purchase in the usual way; households with TUTV boxes buy a "single-game viewing card" from the corner shop. A new, innovative approach to PPV, which I like
It'd be a nice bonus for their current SPL fans, or NTL customers (don't remember the new name) in Ireland. Beyond that it is not a money spinner.
But Setenta will mean more cost, you'd have your SS cost AND then have to pay Setenta aswell... SS is a one off payment for all matches.
Sky could end up with nothing - but it's unlikely.
...and remember that the Sky/NTL offer of £170m was for half of the available games, not for one package.
Granted, there are other sports on SS that people watch (cricket springs to mind), but I bet there are a fair few people who only have it for the football.
I give up. I will watch less and less and then hope and pray for the day when the electronic season ticket is introduced so I can watch all the games of the team I support. The rest can go shoo.
bad times ahead.
gb-
I know there was a meeting today but can't find any reference on the PL website or the BBC website.
They had the deal on the 6pm news on BBC1 so I assume it is a done deal.
I think this deal is good for football. IMO this could make it so people can see the Premiership for cheaper. I have Sky Sports but get fed up of there being PPV games which I will not pay for. I hope the terrestrial channels get the rights to show some games so they can be split between Sky Sports and Terrestrial and PPV can be got rid of.
Thanks, so much for upto date official websites:)
Opposed to Political intereference in areas they have no business in but it'll certainly stir things up.
Without exclusive footy I won't be willing to pay the current price for SKYsports world (the £50 for Prem+ is excellent) and I will not pay for two providors and that's assuming that any PAY content appearing elsewhere is not exclusive to the platform
Intersting to see how the argument that footy on telly reduces crowds is handled and if the PL will allow FTA Dsat carriage not to mention main brand sponsership if the BBC make a bid.
Big question, will there be any broadcast who doesn't show some interest and how many do you think will actually make a bid once the tender process starts:)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4352160.stm
The EU may agree, or they may refuse, or they may just want more talks.
Whatever happens, we're not going to see the end of PPV.
So the EU say that they are trying to help Jo Public with more choice! So we will probably have to pay 2 subscriptions to watch the amount of games we currently watch with 1 subscription.
PPV will, as you say, remain - it is all a part of the tv deals.
ITV / NTL offer - this was rubbished by the TV chairman the other day. [EMAIL=http://www.dtg.org.uk/news/news.php?class=countries&subclass=193&id=1227]ITV / NTL deal[/EMAIL]
Setanta - good chance they will get a good bid in - they are a big Company
BBC - Don't count them out.
Private Equity firms / BT - strong possibilities of bidding
Sky - will keep the majority
Of course the Premier League will probably also stipulate that all games are also to broadcast in HDTV (as Sky will be doing from next year) and this will need to be taken into consideration.
Then if ITV did win the rights they would have to increase their bit rate which is awful at the moment (Premier League would require this)
The Premier League is suffering from falling attendances at games, so any more than the current number of live games is unlikely.
All IMO of course.
My own opinion is that there will either be two packages, one of 77 games and one of 63 games or four packages, each of 35 games, with nobody allowed more than two packages.
Having five packages won't work if one person can get four of them, because the EU won't be satisfied that a second bidder gets a "meaningful share".