04/16/24
December 17, 2003
Bring on the cash!: The English Premier League gets a new $1B television deal that will be "a lifesaver for English football." But how much will BSkyB knock off what it pays? And will clubs began to understand that there are spending limits?
Does it say which games? Who decides? Is it a random selection? Will Sky just give away the crap games anyway? As for spending limits, yeah, the clubs will understand it. It's called "going into administration." Leeds "80mil pounds in the hole" United understand it. A whole bunch of EPL teams understand it. Bolton understand it. Spurs understand it. Even Arsenal "we need a new stadium" FC understand it. Only Man U and Chelsea don't understand it. They're the only ones who can afford to ignore it.
posted by worldcup2002 at 01:38 PM on December 17, 2003
I don't understand how this latest change, getting eight games (eight games, holy fecking wow!) onto 'terrestrial' TV will make any difference. The GBP1B SkyTV deal was already in place so that's not news. And the eight games will be sublet by Sky, with Sky getting the revenue to make up for giving them up. So how is this a lifesaver???
posted by billsaysthis at 01:44 PM on December 17, 2003
Do I get a reduction in my chuffin subscription? Just kidding. What happens if no terrestrial channel wants the games?
posted by Fat Buddha at 01:50 PM on December 17, 2003
Who decides? Whoever buys them. But they only get a choice from the games Sky haven't chosen already, for either their normal broadcast or pay per view. So it'll be the third choice game from the weekends fixtures. So how is this a lifesaver??? You're right, it's not. Its more money to the biggest boys, once again. I'll be pleased to see league football back on tv again, but this is basically a deal which doesn't annoy Sky in any way, so they don't drop the prices they are willing to pay massively, and it also allows the EC to pretend its doing something.
posted by dng at 04:05 PM on December 17, 2003
Exactly as I thought. It's a bloody farce, but we love our farces.
posted by worldcup2002 at 06:33 PM on December 17, 2003
What does this mean for us guys in the US? Does FSW get more or less games per year?! Don't fuck with my EPL!!!
posted by StarFucker at 01:23 AM on December 23, 2003
It might increase the total sum of money going to the league, but it might not, depending on what Sky does. They're estimating the games will be worth roughly 1.5m each - in other words, Emile Heskey's salary for a year. I'd imagine that only the top games are going to get broadcast, e.g. your Chelsea v Man United line ups. So how will this help clubs that are strapped for cash (e.g. Leeds, Bolton)? will clubs began to understand that there are spending limits? both you and I know that this is never ever going to happen. having said all that, I'm pleased that football's coming back to terrestrial tv, even if it's only 8 games a year. I'm hoping the BBC bid for the games, but I have a feeling either ITV or Channel 5 will snap the games up.