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Post by rugbytoffee on Sept 21, 2023 10:04:37 GMT
 The Pinnacle of Football Broadcasting: The New TV Deal EraIn an age where streaming and digital content reign supreme, the Premier League is primed for another shake-up in its broadcasting rights narrative. According to a report from BBC Sport, key talks centring on the new broadcasting rights scheme will be the highlight when Premier League clubs convene in the capital this week. The landscape has already seen a seismic shift with lucrative six-year TV Deal contracts struck with international broadcasters. Notably, NBC’s £2bn agreement ensures US audiences enjoy the action up until 2028. The Future of Domestic BroadcastingHowever, the pressing question remains: what becomes of the domestic agreements post-2025? With deals involving Sky Sports, TNT and Amazon Prime slated to expire, the league’s endeavours centre on leveraging these contracts which, as of now, tip the scales beyond a staggering £5bn. These contracts saw extensions in light of the unforeseen challenges posed by the pandemic in 2022. Expanding the Live ActionOne potent strategy to augment revenue is quite simple: more live football. A potential increase of 50 live matches suggests that new match slots may soon be on the horizon. Yet, as Richard Masters, Premier League’s chief executive, remarked, the sacred 3 pm slot on Saturdays remains untouched, warranting the league to scout for alternate slots. Notably, utilising both Friday and Monday evening fixtures during a single weekend is on the cards, in addition to ramping up late evening matches during weekends. This alteration in scheduling is evident, for instance, in Burnley’s duel with Manchester United scheduled for 8 pm, a compromise with TNT. This adjustment ensures clubs battling on European turf midweek aren’t slotted for the usual 12:30 pm kickoff on Saturday. The Italian Serie A, in contrast, comfortably slots two matches on both Friday and Monday evenings. However, these timings are a far cry from being fan-centric, stirring the waters of opposition. Financial Handouts and Tensions BeneathWith a £130m distribution package reportedly settled between the Premier League and EFL, spurred by governmental demands, it’s not all smooth sailing. The distribution method remains a bone of contention. The Premier League’s proposition to tether it to performance has not resonated well with some EFL clubs, who argue that this overly benefits clubs descending from the Premier League, courtesy of their parachute payments. Recent discussions, attended by Premier League and EFL representatives, along with club representatives, aimed to bridge these divides. Redefining the Football CalendarThe football calendar’s structure remains under scrutiny. With the Champions League’s expansion consuming more midweek slots, questions arise regarding the EFL Cup’s future. While it seems poised to endure, achieving equilibrium given the rising demands on top-tier clubs remains a puzzle. Several solutions are being tabled – from delaying European club entries to introducing under-21 squads. Yet, as the inaugural Fifa’s Club World Cup in 2025 looms, the brevity between seasons shrinks dramatically, impacting Europe’s elite clubs. Both Chelsea and Manchester City, recent Champions League victors, are set to feature in this US-hosted event next summer. With such crammed timelines, Man City’s head, Pep Guardiola, emphasises the challenge in charting a pre-season, especially with the Premier League’s commitment to the players’ three-week mandatory break. In ConclusionAs the world of football continues to evolve, both on and off the pitch, the Premier League remains at the heart of these shifts. While changes are imminent, they come with their own set of challenges. Yet, as history proves, football always finds a way to adapt and thrive. eplindex.com/ |
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Post by empresstouch on Sept 21, 2023 23:28:30 GMT
Whilst embracing new people who genuinely want to participate in the sport - for the right reasons, should always be encouraged in principle, the motive(s) remain as suspect as they ever have been.
Merging the League Cup with the EFL Trophy for tiers 2-4, with the UEFA Conference League berth awarded to the winners; to give genuine reason to watch it, whilst giving back more meaning to the F.A. Cup - one way of reducing domestic fixtures in a positive view. There are others, including reducing the number of Premier League fixtures - WITHOUT reducing the number of clubs.
And that's only the domestic club scene. The European game is completely selling its soul through increasing the fixture list AND yet increasing the number of dead rubbers - NOT reducing it. All when improving the Champions' League's meaning - and pressures on player-welfare - were/are there.
It's very frustrating, when we all consider the performance of footballing athletes is improving by the minute, that we can't trust any of the sporting bodies to make the right decisions, for the right reasons. Instead, obscene money being offered in short-term measures.
Great to speculate and analyse upon. Yet worrying at the same time. But what's new?!?
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Post by rugbytoffee on Sept 22, 2023 6:44:33 GMT
I remember when the European Cup was contested by the Champions of the European Leagues and The UEFA cup was the equivalent of the now Europa League. And of course who of a certain age can forget the Cup Winners Cup.
Football was so simple then. The anticipation of the scores filtering in on Grandstand etc. Waiting for Ceefax to update the scores and good old radio commentary. Saturdays were like a religious activity.
Good memories which the youngsters will never ever experience.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Oct 18, 2023 18:43:37 GMT
The Premier League is to substantially increase the number of live matches available on TV in the UK, with 270 to be screened by broadcasters each season from 2025.
The league confirmed on Wednesday that it had launched a tender process for its next round of domestic TV rights, an auction it hopes will deliver a boost in revenues after its most recent deal, first struck in 2018, was rolled over during the pandemic.
Broadcasters will be encouraged to bid on five packages that will run for four seasons each. The expanded number of fixtures will increase the total number of live matches from 200. For the first time, all fixtures played at 2pm on a Sunday will be available to screen. The Premier League said this increase will allow for the preservation of the traditional Saturday 3pm blackout.
The offer to broadcasters is familiar but reveals some of the changes in the market since the Premier League last went to tender. The number of live packages on offer has been slimmed down from the last auction when two of the seven packages failed to find a home at the first time of asking. The extra year on the deal will also offer greater security to broadcasters in a time of industry turbulence.
The Premier League opted not to introduce new kick-off times to their schedule, with the packages built around established start times at 12.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturday, 2pm and 4.30pm on Sunday, as well as one of 8pm on either Monday or Friday. There will, however, be one added round of midweek fixtures, which will be sold as a block, following on from the model in which Amazon broadcasts all 10 Boxing Day fixtures live. A free-to-air highlights package, which is held by the BBC, will remain part of the mix.
The value of the Premier League’s domestic TV rights under its existing three-year deal is estimated at £5bn. This is roughly the same figure as in 2016, and executives will be hoping that the planned expansion in both the number of matches and the length of the deal will lead to a growth in revenue.
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Post by halewoodblue on Oct 20, 2023 21:35:35 GMT
Until they allow the 3pm sat slot to be televised then the rest is pointless
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