Tv soccer rights for next Season

^^^ All very the true, with one important caveat, however.

Sport is slightly different to most businesses because -- as consumers -- despite our individual fan loyalties, we are ultimately paying for the aggregate products of all clubs. There is no point in supporting Chelsea, if they don't have Arsenal to play against. It is the COMPETITION we are paying for, not the performance of individual teams.

That key anomaly -- the relationship between individual clubs and the collective league -- was a major factor in setting up the Premier League to begin with. Before that, clubs were individually negotiating media deals, creating a huge disparity between the top clubs and the smaller ones but, more importantly, reducing the value of the league as a whole. It gave more bargaining power to the media companies. If Man United played hardball, the TV partner could simply show more Tottenham games.

The issue here is that clubs have already demonstrated an ability to act collectively and in concert when negotiating media contracts because that is in their interest for filling the trough. But then they all act out of individual self-interest when it comes to stuffing their faces in the trough and emptying it. If they can act collectively when addressing the short term cash grab of a media deal, why should it be impossible for them to act collectively when addressing the long term issues that affect the game?

But there is absolutely no reason why -- having established the Premier League and its collective bargaining ability -- they could not have shown a little foresight and set aside SOME of the money for strengthening the game.

I agree though that it is probably too late now. Practices are too established and expectations too entrenched. It is one thing to say, "we're all going to get MORE, but not as much as we theoretically could, because we're going to set some aside." It is quite another thing to say, "next year, you will be getting less than you got last year."

When have football clubs EVER looked any further than theirselves ,when TV rights come around .Same could be said about the TV companies .
Worried about Friday Night games ?
We worried about Monday Night games in 1992, now everyone has withdrawal symptoms if there isn't one .
Sky already broadcast Friday Night games ,albeit , from The Football League .But , there has been the odd one from PL in the past .When BBC had "live" games in the '80's , Friday Night games were their main dates .
While ever there is promotion /relegation there's still a chance for the rest .
Before anyone mentions PL "parachute payments" giving relegated clubs the advantage , just look where a few of the recent casualties currently stand .
Bolton ,Birmingham ,Wigan ,Cardiff ,Blackpool ,Reading ,Fulham etc., not exactly set The Championship alight ,have they ?
In fact at least one , if not more will drop again , just like Wolves did a couple of seasons ago .
At the end of the day , the money will get shared around quite a few more clubs at least .

Just another thing .
25 years ago Sky Tv in the UK ( or BSB and Sky , pre merger) were an absolute joke , regarding their Sport output .Now they "control" every main Sports in the UK .Football ,Cricket ,both Rugby codes ,Golf ,Boxing ,Horse Racing , F1
Not to mention other minority interest events Speedway ,Netball , Fishing etc.
How long until the last of the "crown jewels" , go the same way ; World Cup , European Championships Final Tournaments , Olympics ,Grand National , Derby , Wimbledon ( I missed Tennis off the first list )
Be a complete monopoly before long , if it isn't already .

I thought the Monopolies commission was looking into this and Sky should face a commons committee on this.
It leaves me wondering how much longer football can carry on doing this before it's bubbles bursts.. and when It does I don 't think football can ever recover from any fallout...

(15-02-2015 03:35 )mickster Wrote:  How long until the last of the "crown jewels" , go the same way ; World Cup , European Championships Final Tournaments , Olympics

Sky don't meet the bid criteria for those events because they don't broadcast them to the public for free.