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Premier League own TV channel

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
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The trouble is they're currently offering a poor product for a high price, which is encouraging people to look for other means to get what they want. As you say they could kill the streaming thing overnight if they just offered a reasonably priced team-specific package. I think the overwhelming majority of people would rather pay e.g. 20/30 quid a month to get access to all of their team's games rather than have to faff about with dodgy streaming services.
100% agree with this, Sky/BT are using an antiquated business model that made sense in the 1990s...but doesnt make sense now.
Blockbuster video did this and ignored technology...where are they now?...the internet made it very easy for people to get the films they wanted when they want them, for fuck all...Netflix came along and monetised it.
They can bury their heads in the sand, but change will come....technology insists on it.
 
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KILLA_SIN

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2008
7,812
14,452
OK, but in a discussion about premier league TV rights then it's completely irrelevant whether you like their movie channels or not to be honest...

Ill expand a few Posters have mentioned that they would abandon Sky if the PL began to broadcast its own sports rights, Simply making the point that i don't think that will work IMO as most people take on Sky because they want more than sports or more than just EPL. They want an all day TV service. In that scenario a pure EPL package maybe wouldn't work as Prime, Netflix etc are all day steaming services as is Sky/Sports. They cant broadcast live games to protect stadium attendances , don't see how thats ever going to change. Would anyone really care about League One games ? IMO I don't think it would work as the PL would need to offer more than just EPL games on a platform, then they would have to go buy rights to Golf, Motorsport, Cricket etc. Then they are no longer offering a streaming service but need to build a comprehensive platform like SKY. Will the PL then get HBO rights etc.
 

Marty

Audere est farce
Mar 10, 2005
39,885
62,562
I would guess that it's down to effort v reward. Right now they are being paid simply to exist and to allow other companies to broadcast. They don't need to worry about anything really outside of the walls of the stadium. Pundits, studios, graphics, post production, distribution - they're basically letting the broadcasters worry about that and it works out because they already have all of the facilities in place, can source staff in no time and are already broadcasting to millions of subscribers.

If the PL wanted to own it then they would have a big initial shelling out to get all of the necessary in place, they'll be competing against the established Sky, BT Sport, etc. for pundits (especially if they wanted exclusivity), studio space, all of the equipment and staff for post - it would be a huge investment and, imo, a big risk.

Yes, they would get the football fans subscribing but they wouldn't get the casuals who watch the sports channels for other sports. There's also the fact that when a team drops out of the premier league their fans go with them (I expect), where currently they would keep the subscription as it covers so many other channels.

Big risk for them, it would take a shit-ton of research and public consultation to decide if that was worth it. For now, I expect they are happy to let the various broadcasters keep doing what they are doing and cashing the cheques.
I have visited Premier League Productions through work and the way I see it they're perfectly placed to go all in on their own streaming service and the main thing that's holding them back is the 3pm blackout ruling.

It is an absolutely huge organisation. They have their own studios and loads of unique content as it is already broadcast all over the world, most African and Asian countries can get the PL News channel. They have multiple control rooms that every single game goes through before it's distributed worldwide. They have a huge number of presenters and pundits, some are PLP employees and some are freelancers.

I have no doubt that they have the framework in place to take that plunge should they decide it's the way to go.

The EFL have started streaming midweek rounds of fixtures through their own service and as far as I know the initial response has been very positive.
 

CoopsieDeadpool

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2012
18,257
70,419
I've asked a similar question myself for a fair amount of time now, and pretty much everyone I've asked had given the same answer.

Although it's not exactly the same, my question has been, "in this day & age, with the technology we have, why can't those of us who are not fortunate enough to be able to get to games (opposing supporters too) able to watch our team each match? Surely the club would make a fortune)..

Basically similar to what's been suggested, ppv for your own team.

The unanimous response has been, "it's a good idea but would probably affect gate receipts because people will just stay at home to watch it for much cheaper than a match ticket".

I guess they have a point, and without supporters in the stadium, footy is pretty shit. It's a money orientated babe, though. Would worldwide subscriptions be more financially rewarding than the current format/agreement?
 

Oscar22

Well-Known Member
Apr 9, 2004
16,819
15,351
It’s down to the platform, as others have said the Premier League could easily do it for themselves if it wasn’t for the 3pm blackout.
However others without a decent platform have suffered.. eleven sports being one of the main ones - BT and Sky can both stream through a more stable app. Eleven sports as far as I’m aware don’t have an app and it is just streamed directly through their website.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,646
93,315
I've asked a similar question myself for a fair amount of time now, and pretty much everyone I've asked had given the same answer.

Although it's not exactly the same, my question has been, "in this day & age, with the technology we have, why can't those of us who are not fortunate enough to be able to get to games (opposing supporters too) able to watch our team each match? Surely the club would make a fortune)..

Basically similar to what's been suggested, ppv for your own team.

The unanimous response has been, "it's a good idea but would probably affect gate receipts because people will just stay at home to watch it for much cheaper than a match ticket".

I guess they have a point, and without supporters in the stadium, footy is pretty shit. It's a money orientated babe, though. Would worldwide subscriptions be more financially rewarding than the current format/agreement?

One of the problems as i see it, nothing to do with the blackouts, is how the money is split up.
Man Utd/Liverpool have MUCH larger worldwide fanbases than other teams in the league, if they got to sell their own 'streaming season tickets' then they would expect their revenues to dwarf the smaller clubs in the league.

By splitting the televised matches into packages, and guaranteeing every club in the league X amount of televised games, the premier league can justify splitting the TV money equally (or close to) between all 20 clubs....i doubt they could justify paying ManUtd/Liverpool the same as Bournemouth/Cardiff when they're getting 10-20 times as many viewers.
 

CoopsieDeadpool

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2012
18,257
70,419
One of the problems as i see it, nothing to do with the blackouts, is how the money is split up.
Man Utd/Liverpool have MUCH larger worldwide fanbases than other teams in the league, if they got to sell their own 'streaming season tickets' then they would expect their revenues to dwarf the smaller clubs in the league.

By splitting the televised matches into packages, and guaranteeing every club in the league X amount of televised games, the premier league can justify splitting the TV money equally (or close to) between all 20 clubs....i doubt they could justify paying ManUtd/Liverpool the same as Bournemouth/Cardiff when they're getting 10-20 times as many viewers.


Although I absolutely understand your point, at the the of the day, the incentive for clubs, in the modern, money driven era, would be greater than it is now.

Yes clubs are rewarded today, and the higher they finish, the more the PL pays them. However, how much bigger would the financial rewards be if the subscription route was taken? And how much would clubs be willing to invest more to become more competitive, so as to finish as high up the table as possible, thus getting bigger rewards at the end of the season.

Subscription costs could be capped or made the same for every club and, as is the case now, the more successful a club is, whether climbing from bottom to 17th, or from 3rd to 1st, the more interest they will generate.

I generally don't bother with other games or clubs outside our own. However, if the end of the season was approaching & someone destined for relegation a month ago is now a game away from saving themselves from relegation. I'd LOVE to have the option to be able to watch it.

If we could have a monthly subscription option, we all see the fixtures early enough to be able to decide a month in advance as to whether we feel like it's worth forking out for that month. The same can be said for a single game option, too. SkySports already do a days subscription on Now TV, no reason another, cheaper option couldn't be thrown in to the mix.

Even mutuals just want to watch exciting football. Even the smaller clubs could make a fortune , via non supporting but, thanks to the press & hype etc, very interested non-supporters. All willing to pay a monthly/game subscription to see what unfolds.

We were/are talking about the so called smaller clubs. A potential world wide audience, or a small stadium, hopefully filled?
 
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Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,646
93,315
Sorry to sound dumb (yes, again) :rolleyes:

What do people mean by "3pm blackout" ?
Saturdays, no football can be televised between 3-5pm in the U.K.
It's actually law...nothing to do with broadcasters.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,646
93,315
Although I absolutely understand your point, at the the of the day, the incentive for clubs, in the modern, money driven era, would be greater than it is now.

Yes clubs are rewarded today, and the higher they finish, the more the PL pays them. However, how much bigger would the financial rewards be if the subscription route was taken? And how much would clubs be willing to invest more to become more competitive, so as to finish as high up the table as possible, thus getting bigger rewards at the end of the season.

Subscription costs could be capped or made the same for every club and, as is the case now, the more successful a club is, whether climbing from bottom to 17th, or from 3rd to 1st, the more interest they will generate.

I generally don't bother with other games or clubs outside our own. However, if the end of the season was approaching & someone destined for relegation a month ago is now a game away from saving themselves from relegation. I'd LOVE to have the option to be able to watch it.

If we could have a monthly subscription option, we all see the fixtures early enough to be able to decide a month in advance as to whether we feel like it's worth forking out for that month. The same can be said for a single game option, too. SkySports already do a days subscription on Now TV, no reason another, cheaper option couldn't be thrown in to the mix.

Even mutuals just want to watch exciting football. Even the smaller clubs could make a fortune , via non supporting but, thanks to the press & hype etc, very interested non-supporters. All willing to pay a monthly/game subscription to see what unfolds.

We were/are talking about the so called smaller clubs. A potential world wide audience, or a small stadium, hopefully filled?
I think you're underestimating just how greedy the big clubs are mate...this is the primary driving factor for them to join that breakaway European super league thing that was in the news last year.
The big clubs aren't happy with how things are ATM, they want a bigger slice of the pie than what they're currently getting.

I can see things changing soon, what with Amazon dipping their toes in the water from next season, but I can't see any big changes with regards to the season ticket idea, or the 3pm blackout...in an ideal world that'd be great, but there are potentially massive issues with it.
 

spursfan77

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2005
46,680
104,957
It’s ridiculous that it’s our league, yet we are the only country that can’t watch all the games. It’s astonishing.
 

inclineyid

Well-Known Member
Dec 5, 2006
613
1,348
It’s ridiculous that it’s our league, yet we are the only country that can’t watch all the games. It’s astonishing.

Exactly and it's why I feel no guilt at all watching it on NBC in Hertfordshire tonight via an IPTV sub which frankly has 100 times better customer service than either Sly or Vermin who also can't even show me this crucial league game in the title race!
 

CoopsieDeadpool

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2012
18,257
70,419
I think you're underestimating just how greedy the big clubs are mate...this is the primary driving factor for them to join that breakaway European super league thing that was in the news last year.
The big clubs aren't happy with how things are ATM, they want a bigger slice of the pie than what they're currently getting.

I can see things changing soon, what with Amazon dipping their toes in the water from next season, but I can't see any big changes with regards to the season ticket idea, or the 3pm blackout...in an ideal world that'd be great, but there are potentially massive issues with it.


That's my point. If it's a standard subscription fee for every club, no matter which you support. The club will only get money from those who subscribe.

How can they be greedy if they can't use their PL Status to 'demand' a certain amount? They'll get a cut of subscription fees, just the same as every other club.
 

CoopsieDeadpool

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2012
18,257
70,419
Exactly and it's why I feel no guilt at all watching it on NBC in Hertfordshire tonight via an IPTV sub which frankly has 100 times better customer service than either Sly or Vermin who also can't even show me this crucial league game in the title race!


Is that actually decent? Obviously we can't chat about it in this thread but I've just had to sack Sky off. Going from SkyQ to Now TV is like switching from Megan Fox to Susan Boyle.
 

robertgoulet

SC Resident Crooner Extraordinaire
Jul 23, 2013
3,610
12,552
It’s ridiculous that it’s our league, yet we are the only country that can’t watch all the games. It’s astonishing.

Agreed. It is crazy that I am in Austin, TX and have access to all of the games every week (in HD, no less) while you lot living over there can't see them. Really mind-boggling.
 

Gb160

Well done boys. Good process
Jun 20, 2012
23,646
93,315
That's my point. If it's a standard subscription fee for every club, no matter which you support. The club will only get money from those who subscribe.

How can they be greedy if they can't use their PL Status to 'demand' a certain amount? They'll get a cut of subscription fees, just the same as every other club.
I can see them being more or less forced to change their model, as I can only see subscriptions dropping until they do...just don't see it being anytime soon that's all.
Hopefully Amazons introduction will be the kick up the arse that is needed to facilitate change.
 

CoopsieDeadpool

Well-Known Member
Jun 8, 2012
18,257
70,419
I can see them being more or less forced to change their model, as I can only see subscriptions dropping until they do...just don't see it being anytime soon that's all.
Hopefully Amazons introduction will be the kick up the arse that is needed to facilitate change.


Do you think it would affect attendance's?
 

KILLA_SIN

Well-Known Member
May 24, 2008
7,812
14,452
Do you think it would affect attendance's?

Of course it would affect attendances. Without question.

That’s why You can watch all the games in foreign countries because it doesnt affect attendances.

IPTV model is not legal and gives nothing back to the clubs or the game.
 
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