Money in football

[Tarty]

Just replied to a post by KB and it got me thinking about money in football, especially the deal that Sky got when ITV digital collapsed.

Since they collapsed and Sky took over the contract how many times have City been on TV? Twice (Hull and Barnsley), but maybe more. But for the last couple of seasons City have not been shown, where other clubs have. Any reason why?

People say that it's because Richmond had a go at the press when he was with us, yet we have been on since then. Looking at this seasons fixtures we have some right belters, yet Sky again have decided not to show then as of yet. In all fairness most of the midweek games that Sky had on last season from the lower leagues were better than some of the premiership games.

I wonder when the football league contract runs out with Sky. With Sentana and Virgin Media apparently teaming up to launch their own version of Sky Sports News and a sports channel, it would make sense for them to bid for the contract. After all Virgin Media have won the rights to be able to show highlights of games on their broadband service (bit like Bantams World I assume)

[Ed]

Just because they appear belters of a game to you, doesnt mean non city fans see them that way.

[king billy]

There are enough games on TV - to not show the **** we have to watch week in week out!!

The choice of watching Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs etc etc - against watching Dagenham and Redbridge, Accrington or Macclesfield......ermmm don't take a rocket scientist does it?

Sky are brilliant at cornering the market - if there was a large enough market to show lower league football - then trust me, they'd show more games - people don't want to see it, and aren't prepared to pay to watch it (at least whilst there's the choice of top premier league football, champions league, spanish football etc)....

At our level - were on our own, one of the reasons for living the dream of returning to championship or even prem level, is to try get a place back at the table!!

[Tarty]

The choice of watching Man Utd, Chelsea, Liverpool, Arsenal, Spurs etc etc - against watching Dagenham and Redbridge, Accrington or Macclesfield......ermmm don't take a rocket scientist does it?



Maybe it doesn't take a rocket scientist but for them to show the games must show that the market is there, it just needs plugging like the premiership is.

When ITV Digital won the ill fated contract to show football league games, they actually had an increase in subscriptions, unfortunatly someone couldn't add up at ITV Digital.

[terrynewpack]

games.

I wonder when the football league contract runs out with Sky.

The new contract starts this coming season so Sky have got it well and truly covered. Just to add insult to injury they have stuck an 11% increase on pubs who show Sky.
The reason why City are not on the telly much is obvious. Basically we are crap and hardly anyone is interested in watching. ONDigital found that out when they were selling less than 500 subscriptions for some of their televised games and it was costing them about £250000 to show each match. Hardly surprising they went tits up.

[Jamaica Love]

When ITV Digital won the ill fated contract to show football league games, they actually had an increase in subscriptions, unfortunatly someone couldn't add up at ITV Digital.

ITV digital launched off the back of the Football League contract, believing that the FL fan market was a golden ticket...that is basically all they had to diferentiate themsleves fro SKY. The fact that the only people who subscribed to ITV digital were FL fans shows that there is NOT a sufficient market there at all. ...the fact is proven by the situation they found themselves in when flat broke with hardly any subscribers!!!

[Tarty]

ITV digital launched off the back of the Football League contract, believing that the FL fan market was a golden ticket...that is basically all they had to diferentiate themsleves fro SKY. The fact that the only people who subscribed to ITV digital were FL fans shows that there is NOT a sufficient market there at all. ...the fact is proven by the situation they found themselves in when flat broke with hardly any subscribers!!!

But bearing in mind at the time, ITV Digital (now freeview), wasn't available like it is now. Maybe if they had waited until more transmitters were compatable of sending digital signals, then things might have been different

[Jamaica Love]

But bearing in mind at the time, ITV Digital (now freeview), wasn't available like it is now. Maybe if they had waited until more transmitters were compatable of sending digital signals, then things might have been different
Maybe...but i just dont see enough people paying for the service to make it profitable!!!!!!... Perhaps it should be PPV on freeview but how much would it cost them to provide the service?

[Tarty]

Maybe...but i just dont see enough people paying for the service to make it profitable!!!!!!... Perhaps it should be PPV on freeview but how much would it cost them to provide the service?


Unfortunatly thats one thing that can only be done with research. Virgin Media in theory could get one over on Sky here by not only offering it to cable customers but streaming it live on the net. I believe last year a couple of non league clubs did a trial and it was very sucessful.

[BBB]

Maybe...but i just dont see enough people paying for the service to make it profitable!!!!!!... Perhaps it should be PPV on freeview but how much would it cost them to provide the service?

contradiction that isnt it ???

[sweetcakes]

I do believe that Avenue were on about such a scheme next season .

[wykie]

contradiction that isnt it ???

lol just slightly

[Jamaica Love]

contradiction that isnt it ???
aye i did think about that when writing it...but the only reason i wrote freeview was because we were only talking about the set top boxes as a way of receiving the signal...

[Tarty]

contradiction that isnt it ???


Not really, Sentana have a PPV option on freeview.

[sweetcakes]

ITV digital was a fooking disaster from start to finish they tried to do a Sky and failed very badly.
Sky hit it at the right time the formation of the Premier league the biggest club in England even the world to hit a golden spell and the fact that ITV was so shite at what it did it could not fail.
What about the big match on ITV if you didn't support Man U,Arsenal,Spurs,Liverpool or Everton you where fooked.
Can anyone remember seeing a Manchester,Sheffield,Glasgow or even Bristol derbies on ITV or the beeb.
Look at the playoffs rammed down your neck on Sky when we got prommoted in 96 we had an 30 minute slot at 11.Sky came and conquered and the others could not live with it.

[Jamaica Love]

Not really, Sentana have a PPV option on freeview.
I thank you wise one...my argument now holds water....;);) ;)

[Tarty]

Where ITV Digital failed was offering such a big contract when half the country couldn't even recieve a digital signal. Not only that but you have to admit that the boxes were crap. Now technology has changed, with better boxes designed etc. Top Up TV came along and basically showed that ITV Digital could have worked, then Top Up decided to go down the PVR route, which at the moment is going to make them go bust.

Would you pay £200+ for a box plus subscription to watch programs shown on various channels yesterday?

[Jamaica Love]

Would you pay £200+ for a box plus subscription to watch programs shown on various channels yesterday?
Not now i can get a season ticket for 138 quid.....tup:

[Tarty]

Not now i can get a season ticket for 138 quid.....tup:

But you know what I mean

If the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool etc were not shown as much on TV, then I wonder how many of their "glory supporters" would actually support them. I mean we all know of a Manchester United fan that loves the club, but couldn't even tell you how to get there.

The only problem with the football league is that they are not doing enough to help the lower division clubs, and it looks like that won't change for a long time.

[Jamaica Love]

But you know what I mean

If the likes of Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool etc were not shown as much on TV, then I wonder how many of their "glory supporters" would actually support them. I mean we all know of a Manchester United fan that loves the club, but couldn't even tell you how to get there.

The only problem with the football league is that they are not doing enough to help the lower division clubs, and it looks like that won't change for a long time.

I agree but that will never change.......My missus is a liverpool fan.....although i roped her into a season ticket at Bantams but undoubtedly she became a liverpool fan by watching TV!

[Tarty]

It's like when we were in the Premiership, where did all them glory seekers disappear to?

[Jamaica Love]

It's like when we were in the Premiership, where did all them glory seekers disappear to?

Agree, but mvery few clubs can fall from grace like us and maintain their crowd levels.. Clubs like man city and forest are few and far between!!!!

[Tarty]

Just been reading but apparently starting this season in the Conference Sentana will be showing 79 games from the conference, so the money must be around the lower leagues