Celtic's take on TV deal

[nvager 498]

Celtic chairman John Reid savages SPL rivals over 'disastrous' Setanta TV rights deal

Celtic chairman John Reid, regarded as former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s attack dog during his time as a Cabinet minister, savaged his SPL colleagues after they voted overwhelmingly to accept a £65 million, five-year contract from Sky and ESPN to broadcast 60 live league fixtures per season (30 apiece) starting next month.

By Ewing Grahame

Published: 9:05PM BST 16 Jul 2009

Tough talking: 'Last year's decision to reject the Sky bid and opt for Setanta has proved to be the disastrous misjudgement we indicated it might be,' John Reid fumed Photo: PA The deal is worth less than half of what Setanta had bid to secure the rights last year, before the troubled company’s slide into administration last month rendered that agreement void.

At that time market leaders Sky had offered to pay the SPL slightly less but the elite division opted instead to take their chances with the up-and-coming Irish company and have paid the price.

Sport on television “Celtic have a responsibility to speak out for our supporters who will be deeply dissatisfied with the background to and outcome of today’s SPL decision and the events leading up to it,” said Reid.

“No-one should under-estimate the blow that has been inflicted on this club and Scottish football by the way in which the whole affair has been handled, and by the losses incurred.

“Last year’s decision to reject the Sky bid and opt for Setanta – arrived at against the strong opposition of Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen – has proved to be the disastrous misjudgement we indicated it might be, with Setanta now in administration.

“In turn, this has led to the dilemma we now find ourselves in. Today the SPL accepted a bid that is less than half the value of that offered by Sky last year. The whole SPL is now a commercial victim, in an uncompetitive TV market, in the middle of a recession, locked in for years to an income some 60 per cent lower than last year’s bid.

“This is the direct consequence of last year’s misjudgement, one that has cost us all some £70 million in a sport that desperately needs the income and where our supporters are already paying their own hard-earned cash.

“To Celtic it means a potential loss of up to £12 million over the four year period – the equivalent of around 6,500 season tickets each year.

“We need to face up to some harsh realities In an environment crying out for long-term thinking, this concentration on short-term gain only leads to long-term pain.

“Above all the SPL must learn the lessons of these events. That is why we initiated discussion with Rangers Football Club to examine possible alternatives to the present position.

"We reserve the right to continue to explore those options not only for the longer term benefit of Celtic football club but for everyone involved.”

Rangers owner Sir David Murray Murray had argued that Rangers and Celtic could finance an alternative package by putting up £25 million between them and bringing in yet another media partner but, in spite of speaking at length on the subject before the SPL’s AGM at Hampden on Thursday, he failed to provide a plan for the members to consider.

“If you go to an auction, the price is obviously going to be lower if there’s only one bidder,” he said. “So you have to at least offer an alternative rather than just taking the only offer on the table.

“We’ve got to try to compete. In the past we were too quick to take the pieces of silver. I feel like we are stumbling towards this other deal as if it were a fait accompli and we have no other option.

“At the moment there’s only one show in town, and I don’t think that’s correct. So we’re trying to present something different.” However, a spokesman for the SPL made it clear after the meeting that Rangers had failed to provide the elite division with a choice.

“There was no alternative proposal brought forward by the Old Firm,” he said. “We needed a vote of 8-4 and while we will not go into the exact voting, there was enough to secure the approval.”

Intriguingly, Reid’s outburst – and Murray’s pre-emptive strikes – didn’t indicate what the outcome of Celtic’s discussions with Rangers had been. Consequently, their inability to provide a different, concrete strategy yesterday left their colleagues with little option but to accept the cash on offer from Sky/ESPN.

[brissyger 8]

Interesting article. Would like to know more about these discussions between Rangers and Celtic.

[grahamteuchter 1]

Celtic chairman John Reid savages SPL rivals over 'disastrous' Setanta TV rights deal

Celtic chairman John Reid, regarded as former Prime Minister Tony Blair’s attack dog during his time as a Cabinet minister, savaged his SPL colleagues after they voted overwhelmingly to accept a £65 million, five-year contract from Sky and ESPN to broadcast 60 live league fixtures per season (30 apiece) starting next month.

By Ewing Grahame

Published: 9:05PM BST 16 Jul 2009

Tough talking: 'Last year's decision to reject the Sky bid and opt for Setanta has proved to be the disastrous misjudgement we indicated it might be,' John Reid fumed Photo: PA The deal is worth less than half of what Setanta had bid to secure the rights last year, before the troubled company’s slide into administration last month rendered that agreement void.

At that time market leaders Sky had offered to pay the SPL slightly less but the elite division opted instead to take their chances with the up-and-coming Irish company and have paid the price.

Sport on television “Celtic have a responsibility to speak out for our supporters who will be deeply dissatisfied with the background to and outcome of today’s SPL decision and the events leading up to it,” said Reid.

“No-one should under-estimate the blow that has been inflicted on this club and Scottish football by the way in which the whole affair has been handled, and by the losses incurred.

“Last year’s decision to reject the Sky bid and opt for Setanta – arrived at against the strong opposition of Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen – has proved to be the disastrous misjudgement we indicated it might be, with Setanta now in administration.

“In turn, this has led to the dilemma we now find ourselves in. Today the SPL accepted a bid that is less than half the value of that offered by Sky last year. The whole SPL is now a commercial victim, in an uncompetitive TV market, in the middle of a recession, locked in for years to an income some 60 per cent lower than last year’s bid.

“This is the direct consequence of last year’s misjudgement, one that has cost us all some £70 million in a sport that desperately needs the income and where our supporters are already paying their own hard-earned cash.

“To Celtic it means a potential loss of up to £12 million over the four year period – the equivalent of around 6,500 season tickets each year.

“We need to face up to some harsh realities In an environment crying out for long-term thinking, this concentration on short-term gain only leads to long-term pain.

“Above all the SPL must learn the lessons of these events. That is why we initiated discussion with Rangers Football Club to examine possible alternatives to the present position.

"We reserve the right to continue to explore those options not only for the longer term benefit of Celtic football club but for everyone involved.”

Rangers owner Sir David Murray Murray had argued that Rangers and Celtic could finance an alternative package by putting up £25 million between them and bringing in yet another media partner but, in spite of speaking at length on the subject before the SPL’s AGM at Hampden on Thursday, he failed to provide a plan for the members to consider.

“If you go to an auction, the price is obviously going to be lower if there’s only one bidder,” he said. “So you have to at least offer an alternative rather than just taking the only offer on the table.

“We’ve got to try to compete. In the past we were too quick to take the pieces of silver. I feel like we are stumbling towards this other deal as if it were a fait accompli and we have no other option.

“At the moment there’s only one show in town, and I don’t think that’s correct. So we’re trying to present something different.” However, a spokesman for the SPL made it clear after the meeting that Rangers had failed to provide the elite division with a choice.

“There was no alternative proposal brought forward by the Old Firm,” he said. “We needed a vote of 8-4 and while we will not go into the exact voting, there was enough to secure the approval.”

Intriguingly, Reid’s outburst – and Murray’s pre-emptive strikes – didn’t indicate what the outcome of Celtic’s discussions with Rangers had been. Consequently, their inability to provide a different, concrete strategy yesterday left their colleagues with little option but to accept the cash on offer from Sky/ESPN.

not often that we would agree with that lot

[Jelle1880 215]

And I still don't, that tit is acting like he knew this would turn out like it has.

When that deal was signed it was a great deal, good money in comparison with the deal we have now and nobody knew of Setanta's problems.

C*nt.

[AMMS 27]

And I still don't, that tit is acting like he knew this would turn out like it has.

When that deal was signed it was a great deal, good money in comparison with the deal we have now and nobody knew of Setanta's problems.

C*nt.

Far be it for me to stick up for the good doctor but Setanta's 'problems' were well known when the deal was signed, that is why Rangers and the other two voted against them. The TV industry knew Setanta were gambling by over bidding for football rights in much the same way ITV Digital did.

He's still a c**t mind.