And so the house of cards collapses... ESPN Deal OFF?

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/369986/ESPN-ready-to-quit-Scottish-football

ESPN READY TO QUIT SCOTTISH FOOTBALL

ESPN may quit their coverage of SPL football next season

Friday January 11,2013

By Scott Burns

ESPN could be set to ditch their coverage of Scottish at the end of the season.

It’s understood the broadcasting giants, who have recently lost their rights to screen English Premier

, have a get-out clause in their deal that allows them to pull the plug on Scottish football coverage.

The contract, worth around £4million a season, was negotiated with SPL chiefs but also covers SFL footage.

But ESPN have a release clause they can activate next month – even though the deal they signed last summer is due to run for five years.

The uncertainty over Scottish football, the proposals to try and push through reconstruction for next season and lower than expected viewing figures have also raised doubts over ESPN’s long-term future in Scotland. The SPL and SFL need to get their 12-12-18 league proposal voted through before they can then go back to the broadcaster to try and convince them to continue backing our much beleaguered game.

There is a strong belief within the SPL

that ESPN – who can screen 30 games a season including 10 Rangers matches – may decide to pull the plug because of the impact that the loss of English Premier League football will have on them, and the fact that they are only getting second pick in Scotland after the main television sponsors, Sky.

If ESPN do decide to pull out then Sky would have first option to buy up their package, allowing them to monopolise the viewing market north of the border.

That threat could see Sky move to take up the option

BT Vision recently won the right to break into the English Premier League, and they could also be interested in getting their foot in the market north of the border.

That threat could see Sky move to take up the option.

The concern, however, is that if nobody decides to take up the package it could leave Scottish football in an even bigger mess, and our cash-strapped clubs would be faced with a shortfall of around £16m to make up.

The current deal with Sky and ESPN was signed last summer and is worth around £63m over five years – a drop from the previous agreement after Rangers were given the boot from the SPL.

It's not looking like there'll be much TV money to pay for these proposed bribes to Division 1 teams.

[The Godfather 75,512]

[govanblue 16,847]

I think your thread title is a bit inaccurate.

The deal isn't off.

And indeed ESPN don't even hint that they may pull the plug. There is no quote from ESPN at all.

The article appears to me to be a bit of sensationalism. ESPN have a get-out clause which they can activate next month if they decide to. That's perfectly normal.

Total non-story, in my view.

[El Carpintero 546]

Not yet it isn't.

[aqualung 126]

It's all slowly starting to fall apart for the wise men in the spl. Who are they going to run to with their begging bowls now?

[aqualung 126]

Without English games ESPN will quit the UK. There's no way Scottish and Italian games will generate enough subscriptions to make it worth their while

[Maverick_Golfer 11]

We told them this would happen without us, I expect Sky to pull out very soon

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

It's not off, there in the paper today saying they "have no intention" of walking away from Scottish football.

Where is this story from?

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

I think your thread title is a bit inaccurate.

The deal isn't off.

And indeed ESPN don't even hint that they may pull the plug. There is no quote from ESPN at all.

The article appears to me to be a bit of sensationalism. ESPN have a get-out clause which they can activate next month if they decide to. That's perfectly normal.

Total non-story, in my view.

Fair point. Perhaps a question, rather than an exclamation mark.

[Bothwellbear 1,392]

http://www.<No links to this website>/sport/football/football-news/espn-has-no-intention-of-invoking-a-release-1529254

Not according to this.

[govanblue 16,847]

Fair point. Perhaps a question, rather than an exclamation mark.

[aqualung 126]

They're always going to say that publicly while they still open to subscription. Setanta had all sorts of promises and deals on offer up until about 15 minutes before they folded

[govanblue 16,847]

It's not off, there in the paper today saying they "have no intention" of walking away from Scottish football.

Where is this story from?

Daily Express

http://www.express.c...sts/view/369986

But as I said, it's not really a story, more a speculative opinion.

[Faircity 186]

We told them this would happen without us, I expect Sky to pull out very soon

..But in the press yesterday liewell said "the sky deal was done"...something not adding up here..

[OlegKuznetsov 10,816]

It's not off, there in the paper today saying they "have no intention" of walking away from Scottish football.

Where is this story from?

The Express. Added the link to the OP.

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

The Express. Added the link to the OP.

[ForeverBlue_Since91 2,895]

..But in the press yesterday liewell said "the sky deal was done"...something not adding up here..

It depends Sky might not give a fuck and just continue to give them money it's pocket money to them. Or they might just see it as embarrassing being on there channels and cancel it?

[Falcoholic 1,348]

Please let it be true.

[TAFKA 545]

Rangers TV (subs going straight to the club) the way to go.

[Bluepeter9 5,167]

It's not looking like there'll be much TV money to pay for these proposed bribes to Division 1 teams.

ESPN pulling out may also be a boon for TV coverage as BT have become very aggressive and they may choose to pick up the slack and compete with Sky - the real reason why I think, ultimately, TV deals will fail / be much less is the viewing figure stats. Only time will tell. I hope we just go and keep and utilise our own TV rights - its the way of the future for Rangers I think.

[EatDolphins 5,360]

Because of the competition laws does that mean another company has to take up their allocation of games, probably at a knock down price or that allocation just can't be shown because Sky can't show them all?

[Rangers Lady 2,380]

..But in the press yesterday liewell said "the sky deal was done"...something not adding up here..

Lawell Just spouts pish all day long, nothing he says can ever be believed

[The Godfather 75,512]

Lawell Just spouts pish all day long, nothing he says can ever be believed

I wish you posted more often BT!

[Fools Gold 488]

I'm confused with all of this; on Radio Snyde tonight, Dellahunt said that the Sky deal didn't end at the end of this season - it's still to run for another 2 years.

I thought it was this season, and if it's indeed not for another 2 years, can we go ahead and get on with full coverage with Rangers TV?