TV Money Long Term

[Pagnell]

In the last few years there has rightly been lots of talk about TV money and the ludicrous amount that even the lower-half Prem teams get at the moment. But broadcasters like Sky and BT will obviously only be interested in continuing this moneyfest if it results in people being prepared to pay for the subscription and the service to be provided. Yet, even if you don't use them yourself, we all know how easy it is to get live football streams, including every top flight game on a Saturday at 1500 if you know where to look. And, not only that, it's inevitable that these streams will be increasing in quality as the technology improves and broadband speeds go up.

What effect can you see this having long term? Surely it's inevitable this level of money going into the sport won't continue at this rate.

 

[mnb089mnb]

even if you don't use them yourself, we all know how easy it is to get live football streams, including every top flight game on a Saturday at 1500 if you know where to look.

I think you're overstating how easy it is to get a good quality stream. It's not as if you fire up Youtube and search for the game you want.

 

[T.A]

I think you're overstating how easy it is to get a good quality stream. It's not as if you fire up Youtube and search for the game you want.

It's not Aston Villa easy but it's pretty easy.

 

[AFCB_Mark]

Sky almost relies on themselves being able to increase the dosage of money PL clubs have available every few years, in order to keep feeding the hype of transfer windows ever more, that hypes the games because of X big money squad or player, the results from which hype the transfers again. All feeds the hyperbolic narrative loop of a soap opera. Because that's what the Premier League is, it's a television soap opera.

I'm sure we've all assumed the bubble couldn't continue to grow for many years now, and yet it does, even whilst the rest of global finance takes a hit. Clearly it can't go on forever. This time round Sky had some vaguely serious competition from BT who were prepared to throw a load of money around, and that presumably helped jack the price up. That's not going to always be the case.

 

[PDS]

Sky and BT use the Premier League as means to get their brand and their services into peoples homes. They make their money by bundling services (TV, landline, broadband) not by no. of pure sports/TV subscriptions.

It's a (very expensive) means to an end for them to make sure they are sole service providers for households.

 

[johnnytodd]

so its the armchairs fault..........classic !

go the game you bells

 

[Martino Knockavelli]

American TV rights provide an interesting parallel. The business model is not identical, but (much like the UK) rights fees for major properties over there have grown enormously over the last few years, driven by the desire for DVR-proof content and rivals challenging the established market leader (ESPN).

That is stalling now, and there's evidence that the bubble is bursting. It hasn't effected the top tier stuff yet (the Premier League equivalents), but secondary rights are seeing their deals remain about the same value wise, and tertiary properties are actually decreasing in value. That's a result of eye watering cable bills, and subsequent cord cutting and piracy.

It is very easy to imagine a similar thing happening here. Which is to say that the Premier League projects to be alright in the medium term, but that everyone from the ECB and RFU on down ought to be getting nervous.

A slight corollary: I agree that we are surely close to a breaking point in terms of passing on inflating Premier League rights costs to the consumer domestically, but even if these Sky/BT deals start to level out, the value of the overseas deals is becoming quite significant now. So the cash ought to keep pouring in for the time being, even if it's from different sources.

Looking a bit further forwards, it is interesting to ponder where it will end up. The music industry, newspapers and publishing in general have all been nuked by the internet, piracy and so on. It would be naive to think the same couldn't happen in this sphere.

And, if they are being really honest with themselves (and if they actually care about anything beyond their next quarterly earnings report and attendant bonuses) TPTB at Sky/BT et al must be very concerned that we are rapidly approaching the inflection point at which the Premier League could completely cut out the middle man (as far as broadcasting partners go, anyway) and move to their own in-house streaming subscription packages. And then it's a whole new ball game for the entire UK pay TV market.

 

[MagpieBee]

American TV rights provide an interesting parallel. The business model is not identical, but (much like the UK) rights fees for major properties over there have grown enormously over the last few years, driven by the desire for DVR-proof content and rivals challenging the established market leader (ESPN).

That is stalling now, and there's evidence that the bubble is bursting. It hasn't effected the top tier stuff yet (the Premier League equivalents), but secondary rights are seeing their deals remain about the same value wise, and tertiary properties are actually decreasing in value. That's a result of eye watering cable bills, and subsequent cord cutting and piracy.

It is very easy to imagine a similar thing happening here. Which is to say that the Premier League projects to be alright in the medium term, but that everyone from the ECB and RFU on down ought to be getting nervous.

A slight corollary: I agree that we are surely close to a breaking point in terms of passing on inflating Premier League rights costs to the consumer domestically, but even if these Sky/BT deals start to level out, the value of the overseas deals is becoming quite significant now. So the cash ought to keep pouring in for the time being, even if it's from different sources.

Looking a bit further forwards, it is interesting to ponder where it will end up. The music industry, newspapers and publishing in general have all been nuked by the internet, piracy and so on. It would be naive to think the same couldn't happen in this sphere.

And, if they are being really honest with themselves (and if they actually care about anything beyond their next quarterly earnings report and attendant bonuses) TPTB at Sky/BT et al must be very concerned that we are rapidly approaching the inflection point at which the Premier League could completely cut out the middle man (as far as broadcasting partners go, anyway) and move to their own in-house streaming subscription packages. And then it's a whole new ball game for the entire UK pay TV market.

Good read, and pretty close to home. Unfortunately I am one of TPTB.

 

[SALTIRE]

BT are putting their prices up by another 3 quid a month just like they increased it last season. Sky have done the same. This is looking like a pattern that is going to happen every year at this rate. Will people with average incomes continue to fork out for this, im unsure. We are giving it another year then will drop both I reckon.

 

[shane]

BT are putting their prices up by another 3 quid a month just like they increased it last season. Sky have done the same. This is looking like a pattern that is going to happen every year at this rate. Will people with average incomes continue to fork out for this, im unsure. We are giving it another year then will drop both I reckon.

As Pags pointed out, with streaming improving year on year, there is little need to pay the fees both providers are asking for. I pay for Sky and BT mainly because I'm lazy and the convenience of just being able to turn the football on and have it in HD is better than what can be an absolute arseache: searching for streams, attaching laptop to TV, watching the game in another language, buffering, shit picture, shit sound, pop up ads etc).

Saying that, I would imagine supporting one of the bigger clubs means your game is likely to be carried by more foreign channels thus giving you better streaming options. Watching liverpool online this season compared to previous seasons has noticeably improved as well.

 

[SALTIRE]

As Pags pointed out, with streaming improving year on year, there is little need to pay the fees both providers are asking for. I pay for Sky and BT mainly because I'm lazy and the convenience of just being able to turn the football on and have it in HD is better than what can be an absolute arseache: searching for streams, attaching laptop to TV, watching the game in another language, buffering, shit picture, shit sound, pop up ads etc).

Saying that, I would imagine supporting one of the bigger clubs means your game is likely to be carried by more foreign channels thus giving you better streaming options. Watching liverpool online this season compared to previous seasons has noticeably improved as well.

I use streams as well but a family member who isn't computer literate was missing the football so wanted it back and we subbed up to BT as we already had Sky though dropped the sports. If it was up to me I'd have dropped both ages ago as they aren't value for money imo particularly with the constant price hikes.

 

[Destruction]

I only ever pay pretty much half price for Sky because everytime they jack it up to £90 a month or whatever I ring, threaten to cancel, and am currently paying about £48 now. As the football season has finished I'll be ringing up BT this aft to cancel with them.

I honestly can't see any crash anytime soon, the market for the BPL has gone too global now. The reality is, in the same way the influence of match going fans became minor due to funds from elsewhere growing, it's now happening in terms of the UK armchair fan as well.

It's utter shite and if I could watch stuff like cricket, rugby and golf any other way I'd fuck Sky off tomorrow, I have no interest at all in the BPL anymore.

 

[mente captus]

How much costs it to have bt sports and sky p/m for you?

This is how it works over here:

Sky took over the german pay tv channel some years ago.

For the Bundesliga im paying 10 € p/m and be able to watch every of the 612 games of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga live in HD

For further 10 € ( the sports package) i get:

all champions league games ( when i say all i mean all) in HD. the games where no german club take part wont have a commentator, just the stadium atmosphere is on, i really like it tbh

The whole Europa League ( all german and austrian teams are live available + some top games) , the rest is on in a conference

The DFB Cup, all games live and in HD from the first round proper to the final

selected games from the austrian first and second division ( what the fuck is that awful to watch)

4-5 premier league games live and in HD.

Thats what Sky offers to their german customers.

Furthermore is a further channel included, sportdigital, which shows one match live each week from the championship and selected games from the french, italian and sometimes the scottish topflight. Including one match from the fa cup each round.

 

[Stevencc]

How it works for me is I have the internet so I can watch everything in HD for the low, low price of £0.

 

[Abertawe]

People make the point about streams, which while good, the quality is nowhere fucking near the standard of watching it on Sky/BT, especially with 4k coming out for PL games this season.

 

[SALTIRE]

How much costs it to have bt sports and sky p/m for you?

This is how it works over here:

Sky took over the german pay tv channel some years ago.

For the Bundesliga im paying 10 € p/m and be able to watch every of the 612 games of the Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga live in HD

For further 10 € ( the sports package) i get:

all champions league games ( when i say all i mean all) in HD. the games where no german club take part wont have a commentator, just the stadium atmosphere is on, i really like it tbh

The whole Europa League ( all german and austrian teams are live available + some top games) , the rest is on in a conference

The DFB Cup, all games live and in HD from the first round proper to the final

selected games from the austrian first and second division ( what the fuck is that awful to watch)

4-5 premier league games live and in HD.

Thats what Sky offers to their german customers.

Furthermore is a further channel included, sportdigital, which shows one match live each week from the championship and selected games from the french, italian and sometimes the scottish topflight. Including one match from the fa cup each round.

That's better value by far than what we get here. What's new though we get shafted for everything in the UK.

 

[T.A]

People make the point about streams, which while good, the quality is nowhere fucking near the standard of watching it on Sky/BT, especially with 4k coming out for PL games this season.

Unless your Pagnell who cares as long as they're watchable?

 

[Stevencc]

People make the point about streams, which while good, the quality is nowhere fucking near the standard of watching it on Sky/BT, especially with 4k coming out for PL games this season.

4k is one thing but it's very simple to find 1080p streams for free and watch them on your TV. Best of all, though, is if you find yourself with a Michael Owen commentary stream you can always switch to an Arabic language one for a better listening experience.

 

[JimJams]

Or shove pens in your ears. Either is preferable.

 

[SALTIRE]

Or shove pens in your ears. Either is preferable.

I read that as penis.

 

[Kopper]

Long term the television money will go up. Sky are wholly reliant on the premier league tv rights to sell the bulk of their packages.
Sky use to have a vast majority of matches. Now they don't, but pay more for the privilege.
I can see Sky going bankrupt chasing the rights to these games.

 

[Abertawe]

Long term the television money will go up. Sky are wholly reliant on the premier league tv rights to sell the bulk of their packages.
Sky use to have a vast majority of matches. Now they don't, but pay more for the privilege.
I can see Sky going bankrupt chasing the rights to these games.

Shy still do have the vast majority of rights.

Did a test last night and watched the boxing on Ace Stream. I found it an absolute ballache setting it up (mainly cuz I didjn't really know what I was doing) but once it was set up alll was good, quality was superb too. Still too much of a ballache setting it up to worry Sky though.

 

[Stevencc]

I read that as penis.

Again, this is a preferable experience to listening to Owen's commentary.

 

[Pagnell]

Long term the television money will go up. Sky are wholly reliant on the premier league tv rights to sell the bulk of their packages.
Sky use to have a vast majority of matches. Now they don't, but pay more for the privilege.
I can see Sky going bankrupt chasing the rights to these games.

Wholly reliant? I don't agree with that at all. Like or loath them, Sky are still the best option for all TV package privision beyond the scope of what you get with Freeview. I know a lot of people who pay a token amount for Sky TV, but don't have movies and sport. Including myself.

 

[Stevencc]

Woah, woah, woah - Pagnell, slow down with all these avatar changes. I'm losing track.

 

[Pagnell]

Just trying to keep ahead of Smat's parody account mate.

 

[johnnytodd]

 

[mnb089mnb]

Just trying to keep ahead of Smat's parody account mate.

Grow up Smat. FFS sake.

 

[Pagnell]

Smat assures me it isn't him. The hunt goes on......

 

[JimJams]

You got a stutter mnb?