The big six will demonstrate precisely what’s wrong with the Premier League at a summit meeting later this week.
They want a larger slice of international television cash with Liverpool owner John Henry making tetchy noises about it being wrong that lower-ranking teams should be subsidised via the broadcasting cash.
So far all previous attempts to secure agreement on a new formula to end the equal split of income from overseas channels between the 20 clubs have failed.
But talks have continued and it will again be the central talking point at the league’s annual meeting on Thursday when a consensus will be sought.
A total of 14 clubs will need to vote for change in a debate that goes right to the heart of all that’s wrong with the game – GREED!
It also demonstrates the inability of some owners some owners to accept that football is a game which has always been played on a level playing field.
They claim that is the Man Citys, United, Chelsea, Liverpools, Arsenals etc which make the game so attractive globally and that the rest of us are there just to keep up the numbers. Therefore they should get more.
The arrogance is mind blowing and given the falling subscription revenues at such as Sky and BT, they could soon be in for a very rude awakening.
Streaming is now so widely used that the broadcasters are being forced to make cut price offer upon cut price offer to protect their products.
And that could seriously affect the amount of money available when the next set of rights are negotiated.
In the meantime perhaps the clubs themselves, if they are so unhappy with what’s on offer, should think in terms of combating the growing threat of streaming to TV revenues, by organising their own broadcasting rights.
It really is not fantasy to see the day coming when they take personal control over their own product and sell season tickets on line.
It may take several years but when the big club owners talk in terms of needing a new media model which serves their needs better they need to live in the real world and streaming is now a central part of that.
Just like Netflix and Spotify in the movie and music world, the day may be coming when the authorities have to embrace the inevitable rather than continuing to outlaw it …and the sooner the better.
Most – unable to watch their team on a weekly basis – would almost certainly be ready to pay say £300-£400 for an online season ticket and it’s totally wrong that the Premier League games can be watched globally EXCEPT IN THE COUNTRY OF ORIGIN
The sooner this game puts itself out of hock to the likes of Murdoch’s Sky and BT etc the better.
Nail on the head. The teams need to create their own streaming services, as a fan with a wife who works weekends and kids to look after I can’t go to as many games a year as id like. I’m happy to pay to see every WHU game streamed to my TV/PC/whatever. Its a travesty that other countries get all the games of our league.
$A15 month for every EPL match streamed live, with most then available on demand, plus all 2018 World Cup matches.
It’s a rip off though! We used to get the EPL as a side benefit of the Foxtel Sports Package which was worth its $15 / month for each of the the AFL, F1, NRL NFL and Super Rugby alone.
Typical of the top 6 overrating themselves. What really makes the Prem attractive to foreigners to watch is, the depth of strength from top to bottom. Anyone can beat anyone. West Brom against Watford sells very well around the world. Foreigners like the fact that even the weakest teams in the Prem can produce good entertainment. That is not true of any other league in the world. Keep the share out the same.
Yes completely agree Sleeps, the big teams in the CL have already secured themselves a greedier cut than their opponents, I wouldn’t lose any sleep if the so called giants went onto form a super league and all the other clubs went back to the model of the past where cup competitions were genuine knockout tournaments with a home and away leg, I believe that creates more excitement and allows honours to be shared more equally, as it is with the league format it plays into the teams with the most to spend’s advantage and it is always the same 3-4 teams in contention which is as boring as F1.
Totally agree DpM. I have just been to Vietnam and managed to watch the last two games in Sports Bars in Hanoi and Hoi An, that were streamed, which if I had been on holiday in the UK would have probably missed, which is ridiculous.
I have said for a long while that there should be some form of season ticket affiliation to your club, which would then allow personal broadcast of matches to your tv/pc.
There was an argument (weak) that people would not go to matches if they were broadcast live in UK.
That is not true, because there are many supporters that cannot get to games for whatever reason than just those in the stadium or away with limited tickets and any supporter would obviously want to watch their own club in action rather than just any match so the clubs are losing out on certain income and fans would get to watch the match in good quality without the dreaded buffering at key moments of the match.
By having some form of on line ticket they would be limiting the broadcast to genuine fans so both sides win.
I agree with most of whats been said above but ,ok anybody can beat anybody on their day,but the “on their day’S” are becoming fewer and fewer.We are heading for a non competitive league,apart from the top 6,which will be how they finish next season.Most of the top 6 have endless funds to spend and will only get stronger.Any additional monies available should be given to the “make the numbers up” teams to level the playing field a bit more.Surely this would provide more equal matches and better entertainment.
Totally agree Noaksey1, although it would appear the top 6 don’t want the status quo upset.
Why would they want change when they’re already creaming it in?
Personally I can see the much talked about European Super League becoming a reality in the not-too-distant future.
Let the ‘Top’ 6 break away to form their own league and see how long they last…….
BTW, Top 6 = the clubs that have ever won the Premier League, not the top richest 6.
The Americans will end up realizing Thier Agenda of controlling World football . It’s only a matter of time ., so forget about European super leagues and so on and so forth .They buy everything from phone boxes to stadiums . No real culture so they need to buy it and Americanize it . And what’s worse , is that we will or are letting them .
Hugh I’m afraid the world is gradually changed and greed by Murdoch fox and those right wing people that think only profit matters are in complete control of most things. There are some very rich people like gates bezo Buffett who are now intelligent kind and fair about others less fortunate in the world but most it’s about profits and greed only. Even most players now and the agents, who I will never see what thier purpose is other than thier own greed as someone with a brain should be able to arrange thier own contracts with clubs, are just interested in the most cash available. We as fans want our clubs to entertain us with players that excite and talent costs money but I can really see this whole game changing just needs the fans to stop the greed of some of the top so called clubs and get organised. You can’t tell me Sullivan didn’t employ a top coach and let him do the transfers because of the Burnley game showing complete break down of relations . I think a huge backlash will come on this game eventually and in this country by people tired of the system that works only for those with money wanting even more for themselves. Imo
I will be curious to see which way West Ham vote on this. Last time we sided with the top six clubs and voted for un equal share of the TV rights