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.