The Premier League has agreed a three year TV deal with a £3.018B deal for domestic TV rights for three years.
Mike Ashley – seems to like the new TV deal!
That figure is a 70% increase on the last three year deal, and marks the English Premier League as the favorite sports league in the world, and certainly the most wealthy.
The new deal will start in the 2013-2014 league, the season after next, and Sky Sports will show 116 games a season, which is the maximum allowed for any one station, and new to the football market – BT – will show another 38 games.
The figures mean that the Premier League is being paid £6.5M for very one of their 154 live TV games per season, at a time when the world economy is in a sorry state, and the European economy is struggling big time, and entering another recession.
American owned ESPN, they are part of the Disney Empire, who are showing every game of the Euro 2012 Championships over here in the US, are the big losers, and failed to secure any PL games.
BT were the surprise entry in the mix, and they paid out £738M over three years for the 38 games they will show, and Sky paid out £2.28B for their 115 games.
For American viewers, Fox Sports is the channel(s) that show the Premier League games in the US, and they are part of the Rupert Murdoch empire, with former Newcastle player Warren Barton the leading analyst.
It will be interesting how we get the BT games over here next season.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore had this to say about the deal:
“It’s down to the excitement of the competition.”’ ‘We couldn’t have gone to market at a better time.” “We welcome BT as a new broadcast partner.”
“They are a substantial British company that is at leading edge of technology. They will deliver new ways in which fans will be able to follow the competition.”
“ESPN are great partners and will continue to be great partners. They will come again in three years time I’m sure.”
ESPN spokesman Paul Melvin had this to say about their big loss:
“‘We made a strong bid that reflected the value of the rights to our business.”
Of course this is good news for all Premier League clubs, including Newcastle United, because it means the payments to clubs in future years will also increase significantly.
But the path in the next few years for Newcastle is to be part of European competition every year, and you can only do that with a very good side – and good players.
And that’s just one reason why Mike Ashley will ask silly money (very silly money hopefully), for his top players this summer.
And if a rich club like Liverpool comes along and makes a ridiculously high bid for one of our players – we may have to take it, thank you very much – and then bring in a decent replacement for a fraction of the fee.
That’s the new Newcastle way of operating, and over the last three years it’s paid off big time.
Howay The Lads!!
Comments welcome.
14 comments so far
Toon_Jock
Jun 14, 2012 at 9:08 AM
Comment #1Time to cancel that ESPN Subscription then 🙂
TorqToon
Jun 14, 2012 at 9:20 AM
Comment #2If I’ve understood this right, ESPN are showing premier league matches for this coming season but as of 2013/14 season they won’t be showing any?
GeordieToon89
Jun 14, 2012 at 9:28 AM
Comment #3Torqtoon – yes thats right mate, cancel espn end of coming season
GoalsBringSmiles
Jun 14, 2012 at 9:34 AM
Comment #4Just read this from a previous thread
Bills Son, 12 June, 9.20pm
‘ I have got inside info, I know the agent of one of our top players and he told me.’
Hahahahahahahahaha, made my day Son
IITianToon
Jun 14, 2012 at 9:40 AM
Comment #5So who is going to telecast the Premier League in India and rest of South East Asia, because so far it had been ESPN.
Rotonda heights
Jun 14, 2012 at 9:42 AM
Comment #6Wish we had gone for Wanayama when he was available for 500K. But Best and Forster in exchange would be nearly as good.
GBS, were you never told if you can’t say anything nice, ……..
wynsleap
Jun 14, 2012 at 9:54 AM
Comment #7Ed – you say “But the path in the next few years for Newcastle is to be part of European competition every year and you can only do that with a very good side – and good players.
Then you go on to say “”If someone like Liverpool comes along and makes a ridiculously high bid for one of our players we may have to take it, thank you very much – and then bring in a decent replacement for a fraction of the fee”.
If you believe your first statement how can you accept the second one?
“Decent” replacements for TOP players only means two things:
1. You are weakening the team
2. You are putting money in the bank which should be on the field (ie aiming to satisfy your first statement).
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – the ONLY way to build a consistently successful team is to keep all of your best players and supplement them with new signings.
That doesn’t mean we have to spend millions as we have demonstrated. Each window, some of the ageing and non performing players could be offloaded to help in the purchase of these new signings.
Ibizatoon - Back by popular demand
Jun 14, 2012 at 10:10 AM
Comment #8Wynsleap…..Whilst I partly agree and you can look at say Arsenal as a good example. Sold of their “top” players and replaced with “potential” and have not been as successful since. However, you can also look at Andy Carroll (sorry, I know it’s becoming a tired example). He was a “top” player for us, we accepted a high bid and have since been able to replace with great alternatives at a fraction of the cost. Isn’t that what Ed is saying?
There is a difference between wanting Europe each season and wanting to win something each season. Imo, Ashley is looking for Europe each season, not to actually win something (although, I would think he’s be happy if we did 🙂 ) and all the while get the club financially stable and no doubt get re-paid for his investment
Whistler
Jun 14, 2012 at 10:31 AM
Comment #9GoalsBringSmiles
Must’ve missed that pearl of wisdom from Bills Son lmao
Is there anyone, anywhere, any more dillusional than the Ashley loving story teller….maybe he fantasized that he was in the know during a wet dream about MA’s gelatinous butt cheeks….
Dimitri
Jun 14, 2012 at 10:48 AM
Comment #10This only translates to a higher priced sports package!
wynsleap
Jun 14, 2012 at 11:00 AM
Comment #11Ibizatoon – I hear what you are saying but I don’t think that Carroll was a ‘top’ player in the mould of Tiote, Cabaye, Cisse, Ba, Krul, Coloccini etc.
He was just a young player with potential and a £35 million tag round his neck that was grossly overpriced. Taking that fee was tantamount to robbery in my opinion.
It would be the same as someone coming along now and offering £25 million for Ferguson or Vuckic. I’d take it – wouldn’t you? Still doesn’t alter my views @ 7 as we wouldn’t be losing a TOP player.
Zebras4Life
Jun 14, 2012 at 3:58 PM
Comment #12How is the EPL deal more lucrative than the American Football (NFL) media deal? Its not even close!
GoalsBringSmiles
Jun 14, 2012 at 4:35 PM
Comment #13Ah rotonda get a grip man you pansy.
Whistler
‘MA’s gelatinous butt cheeks’
Lol
geordiejamie89
Jun 14, 2012 at 5:54 PM
Comment #14Well may aswell cancel ESPN. Although BT will probably just sell their rights to sky and Espn.