Espn ready to quit scottish football

[ian1964 10,831]

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

 

Itâ??s understood the broadcasting giants, who have recently lost their rights to screen English Premier matches, 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 â?? 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 ESPNâ??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 clubs that ESPN â?? who can screen 30 games a season including 10 Rangers matches â?? 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.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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That threat could see Sky move to take up the option

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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 â?? a drop from the previous agreement after Rangers were given the boot from the SPL.

 

 

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

[GovanAllan 0]

Lot of turmoil in medialand at the moment, some would think its probably not the best time to come up with a hair brained reconstruction plan.

[foggy dewhurst 0]

to much blinkin football on the television

[the gunslinger 3,366]

just because they can doesnt mean the are thinking of doing so.

[Tumshie RFC 0]

Would be interesting to see how large our TV audience is on ESPN compared to the EPL games. If we are getting good figures compared to them then why would ESPN pull the plug?

[aweebluesoandso 290]

I cancelled ESPN on the back of us being kicked out the SPL, i won't renew with them even if they do stay.

[JTP 0]

I cancelled ESPN on the back of us being kicked out the SPL, i won't renew with them even if they do stay.

 

I cancelled ESPN because it was an extra tenner a month for maybe one Rangers game a month, if that. And the dribs and drabs that Sky feed them.

 

Had it been about us being kicked out i'd have cancelled sky aswell but it's not.

[kuznetsov 0]

they are not walking away, it was in the record to day they are right behind scottish football and have no intention of cancelling.

[GovanAllan 0]

they are not walking away, it was in the record to day they are right behind scottish football and have no intention of cancelling.

 

The dreaded statement of support, out the door end of season then.

[kuznetsov 0]

The dreaded statement of support, out the door end of season then.

 

cant see it mate. there will be no implosion of the spl, no resignations or sackings, no financial meltdown, that is all rangers fans wishful thinkings sadly.