The FA Premier League - BSkyB, BT, and Setanta win Irish rights 2013-2016

p.oconnor · 13-03-2012 06:08PM #1

Hi Lads,

I was wondering as there talks in England that Al Jazeera could challenge sky for television rights why we in Ireland don't get access to more premier league matches as throughout the world broadcasters show matches which are not broadcast here, I know the number of matches are limited in England to keep up attendances but why aren't any Irish broadcaster showing these matches as we are in a completely different jurisdiction.

Jesus Shaves · 13-03-2012 06:11PM

Because they can't afford the broadcasting rights

snaps · 13-03-2012 06:13PM

p.oconnor wrote: »

Hi Lads,

I was wondering as there talks in England that Al Jazeera could challenge sky for television rights why we in Ireland don't get access to more premier league matches as throughout the world broadcasters show matches which are not broadcast here, I know the number of matches are limited in England to keep up attendances but why aren't any Irish broadcaster showing these matches as we are in a completely different jurisdiction.

we are in a different juristriction when it counts and another when it doesnt. its all changing now though, as all these extra EPL matches will soon be a thing of the past. Its all about money, nothing more or nothing less. Im sure if an Irish TV provider came up to bid for more EPL rights and extra matches, it would be squashed by the big fish in the pond, Sky.

p.oconnor · 13-03-2012 06:14PM

darokane wrote: »

Because they can't afford the broadcasting rights

But are the rights actually up for sale to Irish broadcasters?

p.oconnor · 13-03-2012 06:17PM

snaps wrote: »

we are in a different juristriction when it counts and another when it doesnt. its all changing now though, as all these extra EPL matches will soon be a thing of the past. Its all about money, nothing more or nothing less. Im sure if an Irish TV provider came up to bid for more EPL rights and extra matches, it would be squashed by the big fish in the pond, Sky.

Wouldn't it be very awkward for sky as they would have to create a new Irish channel, say for the match between United and West Brom at the weekend which was broadcast across Europe except here and the UK

snaps · 13-03-2012 06:18PM

darokane wrote: »

Because they can't afford the broadcasting rights

If your talking about EPL rights, yes they can afford the rights (Al Jazzera). I fear the thing is if another broadcaster got the rights (Which they wont do as BskyB are in the EPL pockets) it will only cost the consumer more. Sky already have too many sports rights now, so thus have the monopoly.

I for one would welcome a breath of fresh air in the sports broadcasting world, but alias i highly doubt it will happen.

Jesus Shaves · 13-03-2012 06:19PM

p.oconnor wrote: »

But are the rights actually up for sale to Irish broadcasters?

They are, Rte used to show Saturday 3pm games, Setanta have rights to games.

Jesus Shaves · 13-03-2012 06:20PM

snaps wrote: »

If your talking about EPL rights, yes they can afford the rights (Al Jazzera). .

Al Jazeera and RTE are 2 different stations

theoneeyedman · 13-03-2012 06:23PM

darokane wrote: »

p.oconnor wrote: »

But are the rights actually up for sale to Irish broadcasters?

They are, Rte used to show Saturday 3pm games, Setanta have rights to games.

Yes setanta show the 3 pm Saturday game as part of Irish rights package afaik

p.oconnor · 13-03-2012 06:24PM

darokane wrote: »

They are, Rte used to show Saturday 3pm games, Setanta have rights to games.

Yes i know about the 3PM matches but some matches like the United/West Brom was at 2:00 on Sunday and the Tuesday/ Wenesday nights next week are to be shown in Finland and Norway why not here?

Jesus Shaves · 13-03-2012 06:25PM

p.oconnor wrote: »

Yes i know about the 3PM matches but some matches like the United/West Brom was at 2:00 on Sunday and the Tuesday/ Wenesday nights next week are to be shown in Finland and Norway why not here?

Because none of the Irish broadcasters have bought the rights to them games

mike65 · 13-03-2012 06:28PM

Irish TV shows live football on Friday (LOI) Tuesday (CL), Wednesday (CL) and Thursday (EL) if it was suggested they give over another 2-3 hours for a weekend game it would not fly.

p.oconnor · 13-03-2012 06:29PM

darokane wrote: »

Because none of the Irish broadcasters have bought the rights to them games

Surely be to christ one of them could get there act together and broadcast the international English feed, no panels, camera etc ..nice and simple

p.oconnor · 13-03-2012 06:31PM

mike65 wrote: »

Irish TV shows live football on Friday (LOI) Tuesday (CL), Wednesday (CL) and Thursday (EL) if it was suggested they give over another 2-3 hours for a weekend game it would not fly.

Id probably give up the late late and Fair city for a good game of EPL

snaps · 13-03-2012 06:32PM

with all that is happening with EPL soccer rights. The big clubs will still get the revenue and the smaller clubs will not. Its all kicking off now in the UK over TV rights and public places showing foreign broadcasters, which apparently are affecting stadium attendances. Unfortunately the EPL/FA haven't realised that we are in a recession and still want all their cake to eat!

icdg · 13-03-2012 07:15PM

p.oconnor wrote: »

But are the rights actually up for sale to Irish broadcasters?

No. Broadcasting rights for the Premier League work differently in Ireland to the rest of the world.

Six of the seven live rights packages on offer to Irish broadcasters are identical to the six live rights packages in the UK. These cover Saturday lunchtime, Saturday teatime, Sunday 2pm, Sunday 4pm, Monday nights and midweek games when they are played, but **do not** include Saturday 3pm kickoffs (which the Football Association does not allow to be shown in the UK). These packages are currently - and since the Irish rights started being sold separately, have always been - held by the same broadcasters that hold the rights to these packages in the UK - that is to say, five of the packages are held by British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and one package is held by ESPN Inc.

The seventh live package consists of a package of 32 Saturday 3pm games (one on each game week played on a Saturday) and 1 Sunday 4pm game (on the last day of the season). This package is held by Setanta Sports.

There are no other packages of games available to Irish broadcasters. The rights to the games not shown on TV are simply not available for Irish broadcasters to purchase. Like it or lump this is the way the Premier League has decided to sell the Irish rights. Effectively, it is structured towards keeping Ireland as part of the UK broadcasting territory for the Premier League while allowing them to make some extra money from selling the rights to one 3pm game each week. You can guarantee that given the close relationship between Sky and the Premier League there won't be any appetite from either party to make Ireland a fully separate market.

p.oconnor · 13-03-2012 07:35PM

icdg wrote: »

No. Broadcasting rights for the Premier League work differently in Ireland to the rest of the world.

Six of the seven live rights packages on offer to Irish broadcasters are identical to the six live rights packages in the UK. These cover Saturday lunchtime, Saturday teatime, Sunday 2pm, Sunday 4pm, Monday nights and midweek games when they are played, but **do not** include Saturday 3pm kickoffs (which the Football Association does not allow to be shown in the UK). These packages are currently - and since the Irish rights started being sold separately, have always been - held by the same broadcasters that hold the rights to these packages in the UK - that is to say, five of the packages are held by British Sky Broadcasting Group plc and one package is held by ESPN Inc.

The seventh live package consists of a package of 32 Saturday 3pm games (one on each game week played on a Saturday) and 1 Sunday 4pm game (on the last day of the season). This package is held by Setanta Sports.

There are no other packages of games available to Irish broadcasters. The rights to the games not shown on TV are simply not available for Irish broadcasters to purchase. Like it or lump this is the way the Premier League has decided to sell the Irish rights. Effectively, it is structured towards keeping Ireland as part of the UK broadcasting territory for the Premier League while allowing them to make some extra money from selling the rights to one 3pm game each week. You can guarantee that given the close relationship between Sky and the Premier League there won't be any appetite from either party to make Ireland a fully separate market.

Thanks for the information, I partly guessed that there had to be some reason behind this, its actually disgraceful and unfair to the Irish broadcasters and Irish EPL fans who cannot afford to travel to see the games, BskyB must be behind this surely the premier league would benefit from extra revenue that would be generated. With all these European laws, regulations and free trade how is this acceptable as we are in an entirely different jurisdiction to where the games are actually played.

Minstrel27 · 13-03-2012 08:42PM

It's a ridiculous situation that leads to the top 2 not being shown on television at all. It is all very draconian from the Premier League. The least they could offer is live online coverage for a price as a lot of people watch exclusively online anyway.

p.oconnor · 15-03-2012 08:07PM

Sent an Email to the premier league asking them to explain why we are not treated like the rest of europe ....

Dear ..,

Thank you for your email.

As you are aware Sky and ESPN broadcast the same matches in Ireland as the UK but we also sell one Saturday 3pm match per week to Setanta Ireland.

Thank you for your feedback.

Kind regards,

Supporter Services

very helpful and detailed response ...

Elmo · 17-03-2012 12:48PM

IMO sporting rights on pay TV services need to be sold on a per subscription base. In other words Sky, Setanta and ESPN have the same games and it is up to the viewer to choose which package is the best. This can be down to coverage, price, analysis etc. Whomever gets the most subscriber base pays the most. The companies sort out the best deal they can from the rights holders. The rights holders may request €200 per household and €3000 per venue (depending on size) annually. (Don't dispute the figures I haven't thought them through fully, that fee would depend on many factors).

icdg · 18-03-2012 10:11PM

Won't happen. Exclusivity is what broadcasters are willing to pay the big bucks for. Non-exclusivity drives down what a broadcaster is willing to pay. That's why very few sports rights are sold on a non-exclusive basis (which is why the new deal for Formula One, which started today is a very unusual example of a non-exclusive arrangement).

Elmo · 19-03-2012 01:08AM

icdg wrote: »

Won't happen. Exclusivity is what broadcasters are willing to pay the big bucks for. Non-exclusivity drives down what a broadcaster is willing to pay. That's why very few sports rights are sold on a non-exclusive basis (which is why the new deal for Formula One, which started today is a very unusual example of a non-exclusive arrangement).

Should really bring up the price they pay. The Rights Holder sets their target. They place the minimum they are willing to take from the Broadcaster. The Rights holder take money based on levels of subs taken from the broadcasters. Either brings in more viewers due to the competition placed in the market or doesn't effect the rights holder in anyway. Broadcasters range from RyanAir type (pay for the Sound as extra

) to Sky (Great sports coverage!).

It doesn't work in a situation involving Free-to-Air services. It doesn't work for deals like The Masters and F1. The events must be exclusively pay TV.

But F1 is a good example do you go with UPC and receive both BBC coverage and Setanta Coverage or do you choose Sky with BBC coverage and Sky coverage. Perhaps a good test case study. (However the rights have already been bought).

OldRio · 24-03-2012 10:12AM

What fresh hell is this?
Spend yet more Irish money on broadcasting foreign soccer?

p.oconnor · 24-03-2012 11:42AM

OldRio wrote: »

What fresh hell is this?
Spend yet more Irish money on broadcasting foreign soccer?

I certainly wouldn't loose any sleep if by chance to show premiership soccer the likes of Fair City, ICA Boothcamp, Craig Doyle live, the late late, Rachel Allens easy meals, fergal quinns retail therapy and that utter pile of ****e TALIFORNIA (must I honestly continue) were discontinued.

I could honestly sit down and watch the likes of Liverpool v QPR last week happy and contented that those utterly stupid programmes were sacrificed for a night of "foreign soccer"

Elmo · 24-03-2012 12:36PM

p.oconnor wrote: »

I could honestly sit down and watch the likes of Liverpool v QPR last week happy and contented that those utterly stupid programmes were sacrificed for a night of "foreign soccer"

I would rather broadcasters supported "Irish Soccer" First. But then the FAI would also have to do that and Irish people to get behind Irish teams.

OldRio · 24-03-2012 01:05PM

p.oconnor wrote: »

I certainly wouldn't loose any sleep if by chance to show premiership soccer the likes of Fair City, ICA Boothcamp, Craig Doyle live, the late late, Rachel Allens easy meals, fergal quinns retail therapy and that utter pile of ****e TALIFORNIA (must I honestly continue) were discontinued.

I could honestly sit down and watch the likes of Liverpool v QPR last week happy and contented that those utterly stupid programmes were sacrificed for a night of "foreign soccer"

I do not watch any of that tosh you mentioned. Far to much of that rubbish and far to much foreign soccer. It is foreign, you know.
I wonder what the cost is for RTE to broadcast a foreign countrys league games ?

p.oconnor · 24-03-2012 07:19PM

OldRio wrote: »

I do not watch any of that tosh you mentioned. Far to much of that rubbish and far to much foreign soccer. It is foreign, you know.
I wonder what the cost is for RTE to broadcast a foreign countrys league games ?

The thing is they do not show any other forreign countrys league except limited premier league highlights.... thats the problem im having.

And with the issue of supporting the Irish league, RTE recently agreed to broadcast the most amount of games in one season then ever before... and can anyone realistically try an convince me that they wouldn't get a huge audience and raise significant revenue from advertising if they were to broadcast the premier league exclusively.

Minstrel27 · 25-03-2012 04:48PM

OldRio wrote: »

I do not watch any of that tosh you mentioned. Far to much of that rubbish and far to much foreign soccer. It is foreign, you know.
I wonder what the cost is for RTE to broadcast a foreign countrys league games ?

It's amazing that they would cater to a wider audience. Isn't it.

Elmo · 26-03-2012 09:31AM

Minstrel27 wrote: »

It's amazing that they would cater to a wider audience. Isn't it.

It is amazing that neither ITV or BBC have thought of that.

p.oconnor · 26-03-2012 11:13AM

I wonder is there a sneaky agreement between the premier league, sky and all the other broadcasters that whatever package they win in the UK they will automatically win it in Ireland to prevent cross broadcasting and save them all a headache in setting up an individual channel for the republic.

Wouldn't you love if you had the money behind you to set up a tv channel and ruffle a few feathers and steal the big 4.00 premier league games from sky.... I can only dream i surpose

afatbollix · 26-03-2012 11:15AM

No Sky buy the rights for UK and Ireland

Setanta tryed and failed and that was in celtic tiger times!
Setanta could buy other packages today for Ireland but it would be too expensive!

The FA Premier League - BSkyB, BT, and Setanta win Irish rights 2013-2016

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