Sporting Crown Jewels

[bobby1]

For comparison of viewing figures, Liverpool v Chelsea in the League cup on sky last week got 1.3m viewers. Man City v Arsenal in the league got 1.9m a couple of weeks ago. The Ryder Cup got just under a million for the Sunday, and 600k for the first two days, and a Test Match v India last July got about 400k for the Saturday and Sunday play.

you can look things up here - http://www.barb.co.uk/whats-new/weekly-top-10?

The Ryder Cup coverage showed everything that is wrong with Sky's approach to sport imo. The hyped it to the hilt for weeks and even changed the name of the channel it was to be shown on. Then they couldn't even show most of the shots live, you have various red button options for other sports yet they didn't even have a red button option to watch individual matches when only 4 matches on course.

So they talked like it was a huge event and then treated it like a regular event, I mean how can you not find a way of broadcasting 4 matches when you have 6 channels showing repeats of old sport most of the time and red button options?

[vegaslover]

this is my concern with a sport i love,cricket

sky cover it really well. really really well. Atherton and Holding are fantastic. Bumble is a one off, the analysis, camera angles and technology, depth of coverage is great. they'll show you ODIs from new zealand, the bangladesh t20 league etc etc

but the downside is that since 2004, participation rates have plummeted in under 21s. Part of this is schools funding and playing fields, part is that kids are not getting exposed to the sport any more

already, less than a generation after the sport went PPV, you won't find a member of the England cricket squad who didn't go to public school.

my lad is sports mad, but his mum doesn't have sky, the home has freeview and when we chat about cricket he talks about chennai super kings, dhoni, kohli etc because for three summer terms he has come home from school and been able to watch it on freeview via ITV4

hasn't seen any domestic or england cricket in that time, as far as i know

Where sport is covered on TV is huge in its future

ECB did their upmost in killing off the game imo by selling the domestic rights to sky straight after the 2005 Ashes series. Such a captivating series and all that momentum lost

[Royal Flush]

I don't know what percentage of households have Sky subscriptions but the bottom line is those that don't have Sky will have basically lost another route for kids to get hooked on a sport.

Growing up I loved watching most sports on TV. And I would go out almost every night and holiday to play tennis, golf, football, cricket etc.

Now because I don't and wont pay for satellite subscriptions on principle, I (and my kids) have not watched cricket, boxing, football etc in years or in my kids cases ever.

Is this the fault of sky or the fault of your principles? These sentences make it sound like you value your principles over your kids exposure to sport which you (i agree with you) feel is important.

I actually think live sport is a far better way of getting people into sport than watching it on TV.

[RickBFA]

I don't know what percentage of households have Sky subscriptions but the bottom line is those that don't have Sky will have basically lost another route for kids to get hooked on a sport.

Growing up I loved watching most sports on TV. And I would go out almost every night and holiday to play tennis, golf, football, cricket etc.

Now because I don't and wont pay for satellite subscriptions on principle, I (and my kids) have not watched cricket, boxing, football etc in years or in my kids cases ever.

Is this the fault of sky or the fault of your principles? These sentences make it sound like you value your principles over your kids exposure to sport which you (i agree with you) feel is important.

I actually think live sport is a far better way of getting people into sport than watching it on TV.

Had to smile at this comment.

I'm not worried about my kids exposure to sport. I have girls. They have plenty of exposure through competing in sports 3 or 4 times a week and watching some live events with me.

There will be a lot of kids who won't get that exposure though and won't see top level, inspiring sport on TV. It's not healthy for a large section of our society in the medium to long term IMO.

[rfgqqabc]

I watch very little golf, and not that much sport in general at the  moment, but I have fantastic memories of watching the last day of the Open at a small farm near Scarborough where we used to go every year when I was younger. Few years later my dad and I were watching it on Sky with betfair on too mind. It'll be a shame if terrestrial tv does suffer from a lack of sport, but that is just the way of the world I guess. I can definitely see Sky offering some freebies up if things do start to disappear. I'll also always remember being on the putting green age eleven and finally sinking an approximate 6 footer, getting a little fistpump out and saying something about the "US Open" and my dad giving me a right bollocking telling me it should always be the Open. I was very lucky as a kid and get the chance to play virtually every sport I could have wanted to via school and afterschool clubs, honestly the only sport I can really say I haven't tried is Squash. Virtually everything else mainstream apart from bowls/boxing I had a crack at.

Did the last Ashes series still have the highlight show? Absolutely amazed the GP is top of the viewings there. Used to be on at my Grandmas and it was somewhat enjoyable then, couldn't stand for it now though. Everyone I know under the age of 25 watches sport via livestreaming, many rugby games get put onto youtube, not sure about footie, EPL might be a bit quick on the draw.

[kinboshi]

Every Premier League game is on NBC Live Stream online.  If you know how, you can watch these from the UK.  I wonder how many do this and don't pay a TV company for any of their live sport viewing?

[TightEnd]

[doubleup]

I complained to the R&A, got this in response (obv replied tl;dr)

An Open Letter from Peter Dawson, Chief Executive of The R&A 

 

 

We are excited to have announced today a new broadcast model and a significant change in the way The Open will be covered from 2017.  We believe this new arrangement, which will see The Open broadcast live on Sky with prime-time highlights on the BBC, will allow golf’s oldest championship to maintain its position as one of the world’s premier sporting events. 

I want to express my gratitude to the BBC, our trusted broadcast partner for 60 years. Our relationship developed through The Open’s renaissance in the early 1960s, golf’s boom years in the 1970s and 80s and more recently the height of its global appeal during the 90s and 2000s.  We are delighted that the BBC remains a broadcast partner of The Open Championship for 2017 and beyond and, we hope, for a great many years to come. 

I recognise that this new broadcast model represents a significant change and I understand that change, particularly where it involves the BBC, is controversial. We have observed, over several years, that the way the majority of people are choosing to consume sport is changing.  Time pressures, multi-channel viewing providing sport and entertainment from all over the world, the second screen phenomenon, social media and digital consumption are all important factors in considering how we reach fans of all ages but particularly the younger generation.  We have to cater for that changing environment and deliver the best viewing experience possible to golf fans. 

Numerous factors were weighed in this process such as quality of coverage, household reach, innovations in the broadcast, commercial considerations and promotion of The Open and our sport throughout the year. We have considered this new agreement extremely carefully and firmly believe that by working with the two leading sports broadcasters for the UK and Ireland we have achieved the best result not just for the future of The Open but for golf as a whole. 

In Sky, we have an excellent broadcast partner for the coming years.  It is now well established as the home of live golf in the UK and Ireland and it has demonstrated tremendous enthusiasm and admiration for The Open.  Sky submitted a very strong proposal stressing its commitment to innovation and a determination to enhance live coverage of the Championship and the quality of its bid was a significant factor.  It is essential to invest in our Championship to ensure that it remains at the pinnacle of our sport.  The R&A is committed to delivering the best possible experience for spectators, players and viewers and believe the new arrangement supports this mission. 

Another important consideration in our decision was that fans of The Open do not need to be Sky subscribers to enjoy live coverage of the Championship. Through ‘NOW TV’ viewers can watch The Open, taking a daily or weekly package without the need for a contract.  Our agreement with Sky also includes a limitation on advertising to a maximum of four minutes per hour, with each break lasting just 60 seconds.   

I know there are many who are concerned that The Open no longer being shown live on the BBC will lead to a reduction in participation in our sport and I wanted to take this opportunity to address this specific point.  We have looked at this issue very carefully and believe it is not possible to make an informed case that participation is simply and directly linked to free-to-air television viewing.  There is no question that free-to-air sports broadcasts generate good exposure for sport, we see this time and again through the Olympic Games, the World Cup and Wimbledon.  But, firm conclusions about their positive impact on participation cannot be drawn.  On the contrary, golf’s reported recent decline in participation coincides with The Open, Women’s British Open and the Masters Tournament being shown on free-to-air television.  And, during that same period we have also seen participation in other sports, shown frequently on free-to-air television, decrease while some others, shown exclusively on subscription television, have seen an increase.  Exposure is important, but is just one of many ingredients required to generate growth in participation. 

Significantly, our new agreement will enable us to take our support of golf’s development in the UK and Ireland to unprecedented levels and we have the support of both Sky and the BBC and their active sports engagement initiatives.  Additionally, we are undertaking a comprehensive strategic review on the subject of golf participation in the UK and Ireland and we will ensure that golf feels the full benefit of the enhanced resources available. 

I’d like to reassure you that The R&A approaches change with caution and a great deal of consideration. We are aware that our new agreement will sadden some fans, particularly those who have cherished so many wonderful and iconic moments of The Open Championship on the BBC.  Those moments will continue but through an exciting new partnership incorporating both Sky and the BBC. 

Yours faithfully, 

 

Peter Dawson 

Chief Executive, The R&A 

[TightEnd]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-02-06/real-madrid-agrees-to-reduce-tv-income-disparity-in-la-liga

[TightEnd]

Wales v England audience figures for fri night - 9m peak; 8m for most of the match. (E v NZ autumn on Sky 0.9m)

[BorntoBubble]

Wales v England audience figures for fri night - 9m peak; 8m for most of the match. (E v NZ autumn on Sky 0.9m)

Not 100% like with like though although a good indication

[TightEnd]

Wales v England audience figures for fri night - 9m peak; 8m for most of the match. (E v NZ autumn on Sky 0.9m)

Not 100% like with like though although a good indication

fri night peak bbc1 with little competition is going to get good figures compared to a saturday afternoon yes

still interesting figures at a time when the Six nations might go off terrestial, which i think would be a real shame

[TightEnd]

Premier League UK rights 2016-19 have sold for total of £5.136bn. Sky majority of games as now.

Sky awarded 5 of 7 packages - Friday evening, Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoon and Monday evening

BT have secured the remaining 2 packages - Saturday evening and midweeks

Estimated upshot: from 2016-17 season, BOTTOM club in PL will get c. £99 million prize money. And top club will get £156 MILLION.

[Archer]

The world has gone mental.

City got £96.6 million for 2013/2014 and Liverpool £97.60 million (they were on TV more). Bottom team now in line for MORE than both.

FFP likely to become an irrelvance for English teams, Mike Ashley will be smiling, Stoke will move up 4 or 5 places in the Deloitte Money League and become c15th wealthiest team in the world and supporters can look forward to a reduction in ticket prices. Of course the last point isn't going to happen really...

[TheDazzler]

The world has gone mental.

City got £96.6 million for 2013/2014 and Liverpool £97.60 million (they were on TV more). Bottom team now in line for MORE than both.

FFP likely to become an irrelvance for English teams, Mike Ashley will be smiling, Stoke will move up 4 or 5 places in the Deloitte Money League and become c15th wealthiest team in the world and supporters can look forward to a reduction in ticket prices. Of course the last point isn't going to happen really...

Welll you might think it's mad but it hasn't ended yet by a long stretch imo.
It will continue to grow. The NFL is the biggest league in the world according to TV revenue. The EPL must eventually dwarf that.