I see reports that the SPFL are looking to compensate for the TV contract for this season not being fulfilled by reducing the next five-year deal by £300k per season. It is worth putting some perspective on where the SPFL finds itself before assessing the merits of their approach.
The SPFL failed to perform to the existing contract, which specified a number of games to be broadcast at set times and dates, with backup dates available where re-arranged fixtures were necessary. These dates were all to be complete by 31 May, games played after this date would be outside Sky’s agreed (and premium) slots, and, as the Premier League in England have found out, would still constitute a failure to perform the contract.
Sky sold sponsorship and advertising on the back of this contract, which they themselves were unable to perform. Not only are subsequent payments in these contracts (SPFL with Sky and Sky with their advertisers) no longer due, an earlier payment that was made against a contract that was not performed can be subject to reclaim.
I am sure Sky’s legals were clear, end of season games deciding the title, relegation and European places, generate above average viewership and advertising revenue. They also provide video for future promotion of their sports product.
If this went to court, Sky would need to demonstrate a loss before forcing a repayment of monies, but their core metrics would support at least some compensation. These metrics are likely to have featured when Neil Doncaster first discussed the matter with Sky back in March. Control was always with the broadcaster; finding a solution that did not bankrupt the league was the primary objective.
A £300k rebate for five years represents a 1% discount on the reported figure Sky will pay the SPFL. In the circumstances, this would be astonishing. The deal is yet to be concluded, but if and when it is, it will be informative to see how reporting angles split on the story.
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St Stivs – the photo looks like the back of the Celtic End of Hampden – there are high flats (or sky scrapers) as we used to call them directly behind the ugly end
PÓGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES
Any fan wishing to hold their seat will need to buy a ST.
Many won’t be able to but if a ST is the only way to see Celtic playing at Celtic Park this year, I suspect that there will be demand for seats that are not renewed.
Is it really fair for a ‘retainer’ to block the release of a seat that another fan is in a position to and willing to pay for ?
PÓGMATHONYAHUN AKA LAIRD OF THE SMILES on 3RD JUNE 2020 7:19 PM
I don’t think Celtic have thought this out properly. Many households have more than one ST holder
Nailed it!
SAINT STIVS on 3RD JUNE 2020 6:05 PM
WDH,
meanwhile, I love the Hayes picture, if you can get over the shear uglyness of the crowd it is brilliant to see them totally (broken) crest fallen, look at them,
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZP_tr-WkAAbNrZ?format=jpg&name=900×900
_______
😂 😂 😂 Hilarious.
Reminds me of the Five Boys chocolate bar.
SAINT STIVS on 3RD JUNE 2020 5:57 PM
Loved that picture (not sure where it is) but feel a bit sorry for the last wee boy in that group he’ll have nobody’s shoulders to get up on!
FOURSTONECOPPI on 3RD JUNE 2020 7:36 PM
PÓGMATHONYAHUN
So what do you think is the solution ?. I think its difficult & wont please everyone all of the time.
But welcome yoy solution.
HH
ADI_DASSLER on 3RD JUNE 2020 7:52 PM
I like the idea of a seat retainer, if anyone wants my virtual ticket for a season but i keep my seat ’til we return
was in here a few times as a youth.
late 70;s early 80’s.
memory jarring when it popped up on line/
40 years later and the fascists are winning.
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YourWullie
@YourWullie
·
Jun 1
Desmond’s Hip City Records in Brixton South, London, after being damaged by National Front in 1974.
Desmond is standing with the broom on left.
Photo Neil Kenlock
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EZc_LfwXYAA4D8w?format=jpg&name=small
It is a desperate situation. The future of Scottish Football is at stake,
There is no panacea , the virtual ticket for Season Book Holders is a step in the right direction, getting as many Supporters as possible into the Ground in as soon a timetable as possible is the next imperative,
Celtic is a business as well as a Club, and they are tugging at the heartstrings of Supporters, it is a historic season, the 10 in a row is at stake.
Many will stump up out of loyalty others may not.
We won’t know the precise bang for their buck that Ticket Holders will get till season is over, but I feel Celtic should be exploring other options to increase value, maybe voucher for Store, maybe a couple of top mouth watering friendlies when we are back to full capacity with free tickets to those who renewed this season.
I’m a ST holder and I’ll take this alternative thank you very much
Given reports from overseas Bhoys, I hope it’s on a Sky channel and not on Celtic TV.
ADI_DASSLER on 3RD JUNE 2020 7:52 PM
FOURSTONECOPPI on 3RD JUNE 2020 7:36 PM
PÓGMATHONYAHUN
So what do you think is the solution ?. I think its difficult & wont please everyone all of the time.
But welcome yoysolution.
HH
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It’s all very well for most of the codgers on here who can afford it to think what has been put forward is hunky dory. I don’t pretend to know what the solution is but many younger families have ST’s together and after this crisis budgets will be tighter with many unemployed. So paying out for 2 or 3 ST’s for one “seat” in front of the telly doesn’t sound particularly fair to me.
I would put most people on this blog, not all, in the income coming in from a pension bracket with not too many, if any, dependants. I would suspect most on this blog would be more concerned about COVID-19’s affect on their health rather than their pocket.
The Club sells very reasonable season tickets to children and young people. I think it’s unfair to criticise in this situation. Ultimately as adults, we make the decision and that won’t make anyone a better or worse fan. But for those that don’t renew, your seat should rightly be made available to other fans.
anyone missing the live game interlopers telling us how shite celtic are playing …………
as we rol out a 3-0 win.
Pog,
Maybe the solution for that scenario is for a ‘secondary ticketing’ solution where ST holders sell their ticket ‘by game’ to those (like me) who don’t have a book and who would gladly pay as a one-off.
We are in unique times and I hope we can be creative enough to satisfy lots of very valid agendas out there.
I think the Season Ticket holders will be given a code for any game that they cant attend. That way everyone who buys the season ticket can see the game. This is well worked out. SPFL have done well of getting a deal to spread the repayment to Sky as £300K a year for 5 years, I suspect a certain Celtic Director was in the SPFL corner.
I think we also may have had one eye on limiting the amount that the Ibrox club can rifle their fans for. Sevco will have to match our deal.
The above is a ticket exchange service similar to one that Arsenal use. Feels a good fit for us during this crisis and afterwards perhaps to replicate…
So how about me becoming a virtual season ticket holder rather than a ST holder with a virtual ticket until the crowds start coming back. Surely preferable to popping over to my ST friend’s house and watching Celtic for nowt (apart from the carry out). Puts money into Celtic’s coffers and saves me spilling the beers over my friend’s carpet.
Oh, and received a lovely parcel from BRTH today. Many Thanks. Just the ticket, so to speak.
BIG WAVY on 3RD JUNE 2020 9:08 PM
Pog,
Maybe the solution for that scenario is for a ‘secondary ticketing’ solution where ST holders sell their ticket ‘by game’ to those (like me) who don’t have a book and who would gladly pay as a one-off.
We are in unique times and I hope we can be creative enough to satisfy lots of very valid agendas out there.
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A fair suggestion but don’t be surprised if there is a “not transferable” clause somewhere in the small print.
Scaniel- I can’t see it limited to ST Holders only,Sky will create a must see market here,they will take as much money as they can get IMO.
Scaniel- or sell games on a pay per view basis
SCANIEL on 3RD JUNE 2020 9:14 PM
So how about me becoming a virtual season ticket holder rather than a ST holder with a virtual ticket until the crowds start coming back.
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A good suggestion but probably better as a pay per view with Celtic collecting the money. I wouldn’t be prepared to pay any money directly to Sky. I’d even be prepared to pay most other clubs PPV directly to watch games involving Celtic.
Bada,
Snap.
Bada
Don’t agree – it has to keep ST an attractive proposition.
Gene- I think once they hit a certain number, they will open up to non ST Holders, they might cite SD ,house gatherings etc
Celtic linked Shon Weissman scoring an outstanding bicycle kick earlier tonight. https://t.co/sPHDCd78SF
I share a season ticket as I usually get to min. six games and max. ten games a season. The person I share with doesn’t get to all the games I don’t attend so the ST is probably used about 75% of the time.
I hoped that by renewing, home matches would be provided free on Celtic TV, assuming games would be behind closed doors.
Each game I attend costs a minimum of £100 and a maximum of £200, assuming I don’t stay in Glasgow.
So for me, today’s news makes renewing attractive, but obviously not ideal.
I would hope that when all STs are sold, there would then be an opportunity to offer televised home matches to non-ST holders.
PerspectivesCSC
https://t.co/sPHDCd78SF
Bada
Time will tell
Gene,
If Celtic charged £25 per game for behind closed doors games it would be slightly more than ST with the understanding that when spectators return you can no longer PPV, that way ST holders are protected and he ST holder has the knowledge that their seat is waiting for them.
Any way you look at it you won’t be able to keep everybody happy apart from those collecting the money. 🙁
Pog
For the £25 the whole family could watch – still don’t think it will be extended beyond ST holders.
Bada, You must remember that Celtic are not unique in this situation.
Every Club in the UK is in the same boat,
If Celtic can pull a stunt like that, every other Club in the UK will want the same deal.
The Sky Sports current model would be rendered redundant,
It’s a lovely thought but a non runner in my opinion.
Gene,
People who don’t buy ST’s watch the games on various illegal platforms and the Club don’t see a brass farthing so it might be a way of tapping into this market for a short period?
As I said previously I don’t know the answer. There is no panacea that will keep everybody happy.
Why should we pay for a full season ticket when we don’t know how many games it’ll cover? Surely not when most of us don’t know when the next wage will come in or even if we’ll have a job. Wouldn’t it be better to ask for a deposit on season tickets with the balance due when the stadium re-opens (less the cost of the missing games)? Not many can afford to lose around £35 a game. Meantime, access to Celtic TV at a reduced rate would bring in some extra income, and might lead to full subscription.
Pog
Agreed – It’s the best of a bad job – I don’t have a ST and won’t watch illegal streaming – it’s not a victimless crime.
However I do understand that if you live in the UK or Ireland there’s no choice for home games
Corkcelt- I think this will be a one off season, if ST Holders are getting it free, they are saying it is a welcome revenue stream for clubs? How will they make money?PPV? I don’t know mate…
Bada, It is a lovely thought and I’d love it to happen,
Do you accept that if it happens for us , it would also have to happen for ever other Club in UK.
If it is happening for every other Club in the UK would you still expect Sky & other Platforms to plough money into the various Leagues.
Celtic are a business and at this time, we need cash flow. I don’t think it’s feasible for Celtic to refuse season ticket income and hold off till some undefined point in the next season before issuing renewals.
Criticising those collecting the money makes little sense to me. If you can’t afford it then don’t renew. We’re not a members organisation or community group, we’re a PLC.
The rights and wrongs of turning the Club into a business were debated at length in 1897 but we find ourselves here now.