Football rights, an oligopoly working with a closed shop

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What’s the value of the Scottish Professional League sponsorship package?  It’s whatever the highest bidder is prepared to pay for it.  £4m from Ladbrokes over two years is, therefore, a true value.  It’s down on the previous SPL deal, which was £2m from Clydesdale Bank, as it includes rights to the lower leagues, but this reflects variations in market and product conditions since that deal was signed.

The SPFL chose to go without a sponsor rather than significantly reduce their asking price, believing that it would be difficult to up-bid from a lower position than wait on the market returning to a position closer to the expected value.  As we don’t know what offers they received two years ago, and we’ll never know what subsequent value would have been received, there’s no point even trying to judge that decision.  The most we can say is that despite worries in some places of Armageddon, clearly member clubs believed they had enough in the tank to ride out some years without sponsorship money.

Everything is for sale (Ibrox naming rights for £1, anyone?), but you only take low value deals when you’re in a low value starting position – and there’s no point making moral ‘right or wrong’ judgements about people who make decisions from a poor starting position.

Unlike Scottish football’s broadcast deals, the values of which are determined by an oligopoly, league, shirt and stadium sponsorship is open to a very wide number of potential partners.

The real focus of our angst, should be against the behemoth who own the majority of football TV rights, pays a huge premium for the rights which are critical to its business, while exploiting the large barriers to entry to pay a pittance for Scottish football.

As TV consumers we pay some of the highest subscriber rates in the world as we are part of a very valuable TV market.  Our football clubs operate within the boundaries of this TV market but are excluded from competing in the lucrative section of that market by a closed shop.

An oligopoly working with a closed shop to the detriment of some competitors within the EU.  I cannot believe this is legal.

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573 Comments

  1. Sips

     

     

    Hope to see you for a swifty. I then need to go to Perth!

     

     

    What time you in?

     

     

    HH jamesgang

  2. In the run up to the election Labour, Tory and the right wing media were implying that an SNP presence with any clout at Westminster would be an affront to democracy.

     

     

    Today, Cameron shipped an unelected wallah from House of Lords to assist his only Tory MP from Scotland at the Scottish Office.

     

     

    It’s known as democracy.

  3. jamesgang…

     

     

    Hopefully for four at the latest. Disappointed with the jury seven women and not even one that is tidy :(((

  4. 67Heaven .. CHALLENGING THE LIE ..I am wee Oscar...... Ipox belongs to the creditors on

    Delighted that Dnipro have deservedly progressed to the final…..great achievement

  5. sipsini

     

    22:01 on

     

    14 May, 2015

     

    jamesgang…

     

     

    Hopefully for four at the latest. Disappointed with the jury seven women and not even one that is tidy :(((

     

     

    behave you :-))

     

     

    HH

  6. sipsini

     

    22:09 on

     

    14 May, 2015

     

    dena29…

     

     

    Sorry, I don’t get out much :))

     

     

    :-)))

     

     

    HH

  7. sipsini

     

     

    Enjoy tomorrow night :-(((

     

     

    cant wait for 24th trophy day

     

     

    HH

  8. Quonno – democracy Tory style: Step 1- get 24% of the national eligible vote in order to govern the entire country

     

    Step 2 – propose laws that Unions must get 50% plus 1 of eligible voters to vote yes for industrial action. Make sure you do everything possible to prevent those people from.being able to vote in the one place they spend most of their life – work.

     

     

    Aye. Democracy.

  9. dena29…

     

     

    Will do, my daughter is going over to Donegal for a wedding on Saturday and Tipperey on Sunday with her boyfriend and his family…wish it was me. HH

  10. sipsini

     

    22:26 on

     

    14 May, 2015

     

    dena29…

     

     

    Will do, my daughter is going over to Donegal for a wedding on Saturday and Tipperey on Sunday with her boyfriend and his family…wish it was me. HH

     

     

    Hope the weather stays good theres no better place than Donegal when the sun is shining

     

     

    HH

  11. Thanks to everyone who got back to me earlier on the 60s game.I knew I dogged school,I knew it was foggy,and I knew we won.I thought Bobby got the hat trick.Not bad for 53 years ago !!!!!!!.

  12. Hope Ronny gives Broony and Joe Hansen a rest tmoro.

     

    It’s imperative these two guys are fully fit and raring to go come the qualifiers..

     

     

    I’d go with the following tmoro…

     

     

    ——————–C.Gordon——————-

     

     

    D.Fisher. Denayer. VanDijk. Izzy

     

     

    ———–Bitton. Mulgrew ————–

     

     

    — Forrest. Rogic. MackaySteven—

     

     

    —————–Griffiths———————

     

     

     

    Although I’d maybe be tempted to give Scepovic a start.

  13. FFS.Just checked the weather in Glasgow from the 19th for the following two weeks.Every day rain,with a few thunderstorms thrown in.

     

    Think I have lost it,leaving this glorious weather for that sh!t.

     

    Serves me right for being a “Big game”fan.I had a great Hospitality seat lined up for the cup final.Bo!!ox.

  14. Hope everyone on here has done their bit to oppose the OB Act by that I mean signed the petition at least. Then you can do as I have done in the last two days write to Nicola Sturgeon, your local MSP, especially if he/she is SNP. Perhaps following that up with one to Roseanna Cunningham who once told me her brother was a Celtic supporter. Not that this appeared to have any influence on her voting for the unjust Act.

     

     

    Don’t just sit back and do nothing. Act now to end the unjust behaviour of sections of Police Scotland and challenge the Government on this Act..

  15. connaire12

     

     

    Have been sharing on facebook but my friends list is very small

     

     

    but trying……….

     

     

    HH

  16. I think Scepo is a goal-scorer….

     

    I think his biggest problem is his attitude.

     

    Being down the pecking order he should of followed the Leigh Griffiths example and knuckled down.

     

    Anytime I’ve seen him warming up at half time etc…. He looks un-interested…sulking about.

     

     

    Chase him back to la ligue 2 if that’s the case.

  17. Ruggeyman…Whatever the Reason mate, he will be Gone, it just aint worked, Thanks and Good luck to Him..

  18. "mouldy67" supporting the fearless Oscar Knox on

    Hello team, would be looking for your help to spread the word about campaign;

     

     

    “The 8th May 2015 will mark the first anniversary of our friend’s child, Oscar James Knox, gaining his Angel wings. To celebrate Oscar’s short but memorable life, we’ve organised a 223 mile bike ride over three days.

     

     

    We’re using this opportunity to help another young child who desperately needs support: and fast. Eileidh Paterson needs £100K by June in order to receive specialised DFMO cancer treatment in the USA. That treatment is not currently available in the UK.

     

     

    On Saturday 16th May 2015, the cyclists will leave Forres, Eileidh’s home town, bound for Inverness. There, they will take in the SPFL match between Caley Thistle and Dundee United, raising awareness of neuroblastoma, and in particular Eileidh’s plight, before setting off south to Glasgow, and Celtic Park, home of Wee Oscar’s favourite team.

     

     

    We have set up this team page to raise awareness and much needed funds. Our team have a common goal to raise money for the Neuroblastoma Childrens Cancer Alliance (NCCA UK). The team are Steve Taylor, Kevan Lawler, Iain McGovern, Robert Campbell and Paul Muldoon.

     

     

    We are football fans of different teams with a common goal: to make a difference for Eileidh in wee Oscar’s name.

     

     

    We would like to ask for your help by donating to Eileidh’s campaign.

     

     

    https://www.justgiving.com/HighlandbikerideforEileidhPaterson

     

     

    OR

     

     

    Text EPAT50 £1-10 to 70070

     

     

    The Highland Cycle Team.”

     

     

    Thanks again Mouldy67

  19. Tomorrow night

     

     

    Gordon

     

    Matthews Denayer Ambrose Tierney

     

    Rogic Mulgrew

     

    Forrest Commons GMS

     

    Griffiths

  20. Melbourne Mick on

    Hello again all you young rebels.

     

     

    Another week of dismal weather here in Melbourne, very

     

    unusual driving rain snow on the hills and it’s almost like

     

    Scudland, can’t wait to moan about the heat again.

     

    Took the bhoys for training last night both running about

     

    with short sleeved hoops on hair plastered over their faces

     

    with the rain,it brought back memories when i played at

     

    places like Kinning Park ( the plots ) 50 pitches (Cardonald )

     

    or Greenfield ( Shettleston ) all black ash of course i’m

     

    sure you auld heads remember those days.

     

    All the Aussie boys had on their hoodies and waterproofs so

     

    i shouted to our lhads to put another layer on and both said

     

    ” naw it’ll cover wir hoops ”

     

    A wee lump in the throat time.

     

     

    Another heads up for our Oz tims.

     

    This Sunday is our usual soiree in the Bay hotel

     

    Mornington,Tara is our Irish band this week and

     

    we will have the usual great craic, raffles, etc.

     

    and a magnificent display of Irish dancing from me

     

    and auld Pat, after a few Guinness mind ye, so get

     

    along if you can and help support our club.

     

    H.H Mick

     

    P.S. Just had a wee thought about the stickies

     

    painting on the marble staircase.

     

    Do you think they might have accepted it better

     

    if it was titled.

     

    The New Pie eaters.

     

    ok i’m away.

  21. “mouldy67″ supporting the fearless Oscar Knox

     

     

    The total is moving along nicely

     

     

    Good Luck

     

     

    HH

  22. Sipsini

     

     

    @ 22-26

     

    To dena 29…..

     

     

    I must be tired sips, but that post read to me,

     

     

    that your daughters, boyfreinds family wish it was you that was going away for the weekend with him, ooofft suits you sir :)

  23. RT

     

     

    In español, she would be Carlota Iglesia,and I couldnae agree more

     

     

    Buenas noches CQN peeps