Do you remember the early days of Sky Sports? They raised the bar for football coverage on television, which had been limited in the scope of cameras deployed, production skills and incident analysis. When Sky arrived, the number of cameras at a game went from two to 12. Time was dedicated to the pre-match build-up and you were learning things about the game from analysts, who knew more than you.
We liked Sky, they put money into our game and gave us a more enjoyable viewing experience. There was what media people call brand affinity with the broadcaster. Let’s remember where we were before that time. As recently as 1995, Charlie Nicholas co-commentated for 15 minutes telling us the score was Rangers 1-1 Celtic, when the Rangers goal had been disallowed for offside. An entire match production team at Ibrox didn’t know the score.
While Sky continued to improve the quality of their premium output, their efforts at delivering Scottish football content has dropped off a cliff. Even those who work with the broadcaster tell me they are not interested in our game, an insight that scarcely needs to be stated.
Yesterday’s announcement by Sky that they secured rights to the SPFL for five seasons, pushing out BT Sport in the process, was Ratner-esque in the delivery of a business message. The graphic featured Brendan Rodgers, a Celtic crest, Steven Gerrard and a Newco crest. The message was clear: there are only two teams in this league we care about. Even I was offended, despite my team featuring. Consider where brand affinity is now.
We will all miss BT Sport, especially big Chris, but I’m not sharing the love with them. Their production standards were excellent, but if they were not prepared to pay for the product, they cannot retain the rights. The League only has discretion on these matters if the difference in bids is marginal, which it was not on this occasion.
So we are left with Sky, who still employ Charlie Nicholas, and who has never been short of a word (unless asked to contribute to a cause by Celtic), but has never provided insight into anything. Ever. And there’s Andy Walker, who sent viewers off air telling them Celtic still had work to do to qualify for the knockout stages of the Champions League, despite the whole of Europe knowing they secured just that. People who do not know the score of a game they are commentating on, and do not know why 60,000 people are celebrating a result! This is their business, and they know less about it than you.
I hope the money Sky have put in means they will take us more seriously but I remain to be convinced. Stay tuned for five long years of mindless stating of the obvious, or ill-informed speculation about schisms masquerading as value-added insight. Is it any wonder the new media find such a fertile audience? Andy Gray must be spinning in his misogynist-bordello-themed 7am pub.
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WHAT IS THE STARS on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 9:34 AM
Macjay
Brexit….Rourkes Drift for slow learners.
===============================================
Battle of Rorke`s Drift ? The movie Zulu ?
An analogy for Brexit ?
Don`t get it .
thomthethim for Oscar OK on 20th November 2018 5:20 pm
It would appear that they stretched their budget with their exclusive European rights and haven’t the subscribers to sustain a decent offer.
==============
Whatever we think of their coverage, Sky blew them out the water here.
One look at their financial figures shows they would have been well able to ‘sustain a decent offer’. There would have been lots for them in this deal too in terms of viewers, its hardly money down the drain for them.
HH
For a spell in the second half last night, there were shades of the Di Stephano Testimonial, when four Israeli players converged on Forrest.
He beat the first two, the third fouled him and the fourth offered a prayer in thanks!!
Jinky experienced that in the Bernabeau, until the Real players gave up and wouldn’t go near him.
Jobo
Settings>Safari>Advanced>turn off Java Script by clicking on it.
You know what would help Scottish clubs improve their teams, invest in infrastructure/stadium maintainence, and develop future generations of players ?
LESS MONEY!
Said no one ever.
HH
TRADITIONALIST88 on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 9:52 AM
There is no doubt they blew BT out of the water and it would have been ridiculous for the SPFL to reject the Sky bid.
As in everything else, the consumer has the option of consuming the product.
This may be the last time that the contracts are awarded in a two/three horse race.
Other companies, like Amazon, etc., are reportedly preparing to enter the market.
Macjay
UK is an equal partner in the EU (at present). They signed up to ECHR/ECJ freely. Complaining about it later is disingenuous. HH
thomthethim for Oscar OK on 21st November 2018 10:05 am
Very true – theres been a lot of comment about the production, the show around the match that both companies put on.
What I haven’t seen anyone say is that there are a lot of people who just want to watch the game!
Many people only have time to watch the game sometimes and catch up with post match analysis as and when they can. They’re not all hanging on every word of Sutton or Walker.
Yes Amazon and Facebook dipping their toes in the water of late but while we wait for the future developments in that regard we have to take the best financial offer available. Its not often Scottish clubs vote unanimously but it happened here and that was to go with the offer from Sky.
HH
I first took an interest in Politics when I was 14. In the absence of the Internet,.I was instinctively aware that a Media owned by very rich people was not likely to offer an agenda that might threaten their power in Society.
So, I read a little, conversed with those who did not simply regurgitate the Establishment view and listened to Speakers in Blythswood Square ( Glasgow) .
In the half century ( and more) that has passed since then, I have been told of many crises and how they would have a monumental affect on our lives. Individuals, as always, suffered but none of these `crises` truly made the massive difference we were told they would. The division of wealth remained a very unequal equation.
Accompanying all this is the promotion that the UK is a wonderful democracy. In a democracy , would every voice be heard equally?
I could go on but SFTB`s offering (9:11 am) says it succinctly :
` We will still be at the mercy of the whims of the true moneyed elite.`
JJ
Id say both Lenny and Brendan deserve credit for where James Forrest is right now and perhaps even Ronny played a part, but id say the biggest factor in his performances is down to him putting all the injuries behind him instead of the stop/start/stop days when he was back on the treatment table after a few games and never really got going.
Hes really motoring now and his confidence must be soaring.
Just hope hes not cursed now!
Is this the day that the stolen trophies will be stripped ? √
Or, will pub team skelping suffice the £49 Old Firmist’s ?
Sign the David Bates 1 √
Viva la James Forrest CSC √
Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
`Id say both Lenny and Brendan deserve credit for where James Forrest is right now and perhaps even Ronny played a part,`
Fine. But what about events in the Rift Valley ?
CreditwherecreditisdueCFC
JJ
FRIESDORFER on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 10:13 AM
Macjay
UK is an equal partner in the EU (at present). They signed up to ECHR/ECJ freely. Complaining about it later is disingenuous. HH
==============================================================================
No equal partners in the EU.
There is the dominant clique of M and M.
And the also rans.
Nobody complained .
The British electorate voted to leave. Decision made.
I outlined a prime example of why , imho , they decided to do so.
Kev said:
` pub team skelping`.
Are you English, Kev?
JJ
HOT SMOKED on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 10:16 AM
` We will still be at the mercy of the whims of the true moneyed elite.`
================================================================
Yep.
George Soros and Get Up.
And Bill and Hill.
Kev on 21st November 2018 10:20 am
Brendan Rodgers is a season ticket smokescreen and will never be appointed Celtic manager.
Get Mark McGhee in ffs!
HH
TRADITIONALIST88 on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 10:16 AM
I don’t think that anyone is arguing the the BT offer should have been accepted.
The disappointment is based on the perceived regard that both companies have for our game, plus the blatant bias of their promotion of one club over all others.
This bias permeates every story with a Scottish interest.
Every situation is view view a Sevco prism. Every positive, which are few, are magnified and every negative ignored or spun into orbit.
At face value, it doesn’t matter who is pointing the camera, we just want to watch a game, but the ethos of Sky towards the Scottish game and their biased OF leanings towards Govan, is hard to stick.
To many, subscribing to Sky is like buying a season ticket for Ibrox.
O’Neill and Keane leave ROI roles
HH
Macjay
A genuine set of questions that, I accept, is/are almost impossible to answer.
Do you think that those who vote to leave did so, in the main, because:
a) They researched and arrived at a conclusion that standing alone was , economically, the better choice;
b) They are fairly patriotic and believe that Britain really is Great and has a unique, national character that would win in the end;
c) They think there are too many foreigners in the UK and they want to send them `Home`?
JJ
PS Are you ever likely to visit Glasgow? I do not share your views but I am sure I would enjoy your company and a `debate` over a pint :-)
SETTING FREE THE BEARS FOR RES. 12 & OSCAR KNOX on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 9:11 AM
Sons and daughters of robber barons ra lot of them . Somewhere in their past the beneficiaries of ill gotten gains.
thomthethim for Oscar OK on 21st November 2018 10:30 am
Theres been a lot of hysterical reaction and not enough looking at the bottom line.
Even this morning I replied to a post effectively saying I must be in the know because I stated the BT bid was significantly less than SKY’s!
‘The Rangers’ get handouts in line like everyone else. Hardly Rangers TV where your man is crying into his beer when we score. Actually, theres value for money!
HH
Macjay
I didn`t know who George Soros and Get Up were so I Googled. Is this relevant?
https://twitter.com/GetUp/status/937884215915331584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E937884215915331584&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.quora.com%2FIs-the-Australian-activist-group-GetUp-funded-by-George-Soros
JJ
Anyway, before I sign off, a more important question:
Do we rest important, in-form players on Saturday because of Hamilton`s playing surface?
Cheerio for now.
JJ
PS MAcjay,
I will respond later to any replies you may make.
I think most of the credit for James Forrest’s consistently good and occasionally brilliant performances must go to the player himself.
I’m sure he would’ve taken bits and pieces from each coach he’s played under through the years. Brendan and the coaching staffs ability in helping to facilitate the improvement of players under their tutelage is obvious but not the ultimate factor imo.
From the outside it looks like he’s knucked down and dedicated himself to improving his game. Being injury free for an extended period is a big factor as well.
Anyway it’s great to see someone in the hoops so completely in the zone and loving his football. Keep it up wee man and well done.
Kirk Broadfoot could play under Guardiola for ten years and still be a dumpling.
HH
Hot Smoked,
or d) The Tory Party knows well that the EU is bringing in new money laundering and offshore regulations very shortly. HH
MON and Roy gone.
Macjay,
The Scottish electorate did not vote to leave the EU. Despite that, our voice has been completely ignored and marginalised on the altar of Tory ideology.
Anyway, I’m here in the Kerrydale Suite now for the delights of the AGM.
HH
DD
B-side from bitter sweet single, Lord I guess I’ll never know…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYCo4CYq_Mo
HH
HH
HOT SMOKED on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 10:34 AM
a) No.
b) Patriotic yes. Hard to generalise .But win what ?
Safety was , imho , the principle concern combined with the basic absence of safety checks when you have open borders.
A concern borne of the multiple terrorist attacks which have taken place in U.K.
c) Those who thought that there were too many foreigners in Britain thought so long before the E.C.
Notting Hill riots. Smethwick racial attacks.`50s and `60s.
They would still exist but I would be sure they are the minority.
Some of them would , of course , be immigrants and / or their children.
Some of the most intolerant are immigrants.
Let me ask you a question. Do you think that the recent batch of terrorists have anything in common ?
If so , what would that be ?
Now that`s the most difficult question.
Love to have a chat over a pint.
God Willing.
Ojala.
Anywhere there is political unrest in the world, anywhere there is tension and there are people protesting you will find George Soros at the center of it agitating, he is a placeman for the right wing elite.
FRIESDORFER on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 10:55 AM
Macjay,
The Scottish electorate did not vote to leave the EU. Despite that, our voice has been completely ignored and marginalised on the altar of Tory ideology.
Anyway, I’m here in the Kerrydale Suite now for the delights of the AGM.
HH
=================================================================
Irrelevant.
The referendum question was about UK relationship to the EC , not the Scottish relationship.
And Scotland voted to remain in the UK , in any case and was therefore bound by the result.
Ignore wee whatshername.
Now . Hope you`re ready to pass on my congratulations.
Aff tae my kip.
DD
Thats a ‘ money to burn’ b- side. My links are duplicating when posting on CQN, look like a right eejit :))
I’ll try again tomorrow .
HH
Any live reporting from the AGM anywhere
TRADITIONALIST88 on 21ST NOVEMBER 2018 10:38 AM
The Rangers’ get handouts in line like everyone else. Hardly Rangers TV where your man is crying into his beer when we score. Actually, there’s value for money!
*******
Sorry, I don’t get what you are saying here.
It’s SKY’s obvious leanings to all things Ibrox that is the point.
They may claim it is merely talking up their OF product, but, like the rest of the media, it’s Ibrox = Good News. Celtic = Bad News.
Have never seen Jim White in a pub, but have witnessed him almost in tears on numerous occasions on screen.
I repeat, no one is saying that Sky’s offer should have been turned down, but equally, no one but you is defending Sky’s coverage of Scottish football.
Anyway, who next for the ROI job?
Maybe a return for Big Mick Mc.Carthy?
HH
Forrest to Southampton!!!
Fishul!
(he’s been tapped up by the “Quiff)
Macjay
My last on this:
The UK government pledged that if Scotland remained in the UK at the Indepence Referendum, they would be guaranteed to stay in the EU.
Sleep well.
HH
O’Neill and Keane are away to count their millions before……err……sumbdy else gives them more millions to count.
What an existence.
thomthethim for Oscar OK on 21st November 2018 11:06 am
I repeat, no one is saying that Sky’s offer should have been turned down, but equally, no one but you is defending Sky’s coverage of Scottish football.
================
I’m not defending their coverage, its basic at best. I’m saying given the alternatives they’re a necessary evil for now and am criticising the hysterical reaction of others.
No point throwing toys out the pram. Jim White is an irrelevance. Turn it off once the games over. Some Sevco fans feel the same about Provan, Nicholas and Walker being there just because they wore green a long time ago.
All a bit childish imo. They put a very good package to our clubs to show our game so some people out there, and theres a lot on twitter, need to leave the histrionics aside and look at why the clubs, including Celtic, voted for this deal.
https://videocelts.com/2018/11/blogs/a-very-good-deal-lawwell-backs-new-sky-telly-contract/
Heard a shout of Lennon for ROI?
HH