tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10399764.post8180688444945236243..comments2023-11-05T11:08:39.920+00:00Comments on Twohundredpercent: Look At What You Could Have Won200percenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14645801159434664430noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10399764.post-78236388828855117972007-11-07T09:45:00.000+00:002007-11-07T09:45:00.000+00:00This ticks a number of boxes all round.The BBC get...This ticks a number of boxes all round.<BR/><BR/>The BBC get lots of lovely online content for their regional news websites. This fits in nicely with their commitment to the regions and the BBC Trust will be happy.<BR/><BR/>10 live matches means live football once a month which is a start given that they will be losing their existing live matches at the end of this season. The ratings for these matches won't be that good and I very much doubt that the Beeb were interested in much more than ten live games. However, the Carling Cup Final will be shown live on terrestrial TV which is very good news for football fans.<BR/><BR/>Also, the deal strengthens the partnership between Sky and the BBC and lays the path for a possible Champion's League bid. There has been some speculation in the press that the Beeb have resolved any sponsorship issues with UEFA and that Sky are considering ditching ITV and hooking up with the BBC.<BR/><BR/>For Sky? Well as poor as the ratings are for League football, Sky's primary source of revenue comes from subscriptions rather than advertising sales. This allows them to bid aggressively for American TV shows like Lost and Prison Break because their economics are different to say Channel Four or Five. The Football League may be of limited interest only but, like Spanish football, it will have a loyal following plus it will add value to a Sky Sports subscription package and help people to decide to subscribe or stay subscribed to their channels.<BR/><BR/>They also keep the Championship Play-off final which is a game which could be marketed internationally.<BR/><BR/>For the League? Well, the added prestige with being associated with the Beeb may help them raise extra revenue. And it is a decent increase. However, their fingers were burnt badly by the ITV digital collapse. They accepted a £315 million pound bid without making sure that all or part of that figure was guaranteed should the broadcaster fold which they did. The League are probably inclined to adopt a more conservative approach rather than take risks, even if it means losing out slightly. Maybe Mawhinney feels that they are improving the foundations of the League and the real bonanza is yet to come.Terry Duffelenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12497567108075601329noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10399764.post-8845856403817128372007-11-07T08:42:00.000+00:002007-11-07T08:42:00.000+00:00I thought this was an interesting story yesterday....I thought this was an interesting story yesterday. It seems strange that the BBC should be wanting to show matches from the Championship downwards (despite the quality from these leagues being higher than ever).<BR/><BR/>That said, I think they'll raise the profile of them even more as people will associate the Beeb with Match of the Day and so on. I just hope they don't stick a rudimentary programme on of a Sunday morning when many of us aren't even awake like ITV do.Chris Ohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14451130702323813966noreply@blogger.com