Pub vs Sky and Premier League

**revolver** · #1 03-10-2011, 03:33 PM

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15152852

This could be absolutely game changing if the decision goes in favour of the pub land lady.

Whether it is good or not for "football" is another matter.

**Begbie** · #2 03-10-2011, 03:46 PM

I've been following this case and I hope that she wins. It might take some of the 'silly money' out of the game and blacken Murdoch's other eye.

It still leaves the problem of 'Sugar Daddies' but hopefully the new UEFA financial rules will rein them in a bit.

**mfc1876** · #3 03-10-2011, 03:57 PM

The stuff that woman was saying is EXACTLY how I feel about the game at the moment. The extortionate money they charge for TV packages and ticket prices is purely and simply to pay for over inflated wages to young lads, who in a lot of cases, see themselves as being above the people who stump up the readies to give them those kinda wages in the first place. They're taking us (well not us, we get our TV footy free) for mugs and I'm pissed off that I've been priced out of the game so I can't take my son which I always imagined myself doing one day.

It's not as if I'm on a crap wage either because, without wanting to sound like I'm bragging cos I'm not, my wages are alright. I have to graft like fuck for it mind (when I go back anyway) but it's worth it and I still can't afford to go. Our lass does stay at home to be a full time mam like so my wage is the only wage but then these days all asbo behaviour from kids is blamed on parents who don't have time for their kids but then when women stay at home to bring their own kids up instead of dumping them in childcare all day they're made to feel like shit for not working!!!

Going a bit off topic there but it's part of the reason why working class folks are being priced out. Plus sky high f***ing taxes and the government's hand in your pocket all the time. Sky high food/fuel prices in the UK. Just sick of having my eyes extracted over and over again and there's not a thing you can do about it. Country's f***ed!

Going for a lie down.

**Begbie** · #4 03-10-2011, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfc1876

The extortionate money they charge for TV packages and ticket prices is purely and simply to pay for over inflated wages to young lads, who in a lot of cases, see themselves as being above the people who stump up the readies to give them those kinda wages in the first place. They're taking us (well not us, we get our TV footy free) for mugs and I'm pissed off that I've been priced out of the game so I can't take my son which I always imagined myself doing one day.

Spot on MFC. I've always said that there is no alternative industry where the big money earners in football could earn �2000 a week never mind the mega bucks that they are on.

If all the TV money wasn't sloshing about the game, is anybody trying to tell me the players they would choose to flip burgers rather than get paid 'only' a couple of grand a week to play football? That's the choice most of them would have to make.

**Greenman** · #5 03-10-2011, 04:36 PM

Its good to see some minnow taking on the shark, I hope she wins, it may bring some reality back into sports pricing and wages.

Look what's happened, you go a player Tevez thinking he's bigger than the club because of the exorbitant wages he's on, �200,000 + a week, refusing to play.

If you refused to do you job, do you think the company would keep you on, I doubt it you'd have maybe an hour to got you stuff or clear you desk and be out the gate.

**revolver** · #6 03-10-2011, 04:39 PM

I think it's important to remember that huge wages is not dependant on tv money and high ticket costs.

Top clubs in Italy, Germany and Spain charge Championship prices (and less) and still show a large majority of games (including 3pm kick offs) and make a decent amount of money.

**Greenman** · #7 03-10-2011, 04:46 PM

True, but there not the greed bar-stewards that run the UK football clubs are they.

**Begbie** · #8 03-10-2011, 06:14 PM

Football economics is just another 'bubble' waiting to burst. It has been happening for hundreds of years. eg Tulips in the 1600s. Amongst the rich, it became fashionable to own rare tulips and their value shot up disproportionately in terms of their 'real' value. Others jumped on to the bandwagon and eventually the whole thing collapsed when those at the top of the pyramid lost interest and decided to cash in. The house of cards came tumbling down and ruined the tulip industry.

See the parallels with football?

**revolver** · #9 03-10-2011, 06:39 PM

English football has gotten more and more expensive with clubs seemingly just going "We can charge a bit more for this" on everything from tickets, to half time pies and it happens year on year.

I think the most worrying part for me is the foreign owners coming in, buying players for silly money, then charging higher prices for the fans to see them.

Then there's a club like Arsenal who build a lovely new stadium for their fans, and then make them pay for it.

This seems to have trickled down the hierarchy in the Premier League so "lesser" clubs up prices slightly, piling pressure on them to succeed due to fans having to pay a bit more but receiving less. And the gulf widens between the big 2 (or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6) and the rest.

And ultimately, when this tulip-fest crumbles, which could very realistically happen, the foreign owners will go with their money leaving clubs with enormous wage bills, high stadium costs and disgruntled and deluded supporters.

And I think a very heavy hit on the Premier League could have massive impact on the Football League in terms of tv money and promotion vs relegation costs.

**mfc1876** · #10 03-10-2011, 10:05 PM

Agree with everything the above post says, just wish I could have put it like that myself. I've thought for a good while now this is all gonna go tits up. I wonder if it really will get to that stage where all these 'big' clubs do get lift with huge stadiums and crippling debts when the novelty for the mega rich owners wears off and only clubs that have been prudently financially managed will be left to carry on the game...

Boro could become one of the nations new biggest clubs!!!

(just gave myself a slap)

**imperial109** · #11 03-10-2011, 11:49 PM

To be honest, not bragging or anything. But I think Arsenal have been planning for it the bubble to burst. We have been slashing our debt year on year, the property development of Highbury is debt free so only profit will come from that. We are also making it known that we will live within our means.

People have been having a go at Arsenal for running the club like a business rather than a football club, I for one am glad of that. When the bubble burst, and it will, there will be a lot of clubs in big trouble.

Getting back on topic, I really hope she wins. The Prem and Sky are holding everyone to ransom. They can no longer go around monopolising the market when people are finding cheaper or free ways to get a slightly less superior product. It seems like they are cutting their noses off to spite their faces. They would probably get more customers if they reduced the cost of their packages, with more customers you can demand more from advertising to cover the loss.

**mfc1876** · #12 04-10-2011, 09:00 AM

Good point about advertising, that would also apply to the footballers themselves. They get these stupid wages and yet they also get astronomical amounts of money from advertising deals so if clubs did cut their wages and pass that onto the supporter by cutting ticket prices the players would still make massive amounts of money.

I think the only way now that football could create a levelish playing field with regards to wages is by introducing a wage cap for footballers. Not sure what the legal issues are though with a wage cap if any?

**imperial109** · #13 04-10-2011, 09:35 AM

SHE WON!!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-15162241

**imperial109** · #14 04-10-2011, 09:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mfc1876

Good point about advertising, that would also apply to the footballers themselves. They get these stupid wages and yet they also get astronomical amounts of money from advertising deals so if clubs did cut their wages and pass that onto the supporter by cutting ticket prices the players would still make massive amounts of money.

I think the only way now that football could create a levelish playing field with regards to wages is by introducing a wage cap for footballers. Not sure what the legal issues are though with a wage cap if any?

The problem with the wage cap is that you will have to roll it out across all countries. Bit of a nightmare I would imagine.

**Begbie** · #15 04-10-2011, 10:05 AM

I don't think that a wage cap is the answer. It would probably result in club owners and shareholders stuffing more dosh into their own already bulging pockets.

Less money in the game is the answer. It would leave a lot of clubs struggling to service their debts but would also result in lower spending in the future.

**mfc1876** · #16 04-10-2011, 10:55 AM

Well hopefully now that that woman has won her case then Sky will have to drop their package costs if they now have to compete with cheaper European competition which in turn, would give them less money to plough into football.

Advertisers on the other hand will always be queuing up with bundles of cash. It's a start though, really pleased she's won. Good on her

.

**imperial109** · #17 04-10-2011, 11:02 AM

It also opens the door for getting Saturday 3pm games shown on tv. Clubs would need to drop ticket prices to make sure people still fill the stadiums, instead of staying at home/pub to watch the game.

**mfc1876** · #18 04-10-2011, 11:07 AM

It serves the greedy bastards right, they've had it all their own way for far too long. They sell their TV rights all over Europe, raking it in and then they moan when British people sign up to those services instead of Sky's.

A big corporation is defeated by the little person. I feel all warm inside

.

**Greenman** · #19 04-10-2011, 02:49 PM

You can bet Sky will not take this laying down, they will have the best Lawyers beavering away right now on new contracts for overseas buyer of there programs stitching them up tight a nat's bum.

Nice one for the publican Lady

**revolver** · #20 04-10-2011, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greenman

You can bet Sky will not take this laying down, they will have the best Lawyers beavering away right now on new contracts for overseas buyer of there programs stitching them up tight a nat's bum.

Nice one for the publican Lady

Their stance on logo and highlights copyright is already a start on that front. I do notice that some of the streams don't have any half time analysis and generally just show the first half highlights instead.

But with a market opening up in Europe for British customers they may even make moves to cater for those laws.

What's the betting they up their prices now