Comments on: ESPN Wants Premier League TV Rights

By: The Gaffer

The Gaffer — Sat, 29 Dec 2007 09:28:44 +0000

Jason,

That’s a great idea for a blog post. I’ll write something up on that topic in the near future. Thanks for the suggestion.

Cheers,
The Gaffer

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 27 Dec 2007 17:45:59 +0000

Not really the post for this comment/question, but maybe close enough: would you consider blogging a bit about the current state of options for viewing UEFA, Premier League, etc games in the states? I am paying $15 a month for Setanta online, which is almost enough. Am thinking about FSC, but am unlikely to convince the wife to pay $65+.mo for one channel… What options are out there? Would appreciate it if you could review them in one of your posts? Thanks

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 15:16:00 +0000

GOL TV is using the Bundesliga as filer. Their audience is primarily Latin and they could always replace it with more South American oriented programming. However, losing LaLiga would be the death of the network. Interesting thoughts.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Tue, 11 Dec 2007 00:16:00 +0000

The Gaffer wrote:
Fox Soccer Channel, meanwhile, should watch the news closely as they may not be able to compete if ESPN decided to bid for the TV rights in the United States. Imagine how different FSC would be without the Premier League. It's almost unthinkable and would change the perception of the channel overnight.

To further expand The Gaffer's hypothesis... Imagine how different GolTV might be if FSC were to raid it (again), this time for La Liga or Bundesliga to replace Premier League programming.

Or could NewsCorp even just say, "Screw it!" and pull the plug on FSC? That'd be one way to get Stupor Sunday Plus off the air I suppose...

By: olivert

olivert — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 23:47:00 +0000

After thinking about the FT article and talking to a few other observers, I think I have figured out why George Bodenheimer spoke to the FT reporter:

ESPN, Inc. is applying the "bear hug" on Setanta Sports Ltd.

In my opinion, ESPN, Inc. is telling Setanta the following:

Either ESPN buys out Setanta now so that Setanta doesn't have to raise more cash in a capital market that has either topped or is about to top, or ESPN will roll over Setanta 1 or 2 years from now, when Setanta will have trouble raising cash to keep itself running.

I predict that ESPN, Inc. will buy out Setanta within 12-18 months.