Comments on: Premier League And FA Threaten To Sue Justin.tv

By: johnr

johnr — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:58:00 +0000

Here in the UK, it is illegal to broadcast any live game on television that has a 15.00 GMT kick off time, meaning the only way you can leagally watch it live is by going to the stadium. Whats more, the combined monthly fees of Sky and Setanta are the highest in the World: £46 a month get you approx. 3 games a week on Sky, & 1 a week on Setanta(plus a handful of lower league matches).On Australian Tv there are a minimum of 5 live matches shown just on a saturday!

Here is an example of the problem: If Manchester United play away at Tottenham at 15.00GMT, the only Man Utd fans in the UK who are legally allowed to watch it live are the 5000 or so in the ground, leaving hundreds of thousands of others denied the broadcast at any price...It is an even bigger kick up the backside when we find out that the rest of the world can enjoy the match live.

Sky would never introduce a 'pay per game' scheme. The reason? We would not be tied down to a subscription. By paying for Sky Sports, you are buying the full channel lineups, not just the soccer, which would leave the rest of the channel lineup devalued. It is too late to do this now anyway.....once justin is closed down, another will start up.

Sky and the FA have sat and counted their money, with British soccer fans up against a barrel. Now it will come crashing down, as they did not realise the power of the web.

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:28:21 +0000

Your right Simon, by signal on my Setanta broadband connection has been weaker then on some illegals.

By: Simon Burke

Simon Burke — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 13:40:39 +0000

Spot on Gaffer and it isnt obvious whats a legal stream and what isnt as numerous companies for a small fee guarantee streaming footy but they are all illegal.
I have allegedly reportedly supposedly used Sopcast and other apps for games and sometimes their feed is clearer than Setanta's own online feed.
ESPN 360 is the best legal online feed I have used to date.
I often wonder why the Prem bothers shutting down these sites, its free exposure for them and ultimately their advertisers – surely their legal action will try cut off their nose to spite their face. This is what the EPL can learn from American Sports, internet rights.
I hope Justin.Tv comes back as Jason.Tv and it surely will.

By: eplnfl

eplnfl — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 11:23:26 +0000

Excellent insight on the true nature of the problem Gaffer. Free TV has been proven only to increase interest in a sports league. Period, that is the evidence. In today's world the media is the internet. Part of the EPL's problem is that TV in England is limited in order to protect the lower divisions. This translates to worry about the websites that carry games legal or illegal. I will note the NBC's contract with the NFL provides that games are shown free online! Maybe the NFL owners in the EPL should suggest something similar.

By: JC

JC — Mon, 03 Nov 2008 01:45:23 +0000

No doubt, I would absolutely spend a good chunk of change to be able to watch every Liverpool match on my TV, why is the EPL behind MLB/NHL/NFL on this Gaf?