why is there an obsession with rangers going bust instead of celtic going forward

The deal is reliant on the armchair pull of the Old Firm
NEIL DONCASTER has hit back at Scottish football's doomsayers by insisting the megabucks extension of a TV deal has delivered a bright future for our game.
The SPL chief executive outlined the ramifications of a new £80million deal with Sky Sports and ESPN at Hampden yesterday and there were pros and cons for the pint half-empty brigade.
As always, the devil was in the detail of a five-year agreement that will impact on a host of burning issues on and off the park for the coming years.
The jackpot deal will: • Edge the SPL closer to securing a new sponsor for the league.
• Almost certainly kill off hopes of league reconstruction and extending the top 12.
• Bring five more years of lunchtime kick-offs and unpopular scheduling.
• Accelerate the need to tackle pubs and clubs that flaunt piracy rules by broadcasting games.
• Be reliant on the armchair pull of the Old Firm's appeal.
Doncaster also admitted the Old Firm's inclusion in the 60-game package needed to be a locked-in guarantee.
He said: "Yes, that's been the case for a number of years. It's the case with all the major sponsorships we enter into.
"One of the conditions is Celtic and Rangers remain part of the league. It is also a condition they play each other four times a season. That's been with us for the entirety of the deal with Sky and before that with Setanta."
Just what would happen in the event of Rangers' Armageddon scenario becoming a reality was sidestepped with style.
Doncaster said: "What I wouldn't want to be drawn on is any particular club's circumstances. The stipulation regarding Celtic and Rangers has been in the broadcast deal from the word go."
Doncaster insisted the TV giants didn't seek any assurances on the any future tinkering with the size of the league but reading between the lines the deal appears to have killed off any hope of an extended top flight.
He said: "That's not the way they operate. They work in a regulatory manner - you tell them what it is you would like them to price, then they make an offer. That's what we did.
"In our situation, we had the status quo. We have 60 games which we make available to sell and Sky and ESPN made a bid for those games. There are no assurances in terms of Friday night fixtures or anything like that.
"Reconstruction remains a subject under discussion with the SFA and the clubs. I don't think this announcement has a particular bearing on reconstruction. What it does mean is clubs can plan with certainty for another five years.
"The league can't meaningfully expand anyway. If you expand to a 16-team league, playing each other once at home and once away, that costs Scottish football around £20m. So it's not viable.
"There is no room to manoeuvre in terms of expanding - 14 might potentially work in terms of having a split league and retaining four Old firm games. But it has never been feasible to have 16, 18 or 20."
It's believed it wasn't an unanimous decision and that not all 12 clubs voted for the deal.
Doncaster said: "Ultimately it's the clubs that decide. You would have to get their own feedback but I'm sure, in the current climate, the guaranteed income and stability of another five years is the lifeblood. That's what they need to do long-term deals with players."
The daunting challenge for Doncaster to find a league sponsor as Clydesdale Bank run down the clock on the current deal is one the chief executive can approach with confidence.
He said: "There has been interest. We'll be open minded about who we talk to, who shows interest, then my job is to create options we can bring back to the table and the clubs can vote on.
"The SPL remains Scotland's foremost sporting competition and in terms of the coverage it's had over the past few years, the coverage it's going to have over the next five years with Sky and ESPN and the drama and excitement for which it's renowned, not just in the UK but overseas, that's set to continue."
The SPL had examined the possibility of setting up their own SPL TV channel and Doncaster P SPL said: "A number of the clubs were keen to explore the option. Ultimately it enabled us to come to the table to talk about a number of options, rather than one option with Sky Sports and ESPN and for the clubs to make a decision."
Another hurdle is the copyright legal battle with Sky surrounding the growing trend for pubs to beam live EPL games without a licence.
Doncaster said: "Piracy is something we as a league been dealing with as best we can within the legal framework. That legal framework has become more complicated because of the recent case.
"But in the event, it actually found in favour of the league's ability to protect its copyright. So it's something we will continue to pursue."
The security of a long-term bumper TV deal bucks the trend of broadcasting negotiations elsewhere and Doncaster said: "The Football League is 25 per cent down in terms of reported figures for its live deal.
"In that context, giants like Sky Sports and ESPN have come to the table and demonstrated a much improved level of confidence in Scottish football and deliver more money. That's the reality."
That's the armchair fans sorted but what about the impact on the supporters who've seen their football diary ripped up?
Doncaster added: "The reality is that scheduling of games remains the domain of TV That's companies.
That s the price we pay, not just for the increased money but for the increased exposure that is the lifeblood of clubs across the league."



Will that do???

 

We do not accuse fellow posters of being huns, thats what they do, now away with those kind of comments.

 

quote me on that,,,

 

I think a small bit of evidence that aids that point is simply how big the Rangers chat thread is.

 

Maybe if you could just stick to what we are discussing rather than focus on me??

 

Ermm... away back to RM, as in Rangers Media, what else did you mean by that comment then if it wasn't an accusation?

 

that will do only asked for a source seen as I have never heard of this but as someone else said espn are still fine with taking up scottish football if rangers go so sky can * off if they want

 

do i have an obsession about the huns going bust... no pretty bored with it now, does it intrude my obsession with celtic progressing as a football club... not really I put more hours into supporting Celtic than i do caring about the huns

 

Quite simply, no. It does not say there would be no deal. It says it will affect the current one. Paul Melvin, the communications officer of ESPN who dont have Glasgow derbies, has already said that ESPN are happy with what they get from Scottish football.

 

thats a no then

 

You made out i was lying though. Your right about ESPN. They will still show scottish football as they show nearly every league in the world but they dont spend sky's sort of money on our football. They just get the leftovers from Sky. The old firm game is the only reason sky buy our rights as they then sell it all over the world and it gets the biggest viewing figures of all the games they show. Take them out of the package and also take Rangers away games away then you are not left with much and what ESPN will pay for that wouldnt even be worth talking about.

 

Yes because the pay a pittance for sky's leftovers. The old firm games are the money spinners. What ESPN pay for our football isnt even worth talking about.

"One of the conditions is Celtic and Rangers remain part of the league. It is also a condition they play each other four times a season. That's been with us for the entirety of the deal with Sky and before that with Setanta."

Doesnt that statement make it clear??

 

mate the tv deal is * all in our overall income and I made out you were lying because last I heard it didn't depend on the old firm and those were words that were uttered by neil doncaster the same man who now that rangers are in the * says we are dependent on 4 old firms sounds fishy to me

 

who cares? if SKY pull out then fair dooz....... Celtic fan regardless we went through 9 in a row off the huns when we had * awl money I'm sure we can survive without being showing on the tele (stupit * times they show the games at anyway)

 

Well again, no. It makes it clear that the current offer would not stand. At no time does it mean that a deal could not be struck. It would also give ESPN a chance to increase their offer as I believe they would in a stand alone deal if they had the chance of getting us on far more than they do. It would also give other companies a chance to bid. BBC, STV, Premier sports eg. The money would be poorer I think but I highly doubt there would be no coverage.

 

But it does have an effect. Its worth roughly about £2m a year to us. Plus the exposure makes our shirt sponsorship more expensive. That loss alone this summer would have a major impact on any signings we would like to make. Its worth about £1m to smaller clubs in the league which is vital to their finances. Iv never heard Doncaster say the deal doesnt depend on the 4 old firm games so i cant comment on that but for the league the tv deal is vital.

 

but does the champions league not quite make up for it? 10 mill? would you rather the pesky orc douchebags go down for years whilst we reap the rewards of champs league money? SKY can get to *? Jelly n Ice cream?

agree or disagree

* we have lost out on millions because of those dirty tax dodging b*stards

 

We will survive no problem.........but other clubs may suffer.If Rangers go, they may take others with them, that is the problem.Half of the SPL are living on borrowed time as it is, without Rangers and TV and whatever else goes with them,ie, advertising etc, other teams may be in real trouble.

 

Come on its in black and white ! "One of the conditions is Celtic and Rangers remain part of the league. It is also a condition they play each other four times a season. Thats 2 conditions broken in 1 swoop. Why do you think sky has that "condition" in the contract?? Its because the old firm game is the jewel in our crown if we have such a thing. Its the one thing our league has to sell. Infact its the only thing. The old firm game is watched in countless countries in the world. Without that game then the deal isnt worth anything. When you also take out rangers away games too then all you have left is Celtic away games. That tv contract wouldnt be worth much at all. Surely you can agree with that??

 

MGM i agree with that, but look at the league before Moonbeams Murray and his
"tenners for every fivers"

Scottish league was pretty respected, the Huns have caused this mess and they are getting their * just deserts and I am glad, hopefully it shakes things up a bit and we can go back to the old days of an actual competitive league and if SKY pull out I couldn't care less,