I wanted to tell you about today's incident regarding the telecast of the Champions League fixtures.
Let me tell you that here in India the CL fixtures are broadcast on two separate TV channels viz. Ten Sports and Ten Action. Now since Chelsea-Juve, Madrid-City and United-Galatasaray games coincide today i.e 19:45pm BST, 12:30 am Local Time the TEN group had decided to telecast Madrid-City ad Chelsea-Juve fixture on the two channels.
However United being the by far most supported club there was a large hue and cry about that and there were many petitions regarding that on social media like Facebook/ Twitter.
So finally the TEN group decided to cancel the Juve-Chelsea fixture and telecast our fixture.
Now Chelsea being the European champions and Juve being such a big European giant, the glamour of this fixture was large as compared ours' inspite of our support far exceeding the other two.
That made me think a lot about our power and influence. Now unlike in Spain where Barcelona and Real Madrid have a monopoly over the TV rights and other clubs even if they want to can't fight this discrimination (excluding the recent Sevilla ourburst).
So taking into account our influence in football should United demand an unfair advantage as far as TV/ media rights are concerned just like in Spain. Just imagine the revenue we would make!!! I mean even if United threaten to boycott the PL games, the FA would just pi$$ in their pants with fear. No other club Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea come close to our influence. Just imagine the revenue FA would lose without United.
They say the powerful always rule. United are the most powerful in the league so would it be unjustifiable to demand an unfair or a greater share in the TV rights?
P.S - Can't wait for United to be back in the CL after a gap of almost 6 months. The atmosphere here is going to be amazing. The 12:30 am kick-offs in India are superb mind you especially the banter after the game late night. COME ON UNITED.
BROADCAST RIGHT/LAUGH AT CHELSEA
posted on 18/9/12
City and Madrid are on tonight, the other two on tomorrow?
posted on 18/9/12
It would be the worst idea ever. Yeah, we'd dominate but it would kill competition in England just as it has done in Spain and Scotland.
posted on 18/9/12
Oops.So it was Munich Valencia I think.
posted on 18/9/12
You've got your dates wrong, there is no clash?
posted on 18/9/12
To clarify that instead of City-Madrid, they plan to telecast Munich- Valencia.
posted on 18/9/12
I think it is only fair that the fans get to see as much of United in the CL as they possibly can before their inevitable entry into the latter stages of the Europa Cup
posted on 18/9/12
Better than the season imploding in August and finishing 6th in the league.
posted on 18/9/12
Funrob
In Spain they do it, why not in the PL? Id say Gill should put a lobby in the FA and use all nts influence.
posted on 18/9/12
I would like the 30 seconds of my life that this took to read back please.