Basil Fawlty
Player Valuation: £35m
Premier League ready to launch their own TV station if credit crunch bites bids from Sky, Setanta & Co
The Premier League has a contingency plan to launch their own TV channel if broadcasters do not stump up enough cash when the next round of rights go on auction in the next few weeks.
With the credit crunch affecting other areas of sport, 'PLTV' could be launched if the bids for coverage for 2010-13 do not meet expectation.
The last deal was worth £2.7billion over three years last time, including £1.7bn for rights in the UK, where coverage is carved up between Sky and Setanta.
Has Sky reached the limit? The Premier League could launch their own channel if they aren't impressed with bids from broadcasters
There is expected to be strong interest again, with Disney-owned broadcaster ESPN considering entering the race, but the Premier League are sufficiently concerned to consider other options.
The Independent quotes a source as saying: 'PLTV would be a big step and it is not the first-choice option.
'But it is absolutely feasible, if not perfect. If that is the route the League and its clubs need to take to secure these important revenues going forward, it will happen.
'You could say it's been on the shelf for a while, and it's getting a dusting down.'
PLTV would sell subscriptions to live games direct to the public, on multiple platforms, as well as via established broadcasters in carriage deals.
Market research suggests there are more than 5million potential subscribers willing to pay more than £200 a year for the coverage.
That would be £16.50 per month - cheaper than most fans pay now - adding up to a 'baseline' income of about £1bn.
That compares to the £566m earned currently each year from deals with Sky and Setanta.
However, starting a channel from scratch would be costly and risky, with no sales or income absolutely guaranteed.
If they did do this the it would have to be on freeview because I can't see sky airing PLTV if they lose their biggest asset and a large portion of their viewers
The Premier League has a contingency plan to launch their own TV channel if broadcasters do not stump up enough cash when the next round of rights go on auction in the next few weeks.
With the credit crunch affecting other areas of sport, 'PLTV' could be launched if the bids for coverage for 2010-13 do not meet expectation.
The last deal was worth £2.7billion over three years last time, including £1.7bn for rights in the UK, where coverage is carved up between Sky and Setanta.
Has Sky reached the limit? The Premier League could launch their own channel if they aren't impressed with bids from broadcasters
There is expected to be strong interest again, with Disney-owned broadcaster ESPN considering entering the race, but the Premier League are sufficiently concerned to consider other options.
The Independent quotes a source as saying: 'PLTV would be a big step and it is not the first-choice option.
'But it is absolutely feasible, if not perfect. If that is the route the League and its clubs need to take to secure these important revenues going forward, it will happen.
'You could say it's been on the shelf for a while, and it's getting a dusting down.'
PLTV would sell subscriptions to live games direct to the public, on multiple platforms, as well as via established broadcasters in carriage deals.
Market research suggests there are more than 5million potential subscribers willing to pay more than £200 a year for the coverage.
That would be £16.50 per month - cheaper than most fans pay now - adding up to a 'baseline' income of about £1bn.
That compares to the £566m earned currently each year from deals with Sky and Setanta.
However, starting a channel from scratch would be costly and risky, with no sales or income absolutely guaranteed.
If they did do this the it would have to be on freeview because I can't see sky airing PLTV if they lose their biggest asset and a large portion of their viewers
