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Ben Hayes - Charlton Athletic programme

Television and Broadcasting

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Al Jazeera breaks into televised football

Submitted by WG on Fri, 09/12/2011 - 18:34

Some time ago I was quite surprised to be asked by Al Jazeera if I could come into their London studio to talk about football.   As it happened, I couldn't make it but perhaps I should have seen the straw in the wind.


The Qatari broadcaster has been awarded the majority of media rights to screen Uefa Champions League matches in France for three years from 2012 in a deal worth €180m.   This is a serious blow to French pay-TV operator Canal Plus.

United take big hit from Champions League exit

Submitted by WG on Fri, 09/12/2011 - 18:18

Manchester United's elimination from the Champions League before the group stage will hit them hard financially.   They could be between £14m and £18m worse off than last season when they reached the final.  

The transformation of European football?

Submitted by WG on Tue, 15/11/2011 - 09:07

The book I have edited with Borja Garcia from Spain and Arne Niemann from Germany on the transformation of European football has now been published by Manchester University Press.   A 20 per cent discount is available to our readers who contact us through our e-mail address.

Barca supremo wants to cut size of La Liga

Submitted by WG on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 19:52

Barcelona president Sandro Rosell wants to cut the size of La Liga from 20 to 16 clubs, although he is prepared to accept a transitional membership of 18.   This appears to be his price for accepting a more equal distribution of television money through collective selling.

Becks considers his options

Submitted by WG on Sat, 05/11/2011 - 08:51

David Beckham helped Los Angeles Galazy to a 2-1 semi-final win against the New York Red Bulls in the Major League Soccer (MLS) play-offs, putting his team in the Western Conference final.   But he is nearing the end of his five-year contract in the States and is considering his options.   He doesn't want to retire and Paris St. Germain as well as unnamed Premiership clubs have come calling.   Then there is the Olympics to look forward to where the British team is likely to made up of Becks and ten others.

Lawyer reviews Murphy case

Submitted by WG on Thu, 03/11/2011 - 08:31

The Association for the Study of Sport and the European Union, of which I am a member, is providing a series of analyses of legal cases concerning sport, particularly football.   The first of these concerns the so-called Murphy case on TV decoders which started with a Portsmouth landlady.  It is provided by

Liverpool wants breakaway tv deal

Submitted by WG on Wed, 12/10/2011 - 13:36

A fundamental feature of the Premier League up to now has been that television revenues are shared equally between clubs, unlike Spain where Barcelona and Real Madrid are able to negotiate their own deals.  Of course, in practice, some of the money is relation to position in the league so the top clubs do get more.

Failed World Cup bid cost more than thought

Submitted by WG on Mon, 10/10/2011 - 17:47

The Football Association's failed bid to stage the World Cup cost £6m more than has been previously thought.   The total cost was £21m, or £10.5m per vote, although the net cost was £14m.   £2.5m came from the public purse in terms of contributions from local authorities who hoped to stage matches in their cities.  Another £4.5m came from sponsors. 

The devil is in the detail

Submitted by WG on Wed, 05/10/2011 - 08:20

Predictably initial media reaction to yesterday's European Court of Justice (ECJ) case involving Portsmouth publican Karen Murphy over simplified a complex set of issues.   Indeed, the only certainty in this matter is that the winners will be the lawyers who will pocket substantial fees in subsequent litigation.

European Court ruling won't change much

Submitted by WG on Tue, 04/10/2011 - 14:25

Although the Premier League lost its case on football brodcasting in the European Court today, and hence Sky lost as well, the outcome will not change that much, at least in the short run, although no doubt further litigation will follow.