Apple To Bid For Premiership Rights

[CheeseRolls]

Pure Speculation Apple and Google but ...

Apple shoots for Premier League soccer streaming rights • reghardware

 

[TWOCHOICEStom]

pure speculation. Personally I could never see this happening.

 

[Mellotron]

iFootball!

iArsenal vs ManchesterMac LIVE streamed tonight to your iHome.

 

[Badger]

iFootball!

iArsenal vs ManchesterMac LIVE streamed tonight to your iHome.

iStillCouldntGiveAShit

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

If it happens the majority of fans will be iFucked.

 

[beorhthelm]

its the sort of speculation that might actually make the companies named have a look at it. football rights made Sky, if Apple or Google want a serious presence in the UK it would make sence and they could easily outbid Sky. most interesting would be Google, who might even make available for no or low cost through.

 

[Mellotron]

iStillCouldntGiveAShit

When iGov are in charge, you will iBe.

 

[Arthur]

If it happens the majority of fans will be iFucked.

Why?

Apple TV set top boxes are < £100, I got one the other week. It's only a little more than what I give Sky a month so it's hardly going to break the bank. I expect allot of people would jack in their sky subscription if they lost the football. Obviously Apple would charge for the content but can't see them being much more expensive if at all given the wide range of sport on Sky.

 

[JJB]

It will never, ever happen. Yes, a majority of the football packages will be leaving sky, but they will be going to Al Jezeera.

 

[niknokseagull]

It will never, ever happen you say.

Don't be so sure. Apple have big designs on the world of content and TV content is most definitely in their sights. Buying into a TV 'product' with such global appeal opens up all sorts of possibilities for them.
Check this out ...
Here Comes Apple's Real TV - Businessweek

 

[KJP]

It will most likely be the overseas rights a-byway

 

[JJB]

Al Jazeera are desperate to land the rights to the premier league and are willing to pay £billions for them (I know this through connections in my line of work). Apple will in no way be able to compete with the financial power of the Qatar Royal Family.


The only thing Apple could remotely hope for is the North American Rights, currently held by Fox, although I can't see this being the biggest loss in the world with 'soccer' being way down on the list of American Sports in the public interest.

 

[beorhthelm]

Al Jazeera are desperate to land the rights to the premier league and are willing to pay £billions for them

for the middle east rights? i really dont see why they'd be interested in the UK rights, losing the footbal would kill Sky and if they want to build a business to replace the infrastructure and support to service the UK satelitte market, they'd be better off simply buying Sky.

actually you could apply that to Apple or Google, so much cash to burn.

 

[JJB]

for the middle east rights? i really dont see why they'd be interested in the UK rights, losing the footbal would kill Sky and if they want to build a business to replace the infrastructure and support to service the UK satelitte market, they'd be better off simply buying Sky.

actually you could apply that to Apple or Google, so much cash to burn.

Because Al Jezeera is available in the UK, I have the Al Jezeera sports package. They will aquire the Middle East rights in teh next 12 months, then they are looking to European and UK rights. Sky is much bigger than the UK though and far too important to murdoch. The US is where sky makes it's $$$, not the UK, he would never sell to Al Jazeera.

 

[clapham_gull]

for the middle east rights? i really dont see why they'd be interested in the UK rights, losing the footbal would kill Sky and if they want to build a business to replace the infrastructure and support to service the UK satelitte market, they'd be better off simply buying Sky.

actually you could apply that to Apple or Google, so much cash to burn.

Well, technically they don't need the infrastructure. If they got the rights, I doubt SKY would be in a position not to carry the channel.

Possibly legally.

The authorities take a very dim view of the owners of the infrastructure using it to stop a separate company from distributing their programmes.

However, probably not going to happen. Sky are so profitable.

 

[beorhthelm]

Sky is much bigger than the UK though and far too important to murdoch. The US is where sky makes it's $$$, not the UK, he would never sell to Al Jazeera.

Sky is UK only, i think you confuse with Newscorp which owns 30+% of BSkyB. as a listed company, Murdoch might not have much say in who buys the company (Newscorp failed to buy it out last spring).

However, probably not going to happen. Sky are so profitable.

well thats the thing, how profitable are they without the rump of the Premiership football to sell their premium packages around? i know its complicated, but could they be forced to carry a direct competitor that could say broadcast on the freesat option?

 

[clapham_gull]

.. i know its complicated, but could they be forced to carry a direct competitor that could say broadcast on the freesat option?

Yes I understand else they would risk being forced to split their programming and distribution into two separate companies.

 

[trueblue]

The Middle Eastern companies are considered very strong contenders to become the next major premier league broadcaster in the UK, that's definitely true.

 

[clapham_gull]

Sky is UK only,

They do use the brand name abroad though...

 

[Superphil]

They do use the brand name abroad though...

Do they? I know there is a Sky tv company in Italy, and also one in Greece, but they are in name only, I don't think they have anything to do with Sky in the uk.