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Sky’s Celtic Fan Blackout This Weekend Is Shocking And Indefensibly Stupid.

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It’s been a few weeks since we learned that the Celtic game in the coming weekend would not be shown on any television station. Sky has taken the decision to show the game between Hibs and Hearts; I understand it, but it sticks in the craw just the same.

There are less than 1800 of our fans going to that game. Our support, as a whole, is not going to see it. Sky’s stupid decision is not only a joke and an insult to our fans but it’s self-defeating nonsense as well. You would think that technology didn’t exist.

There are streaming platforms. Sky has done business with them, and made joint bids with them. They could have let the clubs market this game to the fans, for a cut.

They could have given games they didn’t want to Prime or some other organisation … they are greedy and arrogant and would rather fans suffer just to hold onto monopoly control over a TV contract they don’t even rate that highly.

That’s what makes this worse; knowing that Sky doesn’t even care about its Scottish audience. They could have let this one go to the highest outside bidder. They could have given it away to Prime as something they didn’t want … instead they’ve closed it down to everyone else like a kid hoarding a ball he’s never going to play with anyway.

Not only is it just wrong, but it’s plain daft. This is a sellable product, a bankable asset, and nobody is allowed to make something out of it? That’s just pointless. Sky could have done a deal with the streaming firms, made it another pay-per-view and made money off that and the adverts … for doing virtually nothing. And they’ve chosen not to.

Sky has a stranglehold on this contract for the next few years. When it comes up for renegotiation there has to be some thought given to a game-by-game service for those fans who are willing to pay for one, and if someone other than Sky offers it then Sky should be shut down and shut out. Because Scottish football fans have surely had enough of this.

Celtic fans, who were treated like crap by them last year, certainly have.

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  • prooney1969@gmail.com says:

    I ditched Sky Sports because of Kris Boyd and pish like this. I still use their other services though. TV, broadband, mobile.

    I think it’s time to call BT.

  • owen dolan says:

    James we all know that sky Scotland is run by ex rangers shareholder although he lied when he said he did not have shares in the old defunct rangers.Wonder if the company that owns sky tv know what is going on at sky Scotland they probably don’t.The company must know that sky is loosing millions by allowing sky to pour money into sevco rangers and thus loads of Scottish Football supporters do not subscribe to sky Scotland as they are sick of what sky through Jim White do for sevco/rangers.

  • Seppington says:

    The pandemic showed, if anything, that clubs could operate their own PPV services. In this day and age there is no need for a full league domestic TV deal that screws over heaps of clubs. Allow the individual clubs to set up PPV for matches to be streamed within Scotland and let the SFA/SPFL negotiate collective foreign broadcast packages.
    We’ll end up with SKY again for a pittance though as there isn’t a single functional brain cell in Scottish football admin…

  • Benjamin says:

    I’m not going to hold my breath for any major changes, but it would be nice if the SPFL was taking notes when MLS recently announced their new deal earlier this summer. Something like that is badly needed in Scotland.

    For those not aware of the particulars, the broadcast rights in MLS are a complete mess. Some of the matches were broadcast nationally, and the rest are left for the clubs to strike deals on their own with regional broadcasters (something not really relevant to the SPFL). But broadcast income has been very low for MLS since its inception in 1996 as they’re basically the 5th or 6th most lucrative league (NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NASCAR). Additionally, fans have to pay absurd fees across a number of platforms if they want to follow their team each week. Sound familiar? So MLS did something very creative – they sold the *global* streaming rights on a non-exclusive basis to Apple for every game including cups and CONCACAF Champions League. Apple is paying the league something like $50M base fee per season plus a prorated share of subscriptions over a specified threshold. The league in turn is responsible for producing the shows and is allowed to continue to sell broadcast rights to traditional linear partners. For fans, it’s a one stop shop for getting every match at a reasonable cost. For the league, they ensure every match is available in a crowded marketplace and while the upfront payment leaves a lot to be desired (compared to the billions or hundreds of millions other leagues get), the deal has a significant profit share component if fans flock to the service. And nothing in the deal precludes the league or the clubs from continuing to sell broadcast rights to traditional players.

  • Pan says:

    Look – just hit Sky where it hurts.
    Don’t subscribe to them.
    Seppington has the correct idea with our own PPV. Get on it Celtic.

  • Derek Mcwhinnie says:

    Agree 100%

  • Starman says:

    Exactly m8, its on IPTV.. Fuk Sky!!

  • Stevie Bhoy says:

    James
    Please please please ignore sky tv
    They treat Celtic fc with utter contempt always have always will.
    Do not give them any of your energy or interest
    You ,I ,and every other Celtic fan can watch the game on various different streaming sites. Ignore sky totally your life will become more calm and happier.
    Hail hail

  • scouse bhoy says:

    a despicable organisation corrupt to the core but in a bizarre way their attitude towards us this weekend is a blessing in disguise a 3pm kick off on a saturday. it will suit the travelling support down to a tee.

  • Droopy McCool says:

    Keep your eye on the scheduling as well, so far 3 Sundays for us, none for sevco.

  • Gerrard Duffin says:

    Dortmundplaysametimeaschelseaandliverpoolbt1230satskyengland

  • Gerrard Duffin says:

    Celtictv

  • Gerrard Duffin says:

    Awaygamesshouidbeonbut1230satskydontcare

  • Gerrard Duffin says:

    Onsundaysceltickickoff12epl2and430sky

  • Denis Rodgers says:

    No Sky in my house, now or ever again!!
    Any money paid by Scottish subscribers only goes to making English clubs richer!!!

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