Bloomberg Businessweek News From Bloomberg Premier League Begins Tender to Sell Soccer Rights in Americas By Tariq Panja on September 21, 2012 http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...gins-tender-to-sell-soccer-rights-in-americas The Premier League opened the bidding for broadcasters looking to show soccer’s richest league in the Americas from 2013 as the English competition takes advantage of growing U.S. interest in the sport. England’s top division expects the sale for five territories -- the U.S., Canada, South and Central America, the Caribbean and Brazil -- to be completed in about a month. Executives from teams including Manchester United and Liverpool forecast an increase on the 1.4 billion pounds ($2.3 billion) the league makes from overseas broadcasters under the current three-year contract. In June, the Premier League announced a 70 percent increase in the domestic rights after British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY) and BT Group Plc (BT/A) agreed to pay 3.02 billion pounds for three years of games in the 2013-14 to 2015-16 seasons. The bidding for the U.S. rights, which are held by Fox Entertainment Group, may attract offers from Walt Disney Co.’s ESPN unit and Qatar-backed BeIn Sport among the possible bidders. The U.K.’s Daily Mail reported Comcast Corp.’s NBC Sports may also try to acquire the rights. ESPN currently sublicenses some games from Fox. Qatar-owned BeIn Sport started English and Spanish-language channels in the U.S. in August. The broadcaster earlier this year started in France, where it owns rights including the domestic league, Champions League and European soccer championship. Interest in soccer is growing in the U.S., where a quarter of the Premier League’s owners are based. American viewers for this year’s European Championship doubled, according to event organizer UEFA, and a study by ESPN showed soccer to be the nation’s second-favorite sport after professional football among 18-24 year olds. Rogers Sportsnet currently holds the rights in Canada, Fox Latin broadcasts matches in South and Central America and IMC shows games in the Caribbean. The tender is the first time the Premier League is selling exclusive rights in Brazil, which will host the next World Cup in 2014.
Fox is gonna have to really overpay to keep the rights. FSC has been huge in the growth of soccer in this country, would be weird if the EPL wasn't on there.
As long as beIn doesn't get it ill be happy. I like Espns coverage of the games they do get. Still think fsc would be the best, i don't know that they will be willing to bid as much as those oil money sobs from Qatar though
Would be great if no one got the EPL rights in America. Then, I wouldn't have to listen to Americans tell me how big a "manu" fan they are and then we could get rid of the Alabama, Lakers, Chelsea fans
I think that is what will happen. All the FSC game broadcasts (their studio guys not included) are essentially just feeds of the sky sports productions.
Several Networks Submit Bids For U.S. Rights To EPL Ahead Of Today's Deadline By John Ourand & Christopher Botta Published October 18, 2012 Font Size Resize Small Resize Normal Resize Large | Print | Share | Will Fox Soccer be able to retain its U.S. rights to EPL games? Today is the last day U.S. networks can submit bids to pick up rights to the EPL, according to several sources who say they do not know when the EPL will formally announce a winner. ESPN and Fox Soccer currently hold the U.S. TV rights, and sources said both networks have submitted bids. NBC Universal Sports also has submitted a bid for the rights. Sources say Al Jazeera-owned BeIN Sport, IMG and Discovery Networks were considering submitting bids, as well. The EPL last sold its rights three years ago to Fox Soccer. The channel, in turn, sublicensed about 80 games per season to ESPN. The two media companies have submitted a similar joint bid this week. The package is especially important to Fox Sports, which runs Fox Soccer. "English Premier League is truly one of the world’s elite organizations and the level of soccer is unparalleled,” said Fox Soccer Exec VP & GM David Nathanson. “Fox has increased the league’s U.S. exposure tremendously during this current three year cycle, and we hope to be able to continue to grow the league and sport in America going forward." Fox Soccer VP/National Ad Sales Mike Petruzzi, a former exec at SUM, said EPL broadcasts have been instrumental in selling sponsorships at the network. “It takes time,” said Petruzzi in an interview late this summer. “There were times when it wasn’t easy to get in the door. But when we meet with CMOs and heads of agencies, everyone’s a soccer fan. With the EPL now, there’s a great level of awareness.” NBC BID NOT AS STRONG AS EXPECTED: While NBC Sports submitted a bid, sources said it was not as strong as some were expecting. NBC’s cable channel, NBC Sports Network, is in the market for more live sports. But NBC’s F1 deal, which was announced earlier this week, will fill some of the same windows NBC Sports would need for the EPL, sources said. BeIN Sport has been aggressive in picking up international soccer rights to top European leagues, as the net has deep pockets. But there is a question whether it would have enough weekend morning windows to accommodate EPL, given its existing deals with La Liga and Serie A. There is also a question of whether EPL would sell its rights to a channel that has little distribution and is relegated to sports tiers. Discovery for the past several years has made noise about trying to add sports to some of its channels like Velocity, a channel targeting the 25-54 demo. It is not clear how serious Discovery will be in trying to pick up EPL rights. IMG did not return a phone call by deadline, but its interest in EPL almost certainly would be to sublicense the games to interested networks.
they going to create another channel or something? No way they can keep all those rights to one station
FSC/ESPN keeps the same deal, NBCSN does a couple Bundesliga games every weekend, we all win...or at least I hope that's what happens
I can see their new Velocity channel now, "Tune in after West Coast Customs for Swansea City vs. Aston Villa".
Rob Stone @RobStoneONFOX Anticipating word on who earned the US TV rights to the #BPL any moment now.
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl US Premier League TV rights being decided today, announcement expected early next week. PL had asked for resubmissions after Oct 18 deadline
Ourand_SBJ: SBD: Fox and ESPN have dropped out of the EPL bidding process. NBCU is the clear front runner. BeIN the big question mark.
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl FOX statement confirms Premier League has decided to go with different media partner for 2013-16. Had bid with ESPN. Surprising.
"All your soccer belongs to us" Rip Fox soccer The good news is beIN will probably have like 2-3 channels by then
Grant Wahl @GrantWahl FOX still has UEFA Champions League rights through 2014-15 and World Cups 18-22. ESPN-USA continues losing soccer TV rights. Collapse Reply Retweeted Favorite
I chuckle at this supposed conflict the F1 coverage. Here are the conflicting dates from 2012 and 2013 F1 seasons so far. April 22, May 13 (Final EPL matchday), September 2, September 23, November 4, May 12 2013 (final EPL matchday). April 22 early match was Everton/United May 13 was the final EPL matchday September 2 was Liverpool/Arsenal September 23 was Liverpool/United November 4 is QPR/Reading May 12 is the final EPL matchday Fox would show several races a year on tape delay on the regular FOX instead of Speed. NBC could easily do so or move the "marquee" matchups to NBC to avoid conflict. The best solution is to cut the post race down 15 minutes and give the EPL matchup a 15 minute buildup.
I just don't trust anything related to NBC Sports. I'll wait till I see it, but Olympics, Wimbledon, and French Open were all tape delayed here.
NBC winning is also good for MLS as they would promote a lot during EPL games (when both are in season). $23 million a year plus sublicensing 80 games to ESPN was a steal for Fox.
I'm pretty sure live programming is written into the contracts. NBC does a great job with the NFL and the NHL.
I will agree with that. The change is just making me nervous. Fox has to go with Bundesliga at this point.
With the money numbers being thrown around and the rising popularity I think it is safe to say access will be fine.
I think they'll keep an incarnation of Fox Soccer Plus (almost like the old Fox Sports World). They can show the 'Ship, SPL, maybe get Bundesliga or Eredivisie, show some rugby as well. End up showing some CL games on that new Fox Sports One, Fox Soccer whatever it becomes, FSN.
MartinArsenalFC The good news is that NBC Sports doesn’t have many other major properties, so will promote the hell out of EPL. 10/26/12 6:15 PM