The Political Economy of Football V2

Uefa is looking at developing its own streaming service to show Champions League games as the TV sports rights boom shows signs of flagging. Broadcasters such as Sky are increasingly unwilling to spend even bigger sums as it becomes harder to push costs on to financially stretched viewers. Even big tech groups like Amazon, which have joined the bidding, are not prepared to fork out more. Enders Analysis, a media analysis group, said in a report last month that the 'TV rights boom [in football] is ending. Subscriber growth has slowed or reversed, and retail prices are subject to downward pressure.' A streaming service could be provided by expanding the UefaTV online site. Such a move would represent a radical shift from the current model of selling screening rights to traditional broadcasters in deals worth €3.25bn to Uefa worldwide. Uefa would probably start by experimenting in a few markets outside Europe where broadcasting deals are worth no more than €5m - €10m a year...

The Premier League have not found it easy to find a new chief executive after Richard Scudamore retired last November after 19 years in the post. The first two choices, both media executives, turned down the job. Head hunters Spencer Stuart have been replaced by Russell Reynolds who are looking beyond TV executives to candidates with experience in big business. General management skills have become more important. Scudamore's great achievement was the mega bucks TV deals, but in a sense they are up and running and domestically actually in decline, although that is offset by increased overseas earnings. The TV rights are crucial to the league's business model, but there is confidence that current league executives such as Paul Mohair, director of broadcasting, can be relied on to run the broadcasting deals process. Head hunters are also said to be seeking a 'politician' type who can broker deals with regulators in the UK and Europe. This follows increasing criticis...