Premier League 2016-2019 Rights

Virgin Media have today formally asked Ofcom to stop the auction whilst their investigation is in process.

BBC retain Premier League highlights
http://www.premierleague.com/en-gb/news/article.290115-premier-league-awards-UK-highlights-rights-to-bbc.html

Seems that after all the talk, ITV never put in a bid.

ITV may have played the old trick of saying they would bid for highlights, just to push up the price the BBC paid.

It also gives a bit of hope that the Prem may keep the live rights with Sky/BT.

Hugely overpriced as is everything with the Premier League - that cash could essentially fund BBC3 for 3-4 years though I suspect in a direct choice between MOTD and BBC3 the former would win the votes of most licence fee payers.

Undoubtedly good news for football at the BBC and in general - not so sure it's good news for BBC Sport in general with some crucial flagship contracts up for renewal in the next few years.

Has everyone mist this point?



Is it going out at 10pm or 11.20pm ( 11.50 in Scotland)

According to the report on the actual FA website it is going out at 10pm!

I presume this new magazine programme will simply be a rebadged and edited version of the existing Premier League World international rights magazine. Can't see it infringing on Football Focus territory.

What does the 10pm broadcast mean for Newsnight on Wednesday's?

Nothing - it'll be a 30 minute show. I would hope too the iPlayer situation is fully resolved and they don't have to wait until Tuesdays to put the show online.

Reading reports online, it seems that the payment for the deal is only 13pct up on the 2013-2016 one, if so it seems reasonable considering broadcast inflation.

That's more in the pay TV market though. A 13% increase on rights they've had no competition for in a decade at a time when the corporation is having to make drastic cuts isn't so easy to swallow.