Coronavirus and the Scottish Championship

[ScottyG]

18 minutes ago, virginton said:

Well no because we simply don't know what the critical numbers are here at all. Firstly, we don't know the extent of a probable government support package. It's only their shan social distancing requirement that is causing the problem in the first place so it is incumbent on them to at least partly pick up the tab: for professional football as much as every other affected leisure industry going into 20/21. Which is incentivised by the fact that there is also an election in Scotland scheduled for twelve months' time. Today's tabloids also suggest that the SFA might be prepared to back the scheme by taking out a commercial loan; we also don't know the level of additional funds that could be released at FIFA or UEFA level. So you're 'solving' an equation right now despite not knowing several of the most important inputs to make this scheme viable: I don't think any executive thinks that the SPFL clubs can do this scheme off their own backs alone. 

All of these buts, what ifs and howls of protest surrounding these schemes simply underline the fact that the most practical solution is to ditch social distancing in favour of a better alternative such as obligatory mask use. Which the English government is already finding out right now as it tries and fails to reopen schools, so we shouldn't be surprised at all if the government backtracks on this between now and the autumn.  

Well actually we do know what the government support packages are because they've been available for businesses to apply for some weeks now. You may think that the social distancing strategy is a sham (I'm assuming that shan is a mis-type)  so good luck convincing the rest of the country, government ministers and medical experts of that. Face masks have not been enforced as yet purley because the experts are worried that it will encourage people to relax on social distancing. Don't know what "executives" your talking about but are any of them interested in football below the top flight with an interest to TV companies?

[ScottyG]

3 minutes ago, craigkillie said:

I suspect Sky Sports will not be in the tiniest bit bothered if Queen of the South v Alloa is streamed live.

No? I'm sure their business model will be to maximise the paying viewers they get.

[RandomGuy.]

7 minutes ago, ScottyG said:

No? I'm sure their business model will be to maximise the paying viewers they get.

Sky dont do PPV for football, so surely theyll only be bothered if they think subscribers are going to dump their Sky subscription for Scottish Championship games?

[RandomGuy.]

7 minutes ago, ScottyG said:

No? I'm sure their business model will be to maximise the paying viewers they get.

Sky dont do PPV for football, so surely theyll only be bothered if they think subscribers are going to dump their Sky subscription for Scottish Championship games?

[ScottyG]

1 minute ago, RandomGuy. said:

Sky dont do PPV for football, so surely theyll only be bothered if they think subscribers are going to dump their Sky subscription for Scottish Championship games?

 

1 minute ago, RandomGuy. said:

Sky dont do PPV for football, so surely theyll only be bothered if they think subscribers are going to dump their Sky subscription for Scottish Championship games?

So you don't think that if the only football available is on Sky TV they won't be trying to sell as many subscriptions as possible? You sound as though you think  Sky and the other media organisations have a benevelent side.

[ScottyG]

Why were clubs not allowed to stream live games to UK subscribers in seasons past?

[RandomGuy.]

6 minutes ago, ScottyG said:

So you don't think that if the only football available is on Sky TV they won't be trying to sell as many subscriptions as possible? You sound as though you think  Sky and the other media organisations have a benevelent side.

Well BT are showing games today so Sky wont be the only channel showing games.

Championship clubs have live streamed their matches all season without Sky bothering, so I doubt they would suddenly begin to care now.

4 minutes ago, ScottyG said:

Why were clubs not allowed to stream live games to UK subscribers in seasons past?

Same reason Sky couldnt broadcast games at 3 on a Saturday...

[vikingTON]

25 minutes ago, ScottyG said:

Well actually we do know what the government support packages are because they've been available for businesses to apply for some weeks now. You may think that the social distancing strategy is a sham (I'm assuming that shan is a mis-type)  so good luck convincing the rest of the country, government ministers and medical experts of that. Face masks have not been enforced as yet purley because the experts are worried that it will encourage people to relax on social distancing. Don't know what "executives" your talking about but are any of them interested in football below the top flight with an interest to TV companies?

1) We don't know what government support will be available in late summer/autumn. Which is the relevant time period for restarting the season. If clubs cannot host matches with paying customers then the government will likely have to support the league with extra funds.

2) Social distancing has only been in place for two months and is already being watered down where it suits the government to do so, such as in English schools. More and more of these fights going forward will be enough to ditch this shan policy: it's not a question of if but rather when that happens.

Oh and let's not forget that the same medical health experts that you're venerating right now were quite happy for Scottish football matches to continue up to and including an Old Firm game on March 15, before the SPFL suspended fixtures itself. Because they argued back then that outdoor events posed a less significant risk than having crowds in enclosed spaces like pubs. I expect a similar argument to get pulled out again on the downside of this outbreak curve.

3) There is quite clearly an interest in starting the 20/21 season at all levels of the SPFL with the minimum adjustments to the schedule that clubs deem necessary. Which is why have the hub proposal as well as Morton's chief executive setting out the three step return that clubs are thinking about as the way forward right now. There is not going to be an indefinite suspension until all those alternatives are exhausted: that is the job of every chief executive in the SPFL. 

Edited May 16, 2020 by vikingTON

[ScottyG]

1 minute ago, RandomGuy. said:

Well BT are showing games today so Sky wont be the only channel showing games.

Championship clubs have live streamed their matches all season without Sky bothering, so I doubt they would suddenly begin to care now.

Same reason Sky couldnt broadcast games at 3 on a Saturday...

Which championship clubs have done this for UK viewers? If there are no games with spectators then that reason for Sky not to broadcast at that time will no longer be there and if Sky are allowed to broadcast then I'm sure they will try their damnest to tie the SPFL down to exclusivity.

[Skyline Drifter]

16 minutes ago, RandomGuy. said:

Championship clubs have live streamed their matches all season without Sky bothering, so I doubt they would suddenly begin to care now.

Whit? Not in UK they havent. Its a breach of licensing rights.

[Monkey Tennis]

41 minutes ago, craigkillie said:

I suspect Sky Sports will not be in the tiniest bit bothered if Queen of the South v Alloa is streamed live.

Probably.

But far too few other people will be bothered enough for such a thing to be remotely viable anyway.

[Guest SJP79]

16 minutes ago, ScottyG said:

Which championship clubs have done this for UK viewers? If there are no games with spectators then that reason for Sky not to broadcast at that time will no longer be there and if Sky are allowed to broadcast then I'm sure they will try their damnest to tie the SPFL down to exclusivity.

I think any games clubs stream are only available to fans not in the uk. 

[Rudolph Hucker]

1 hour ago, virginton said:

Well no because we simply don't know what the critical numbers are here at all. Firstly, we don't know the extent of a probable government support package. It's only their shan social distancing requirement that is causing the problem in the first place so it is incumbent on them to at least partly pick up the tab: for professional football as much as every other affected leisure industry going into 20/21. Which is incentivised by the fact that there is also an election in Scotland scheduled for twelve months' time. Today's tabloids also suggest that the SFA might be prepared to back the scheme by taking out a commercial loan; we also don't know the level of additional funds that could be released at FIFA or UEFA level. So you're 'solving' an equation right now despite not knowing several of the most important inputs to make this scheme viable: I don't think any executive thinks that the SPFL clubs can do this scheme off their own backs alone. 

All of these buts, what ifs and howls of protest surrounding these schemes simply underline the fact that the most practical solution is to ditch social distancing in favour of a better alternative such as obligatory mask use. Which the English government is already finding out right now as it tries and fails to reopen schools, so we shouldn't be surprised at all if the government backtracks on this between now and the autumn.  

You're free to wait for those "packages if you want; meanwhile the more sensible and realistic amongst us will apply the rule of common sense and agree that it is highly unlikely to be workable in Scotland. 

  You really do have a bat up your knickers about social distancing, don't you? Can't think why - it's not like it's had any impact at all on your sex life. 

[johnnydun]

4 minutes ago, SJP79 said:

I think any games clubs stream are only available to fans not in the uk. 

Did UEFA not change a law recently to let clubs show 3pm kick offs?

[Guest SJP79]

4 minutes ago, johnnydun said:

Did UEFA not change a law recently to let clubs show 3pm kick offs?

Ive not heard that but looking around several clubs websites regarding club tv most state the 3pm games are audio only unless your outside the uk and ireland, full matches available to view later.

[Skyline Drifter]

24 minutes ago, johnnydun said:

Did UEFA not change a law recently to let clubs show 3pm kick offs?

UEFA removed the blanket ban on live broadcasts at 3pm but thats to allow the broadcasters to show games live if they can get them on. Its still a breach of licensing rights for clubs to stream games in the UK at any time.

[Guest]

33 minutes ago, ScottyG said:

 

So you don't think that if the only football available is on Sky TV they won't be trying to sell as many subscriptions as possible? You sound as though you think  Sky and the other media organisations have a benevelent side.

SKY have actually very little in the way of football rights and their offering is in fact poor with dross like the MLS taking up their weekend prime time spots.

German and French Football rights are held by BT as are the European Football rights.

Spanish, Italian & Portuguese rights are held by PREMIER.

Sky's contempt for it's viewers is now pushing more and more people towards IPTV and who can blame them.

[johnnydun]

1 minute ago, Skyline Drifter said:

UEFA removed the blanket ban on live broadcasts at 3pm but thats to allow the broadcasters to show games live if they can get them on. Its still a breach of licensing rights for clubs to stream games in the UK at any time.

Thank you.

[Rob1885]

Jason Leitch pretty positive about chances of playing in front of fans in some capacity next season, felt the hub idea is definitely a goer.

[Homer Thompson]

Probably.
But far too few other people will be bothered enough for such a thing to be remotely viable anyway.

Depends on what you mean by viable.

It won't replace match day income, that's for certain. It should, though, run at a profit compared to the cost of providing the service so if clubs are forced to play behind closed doors it would be a viable income stream which would be better than nothing.