BBC 2009/2010 Season

[Spanky Fox]

BBC to show 10 championship games next season and Sky to show 95 football league games, we should be on a few times,

Having lost out in the battle to retain television rights to England and FA Cup matches earlier this year, the BBC joined forces with Sky yesterday to clinch a shock £264 million three-season deal to screen live Football League Championship and Carling Cup games.

Although the move is a massive boost to the Football League's clubs - guaranteeing a 135 per cent increase on their current deal with ITV and Sky - media industry sources expressed surprise at the amount Sky and BBC had paid.

From the start of the 2009/10 season, the BBC will show 10 live Championship games a season as well as the Carling Cup final and two legs of the semi-finals.


While the content will undoubtedly help plug the gap left by the loss of England and FA Cup games, the BBC's decision to bid for Football League matches will be viewed by many in the media as a step down.
Although the Football League, Sky and the BBC refused to disclose how much each of the broadcasters had paid, a spokeswoman for the corporation described themselves as a "minor partner" in the deal.
It is thought the BBC have paid £15-20 million a season with Sky covering the rest of the £88 million-a-year deal.
The BBC will get the first choice of 10 matches throughout the season. It will be the first time the corporation have shown a live Football League match since the 1986 clash between Brighton and Portsmouth.
The BBC will simultaneously broadcast the Carling Cup final and have won the rights to show highlights of all Football League games. With the BBC having secured some of the League's internet and mobile phone rights, one of the options being considered is to carry the highlights online.
Sky will show 95 Football League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy matches a season, including the three end-of-season play-off finals at Wembley.
Early estimates suggest that each Championship club will receive just under £3 million a season - a considerable increase on the £1.2 million they are currently paid.
It is certainly a far cry from the aftermath of the collapse of ITV Digital in 2002 which left the League facing a financial a crisis after the company pulled the plug on its £105 million-a-year deal.
League chairman Lord Brian Mawhinney warned that the new deal would do little to close the gap between the Championship and the Premier League, where even relegated clubs are guaranteed around £30 million from their new three-year TV deal.
He said: "I inherited a pretty shell-shocked league following ITV Digital. The gap is enormous between the Premier League and the Championship. Everyone knows that. The solidarity payment we agreed with the Premier League and our new sponsorship deal with Coca-Cola helps and now we have a new record TV deal. That will help close the gulf but it will still be enormous."
Mawhinney also welcomed the return of live Football League action to the BBC. "For the first time in a long time, we will have terrestrial coverage as well as pay-TV coverage."

 

[Leigh]

That's news from a while ago! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2325132/BBC-pile-in-with-joint-Sky-deal.html But thanks for bringing it up as I remembered it vaguely but couldn't think of the actual figures.

I'm guessing the BBC's top choices will be the playoff matches.

Interesting that BBC will now have the football league highlights as well, hope they do a proper programme rather than just sticking them online.

 

[Profondo Rosso]

Is BBC having FL highlights as well? While the PL is going to ITV? Im sure i heard this is going to happen, but not sure when

 

[Leigh]

BBC still have the Prem highlights next season: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/match_of_the_day/5060828.stm

 

[Profondo Rosso]

BBC still have the Prem highlights next season: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/match_of_the_day/5060828.stm

ok, thanks :icon_wink

 

[Willlow]

Doesnt the BBC get the Champions League soon??

 

[drummindefender]

I haven't heard that myself willlow. Though the more coverage the BBC gets the better imo, as ITV are shocking.

 

[Leigh]

Have to agree with that, The Premiership they had the last year we were up was terrible.

 

[Graz]

BBC has the best coverage I reckon, closely followed by Sky... ITV are way down, only just above Channel 5!

Wish BBC would get even more stuff. 105 Football League games being shown sounds good... and hopefully we'll be on a few times if we're doing well next season.

Whoever said that BBC's first choices are likely to be the playoffs, I doubt it as it says Sky will continue to show the JPT and the Playoffs...

 

[Profondo Rosso]

ITV highlights are better than SKY highlights though. Because at least they actually show the highlights instead of the odd goal followed by 40 minutes of ranting about referees :icon_roll

 

[Leigh]

Whoever said that BBC's first choices are likely to be the playoffs, I doubt it as it says Sky will continue to show the JPT and the Playoffs...

Well it says playoff finals, leaving the semi's up for grabs.

Lee Hoos was saying that there was no money for getting up into the Championship, £3m a year can't be sniffed at.

 

[Motown Fox]

Well hopefully Hanson and Laurenson wont be taking the pi$$ out of Gary Lineker too often then if we are on next season

 

[highland fox]

Have they got the Boat Race back though ? this is what we need to know ?

 

[Graz]

Have they got the Boat Race back though ? this is what we need to know ?

Who's got it at the minute?

shITV?

 

[bocadillo]

Who's got it at the minute?

shITV?

ITV did 2009, but it's due to be back at the BBC in 2010.

 

[MHS]

So long as the BBC keep the snooker, I'll be a happy bunny.

 

[Han]

ITV highlights are better than SKY highlights though. Because at least they actually show the highlights instead of the odd goal followed by 40 minutes of ranting about referees :icon_roll

The Championship is a terrible programme.

 

[bocadillo]

The Championship is a terrible programme.

It's the best coverage that the lower divisions has ever had.

 

[glyn]

The Championship is a terrible programme.

Big League weekend 2 is far better in terms of analysis and time spent on the lower leagues

 

[Joe_Fox]

I prefer saturday kitchen