Loads of pubs already provide this service, whether it's affecting lower league clubs I don't know. IIRC Sunderland's chairman or someone or other on their board of directors, was moaning about it hitting their attendances. I mix and match between pubs, my TV set and internet links. I watched about 50 games last season (including pre-season friemdlies) I reckon on top of the six or so times I went down the Lane in person. I think, I've only missed one game so far this season, the Stoke one. It's all out there, just about getting the best value. I have to say, considering how expensive going to a game is, it's quite surprising how well football attendances have held up, when as I say you can pretty well watch every Spurs game live these days without going to the match itself. Doubtless this also applies to the other big clubs in the country as well. The TV/internet access, not the crowds issue, as I have no figures on that. It's great that people still do flock to the Lane, OT, etc in their tens of thousands, will economics change this though one day?
HI PNP, they'll probably challenge the ruling, however it must worry them, even if for most domestic users they'll carry on getting their subscriptions in. I expect the smaller pubs to now be much more blatant about advertising their 3pm games, mostly they haven't advertised too much before, due to possible 'lawbreaking'. As I said though in my first post, what might really hit Sky if the big chains now 'go foreign' and start ditching Sky. Moreover some big chains don't show football ATM, partly because of the cost, if they can get it cheap and 'legal', well, look out Sky.
Sky will change the deal when they are next up for auction. There will be a way of structuring the deal so that this can't happen.
Can't see them ditching the Prem, PNP. The Prem and football in general is their key product and the one that made them successful. People would cancel in droves if there were no Prem on Sky, and advertisers would not be happy.
We'll see HD, Sky are already losing loads of their pub custom as independent landlords 'go foreign', I'm not sure exactly how Sky can prevent chains doing it either, if they're legally allowed to.
I'm surprised it hasn't happened sooner, due to the fact you can go on holiday to any European country around the Med and watch your team live on tv at 3 o/c. We're part of the European Union so the same has to apply to us. Rules for one and not the other does not get past the European court. Its about choice, I do not get the chance every Saturday to see Spurs at 3o/c, because a bunch of suits with no right say so! Bollocks to them! Why have I got to know the result before I get a chance to see the game in this country? Sky and the PL have basically created a monopoly, sorry, not happening in this day and age. They should count themselves lucky they've got away with it this long. You can bet they won't be moaning about all the extra advertising time to sell.
Hi LDL, such a difficulty might frighten the chains away, but I don't think it'll bother the average independent publican. I certainly expect to see even more small pubs going down the 'foreign route', and those that do it already more blatantly advertising that they do so. I remeber once upon a time, it was quite difficult to track down the pubs with 'dodgy boxes' and it was all a bit hush, hush. Now most of the publicans doing it don't tend to give a ****, and they'll be even less bothered now.
Fair comments notso, of course the PL and others will claim it's to protect live attendances. They may have a point, they may not. As, unlike West Ham, we do genuinely have a waiting list for STs (see my other thread , it probably won't affect Spurs too much. But the more you can easily see 3pm games in England the more that clubs with flaky fanbases will worry. As I say, I rarely miss a Spurs game be it at 3pm on Saturday or 8pm on Monday. However a lot of people still aren't clued up on the technology, or they just don't like watching games indoors, the pub however is an easy trip for most, people don't even have to switch the set on I can foresee more & more people finding it more comfy and alcohol-friendly to stay in the pub and watch their team, rather than going online to buy tickets in advance etc, or even turning up on the day, as you can with some clubs.
What pisses me off most is that the games are broadcast in front of a bunch of twats in the studio. How many people watch Gillette Soccer Saturday? restricted to watching a yellow band scrolling across and the antics of Jeff and Co. Just put the bloody game on!
Hi notso the same argument would apply, that the Prem would say that isn't as detrimental to attendances at the games as wholesale broadcast of 3pm games. Personally, it amazes me so many people watch Soccer Saturday when they could be following their own team on stream, at a pub, wherever, if they can't afford to go to the game in person. Still a lot of teams are boring and mundane compared to the mighty Spurs, so maybe the yellow band is more interesting than their team. What did Lineker say about Wimbledon and Ceefax
I don't watch streams often because the quality is usually pretty lousy and I get to a lot of games. If they're on down the pub I'll watch them or even Soccer Saturday down the pub is usually quite good.
Football is the peoples game, the formation of the PL has denied a lot of people the chance to see their team. SKY has changed football into a money making machine bringing high ticket prices, huge players wages, the dilution of Saturday at 3 pm as football time, and the unbalancing of the competition in the sport itself. Then there is FIFA Anything that disrupts this is all good as far as I'm concerned and if it brings back football to the people then so much the better.
To be fair to Sky though Spurf, a lot of grounds were half empty before they rejuvenated the Premier League. A large chunk of the current fans wouldn't even follow the game if it wasn't for Sky. They're far from perfect, but a lot of what you're prescribing to them isn't their fault.
There are some brilliant streams out there SF, but you have to pay for them, in my experience. The free ones tend to be crap. However the cost is minimal compared to a pub session or a Sky subscription. But obviously each to their own, I would always watch Spurs rather than Soccer Saturday, given the choice. Naturally, this new ruling may mean more games for you and others down the pub, if you don't like streams.
My point exactly LDL. However pub chains may well still care. If the chains do 'break free' and say 'stuff Sky, we're going foreign', that would be a massive problem for Sky I reckon. But hey, those clever people at Sky are doubtless working on options at this very moment.
Fair comments PNP, Sky have done a lot of good for football. However, I used to hate Gray and Keys (and Jamie Redknapp, before his dad came here, I mean what was that guy's problem with us!!!) soooooooo much, that over the years I turned vehemently anti-Sky. It's not so bad now that we don't have such blatant anti-Spurs bias on Sky, though I note they still get Gooners like Smith and Stuart Robson talking about us v Arsenal which is a ****ing disgrace. Overall, I give Sky a well done, but they are being beaten hands down by technology now. The worldwide broadcasting and therefore streaming of Prem games is impossible to stop now. Sky created Frankenstein and the monster is over the hill and faraway now.
