Don't forget BT have their priviledge like the bbc do, every bastard in the country with a phone line (outside of an armpit hell hole somewhere that nobody cares about, I've forgotten where it is) gives BT about £17 a month I believe it is. It's hardly comparable to a sky subscription but I bet their customer base stretches far further and is definitely more future proofed than sky.
The FA and the clubs are so far up there own arses they can't see by lowering prices they'll improve there 'product'. At the moment the working class fans who generally create the atmosphere are being priced out. The prices are attracting tourists and people who sit there wanting to entertained. Full grounds with good atmospheres look great on TV and to sponsors. The more you invest in grassroots the more will be want to be involved in football. That may be as a player, supporter or someone who purchases satellite TV to watch games.
Sky TV last year were in over 10 million homes, which is about 40% of households, and provided the internet in over 5 million. The biggest reason for people switching their phone/internet to Sky is the on demand TV you get through your HD box, although even the £5/mth extra you can pay on Sky Go to be able to download rather than just stream things in your phone/tablet/laptop had almost 1 million subscribers The switching isn't for the sport, so BT competing with it by trying to offer sport is bizarre when they should be trying to match the TV/on demand service. BT only had 1 million customers for their TV service in total, and even including free subscribers only had 3 million for BT Sports (can be bought through Virgin, Sky, and an online app). That's bound to drop when they start charging their internet customers for it next season. On the new TV deal, even if they retain the 3 million BT Sports subscribers they need them to be paying £10 a month just to cover the PL money. On top of that they'll have CL and Europa League rights to pay, as well as everything going to the other companies. Throw in that once they start charging for the channel there's no reason for any of the subscribers to remain with them for their phone/internet.
True. Also, gate revenue will also be rendered nothing more than pocket change. If the Overseas PL tv rights come in over what is expected then each PL club from 2016/17 will get an estimated £150m per season without anything else. Who needs paying fans ? Let em all in for nowt and they can spend there wonga on merchandise and refreshments.
