Many of you probably realise that the English leagues have sold their rights for an astronomical 5.5 Billion this season, much of it coming from overseas. However, one major issue is that the ‘buyers’ haven’t managed to sell their rights on to the local stations.
In South East Asia we have had StarSports (part of ESPN – now FoxSports) air the football for the past 5 years. This year the football will be on a channel called beIN Sports. The problem is beIN sports isn’t broadcast in any of the following: Taiwan, HK, Vietnam, Cambodia, China or Philippines. Indonesia have the channel available only in Jakarta and Thailand have the channel but dont have enough new boxes to go around!
So, my thinking was:
If English football will be unavailable for at least the next two seasons to the normal man in South East Asia, isn’t this a great time for the Scottish to get in on the act? Why couldn’t we OFFER the rights to Scottish Live Football for the next few seasons to FoxSportsAsia (the most available sports channel in South East Asia) for FREE. Yes, for FREE. Hell, why don’t we just throw in the broadcast costs for FREE as well?
Just think of the exposure we would have in SouthEast Asia. Just think of the MILLIONS of extra viewers for Scottish football. Think of the extra shirt sales alone…
In fact, maybe this is what Charles Green had in mind when he started talking about a 500m global fan base… After all, Man Utd claim 350m in this region alone!
And you never know… without ANY competition people might actually realise watching Scottish Football is not all that bad, and in a couple of years time we might actually be able to CHARGE for the product.
As St.Johnstone and others decided last year, it is time to ensure future generations grow up watching football. The free kids initiatives seem to be creating the next generation of football fans. The opportunity is there RIGHT NOW (not in 5 years time – NOW) for the new Scottish Professional Football League to create a whole new generation of Scottish fans and take them from under the noses of our money grabbing neighbors to the south.
A pipe dream? Probably… But it would put Scottish Football on the Asian map for minimal expense…
Stewart Regan can contact me now and I’ll even help him set it up. He’d have saved himself a lot of embarrassment if he’d listened to me last year…
by
Single Cell
( originally posted on Single Cells blog – http://saintinasia.wordpress.
Great idea buddy, will they listen? nope.
Oh well.
The problem with that proposal is that it would require the SFA/SFPL to have vision and foresight, and the ability and willingness to promote the game in Scotland…ergo nae chance
Desi Mond you are a wasted talent and talk far to much sense! U never know the owners that be may take notice……watch this space!
And if the SFA/SFPL take heed of this, you could be in for a bumper bonus. Doubt if they will though!
missing one glaring point, the real reason they wont listen, the only thing that matters to the scottish fitba heirarchy ! theres nae rangers in the top flight. it should be obvious by now that the only thing that matters to the brethren is getting some sort of entity with the rangers brand back where they believe they belong at the very top of scottish fitba coz its armafeckingeddon withoot them. nevermind trying to grow and evolve the game in scotland theres nae manky mob at the forefront ! rant over otherwise its a good idea aye.
……..And the Pulitzer Prize for brilliant ideas goes to Single Cell……..The Sitting-On-Your-Hands-and-Doing-Nothing-but-Still-Getting-Massive-Bonuses Prize goes to the suits of Scottish.
H H