Setanta In Trouble: ESPN to Save the Day?
By: Matt | June 5th, 2009
By now you’ve probably heard some of the mutterings that SPL broadcaster has found itself up that shitcreek that they call an “economic recession” without a paddle. Specifically the paddle in the form of the money that they owe the teams in the SPL for the right to broadcast their games. Uh oh. In a league where we can only dream of the big bundles of money that the debt ridden EPL gets from Setanta, the SPL is already short on cash at best and miserly at worst. Rather than looking at the absurd amount of money it is sending to the EPL (and with ESPN, Sky, and the beeb tripping over themselves to get the EPL TV rights, they’d probably be told to stuff it), Setanta is asking the SPL if it can get a cheaper price for the TV rights. Now you are probably like me and originally thought, “Why doesn’t the SPL tell Setanta to take a long walk off a short pier and that a deal is a deal?!” Makes sense, right? There’s a contract, and legally Setanta is bound to that. However, if Setanta goes under, then there is no one there to give the SPL and their clubs the important money that they need. Unlike the EPL, there aren’t suitors waiting in the wings to snatch up the SPL’s TV rights. So the SPL and Setanta are currently negotiating to try and find a deal that both can live with. However, the 12 SPL clubs still have not gotten the important money they’re owed from Setanta (Welcome to the SPL, St. Johnstone!). It’s gotten so bad that the SPL had to take 3 million quid per club from it’s own pocket and give it to the clubs until the Setanta deal is worked out. It certainly seems like rough times…
Yet, there might be hope yet. Mickey Mouse has always been one for a bargain and ESPN are reported to be circling Setanta with plans to pounce if the troubled Irish broadcaster plunges into administration. Speculation is that ESPN is very interested in some of the sports contracts that Setanta holds (i.e. The EPL), but apparently they would also have an interest in the SPL, realizing the attraction of both Celtic and Rangers. If things don’t work out with Setanta, hopefully there are other options available to the SPL, maybe some better options, however until then the SPL will be more cash strapped. What type of stance do you think the SPL should take? Should they go hardline with Setanta or be sympathetic?
Category: In the Press
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