FIRST they proposed Project Big Picture, now they are contemplating a revamped European Premier League.
But amid the land-grab of opportunism from the Premier League giants there lies a huge opportunity for football after the carnage caused by Covid.
The fact Americans, such as the Glazers at Man Utd, are behind the power-play explains why the Big Six want a new European Premier LeagueCredit: PA:Press Association
The arrogance and cultural ignorance of the Big Six beggars belief but the fact that American owners are behind the power-plays perhaps explains it.
From the Glazers at Manchester United to Liverpool’s John Henry and Arsenal’s owner Stan Kroenke, they all share a certain attitude towards sport.
Robert Kraft, one of the most successful sports owners in American history with the NFL team New England Patriots and MLS side New England Revolution, was once asked: “Would you buy a Premier League side?”
His response couldn’t have been clearer: “I would never buy a team where relegation forms part of the arrangement.”
American ownership, driven by capitalism and financial meritocracy, is about monopolies and runs against the very nature of a unique pyramid that spawned the Premier League.
With respect to greater business brains than mine and more financially successful individuals than I… they just don’t get it.
Over the past few years I’ve wittered on and on about my ‘Netflix of Football’ idea.
Football could deliver its own content to a worldwide audience of easily 100million people at a tenner a month. That would create income of £12billion a year rather than £8.1bn every three years.
What the Americans don’t get is that it doesn’t have to be a monopoly.
It should involve all clubs, with every game in English football being broadcast.
Look at Netflix’s market cap of £230bn. Then think what football could be worth.
Netflix doesn’t simply house its own content, it carries that of others as well to increase its opportunity.
At a tenner a month there is no price resistance, little churn and they get huge subscriber numbers.
‘Football a televisual powerhouse’
Despite football being decimated by Covid-19, the level of viewership on TV is phenomenal.
Talking heads like me get listening figures of more than one million on a radio show because football engages and enthuses people.
While certain epidemiologists are saying Covid could be a three-to-five year problem, football will be a televisual powerhouse.
Real smart moves aren’t p***- balling around with power-grabs in the Premier League. It should be building media platforms to house the future of sport.
TPG, one of the world’s biggest private equity firms, bid £375million for 20 per cent of the rights of the Football League.
They did this because they know that a sports media play that takes £50m out of the EFL’s annual £250m revenue can be leveraged via a flotation into a business worth in excess of £1BILLION.
Football’s opportunity is huge despite being an industry potentially challenged for years to come on revenue generation via spectator absences.
While the sport may try to sue the Government for the havoc being reeked on it, perhaps it should focus on lobbying it to build models that will sustain the game beyond its wildest dreams.
Listen to Simon Jordan and Jim White on talkSPORT at 10am Monday to Thursday.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
