Free-to-air proposal: Peter Tom
Tigers chairman Peter Tom has said that the 'ground-breaking' rights deal struck with BT could involve some games being broadcast free-to-air.
The shock deal - to take effect from 2013/14 - was valued at £152m, securing exclusive rights to the Premiership along with some European games.
What followed was confusion as Premiership Rugby and European Rugby Cup (ERC) met in Dublin and got nowhere despite hours of talks.
"BT have come into this with their eyes wide open," chairman Tom told the Leicester Mercury.
"And for Premiership Rugby, this deal is a ringing endorsement of our product with proposals that are very sensible across the board.
"There are proposals for some free-to-air rugby, and you suspect that may go through.
"With all of the different ways to view sport these days on phones and tablets and various social media, we feel that we have chosen a great partner in BT, who will be going out of their way to provide the best possible platform to show and promote the sport."
Comments
porridge_time says...
Melkdave...
Never said anything about not knowing my history... what I said was that my opinion on Scots independence was based on recent history rather than that of the years gone by. The fact that the Westminster still control the purse strings greatly affects what the Holyrood is able to do on a whole host of policies.
Suggest you stick to rugby, but even on that your knowledge is pretty scant... you strike me as one of the 2003 Bandwagon Jumpers... noticed on one of your other posts that you thought Brian Moore was a world cup winner.
Posted 08:31 04th October 2012
heart_of_oak says...
7ton, while copping Sincero's insults as we English are doing ad nauseam, you can take pride in the fact that your team won the last 6 nations and will probably form the bulk of the players on the next Lions tour. As an Englishman, I'm proud that we ran you close in the last game we played and hope we can beat you next time. But hats off to your league for producing some great young players. Don't worry about the insults. Think instead how much other nations with good but aging players would love to have young players like George North, Sam Warburton, Dan Lydiate, Jamie Roberts and several more I could mention. But as I say, when we next meet, I hope our lads beat yours.
Posted 08:19 04th October 2012
7ton says...
Well Baaaaaaaaaa! and that is about as sensible as your comments and a lot of the twaddle going on here.
Posted 14:03 03rd October 2012
Sincero says...
I suppose you do share an unnatural love of cheating and sheep. ;-)
Posted 12:40 02nd October 2012
7ton says...
CYMRU AM BYTH
Posted 01:24 01st October 2012
Sincero says...
@melkdave 'you afreed me rong'? This is based on a medieval History degree from which university? Please tell me, so I can report the institution for breach of the Geneva Convention. We could do the history of it point by point on how you had your bellies tickled, but it's a rugby site. To keep it short, you, like so many Welsh in England and Wales, have made an art of blurring the lines and fitting in quietly to make your lives easier. You yourself claim to be both English and Welsh, perhaps British to avoid the issue. Ask a Scot his nationality, and he won't say English or British, mate. The Scots know exactly who they are, and so does everyone else.
@Porridge Good man! Stick to your guns on all fronts. When Cameron is schmoozing you with similar lines about admiring Scotland, you know you're onto a winner. It's all within your reach now. The economic problems in Europe have perhaps thrown a spanner in the works for a bit, but that will change.
'We at the Premier League Rugby-Tory Coalition have always loved and respected Scotland, quintessential to our Britishness... so hand over the oil and dosh and European Cup berths... toodle pip!'
Posted 16:24 30th September 2012
melkdave says...
@Porrigde_time
Im sorry you dont know your own history and arnt interested in it,But i will point out ,that the last 3 decades your moaning about .For half of those years the last half to be precise 1997-2012, the governace of Scotland on all local issues Health,education,infastructure projects ,law and order ect has been in the hands of the scottish assembly,not westminester.If its a mess now ,well it wasnt before,and the UK goverment doesent own any oil either,its owned by the oil compainies ,and they are just taxed ,like any other company .So sorry its not Scotlands oil ,Have fun trying to claim it though in the international courts ,compensation payments will be in the 1000s of billions of pounds ,and bankrupt you for at least 50 years..Anyway as ive said before this is a rugby forum ,and thats the last ill say on this subject.
Posted 15:51 30th September 2012
porridge_time says...
melkdave says...
Sadly politics and sport are intrinsically linked especially in Scotland, because thanks to three decades poor governance by Westminster sport in Scotland's schools is almost non-existent.
I'm not particularly interested in Bannock Burn or any ancient Scots history - although you do sound like your talking poo - I like many Scots who wish to have home rule, are basing their views on recent history not ancient.
Posted 14:06 30th September 2012
porridge_time says...
Well said on all counts Sincero!
APV1 says... we both know that there was nothing tongue in cheek about your comment. One things for sure there are more people in Westminster pooing their pants about 2014 than there are in Holyrood. Westminster are going to have to come clean to all those nice English people who thought that they were subsidising Scotland... little do there know that it's Scots resources that have been funding their war chest for years.
Posted 13:54 30th September 2012
melkdave says...
@Sincero
Im afraid you wrong on Wales ,and Scotland .I took medival history as a minor at uni and i can show you that the welsh people fought for over 250 yrs for independance ect.and suffered terriable lossesi n population verging on genocide(and yes im english) and we english even sent thousands of people to Wales to repopulate it ,and to try and stop the constant rebellions.Why do you think theres more castles in Wales than anywhere else in the UK?? .While Scotland for the most part acknowleged the english king as their overlord ,since SAXON times.Apart from a short time under,William Wallace and Robert the Bruce.The jacobite rebellions of the 17th century ,they where not about independance for Scotland ,but the restoration of the Stuart monachy,(a scottish house)as kings of england..But as this is a rugby forum and not a history one ill stop now as i said before this topic has nothing to do with rugby ,and as such shouldnt be aired here imo.
Posted 09:43 30th September 2012
Sincero says...
Side note on that: Wales in not a nation, and has not been since the death of Llewellyn. Scotland remains a nation, a kingdom and a country, and has made the required efforts for self-governance...
The fact that Wales are allowed in the 6N at all is a bleeding liberty. Technically they are the Principality of West England, and they have, correctly, no representation in the Union Jack.
Sorry, but one can not allow a Welshman to tell a Scotsman about nationhood.
Scotland can free herself. I hope she does. Rugby-wise, I'll stand by her in this time of attack from the usual source.
Posted 23:03 29th September 2012
melkdave says...
@To All
Before @Sincero and i expect others go on about scottish independance,lets all remember that atm,there are no countries called England,Wales or Scotland ,they are just parts of the United Kingdom.Also i fail to see what this topic has to do with rugby.Also @Porridge_Time,the one thing that wont happen is the profesional game dying in Scotland,both teams are fully owned by the SRU for one and apart,from revenue generated by the teams ,which isnt great admitadly are fully funded by the SRU.More supporters though the turnstiles and actually watching the matches would help no dought,and surly any proposal to achive that,must be looked at,as far as the SRU are concerned. A dynamic Pro12 would be a god send for them,and with greater revenue from league matches ect,they can build for HEC success,atm they can only really fight on one front league or HEC. A concentrated HEC would help them also,allowing them and AP /T14 and Pro 12 clubs ,to just concentrate on one competion at a time.It works wonders in the SH ,where the S15 and ITM/Currie cup are seperated,and clubs franchises know just what their present objective is at different times of the year.I know irish club supporters mostly dont want the format to change ,because they precive they have an advantage ,and are dominant.But if they as they keep posting what rugby to improve ,and spread ,they cant be selfish .Think what might be best for the scottish /italain and weaker Pro12 clubs in realality and not from thier provincle club view.This is what im doing amongst others,AND REREAD MY 1ST POST ON THIS THREAD ,why should HEC games be bungled into just one package,why cant the leagues decide as ive suggested??
Posted 15:33 29th September 2012
Sincero says...
APV, sorry, what exactly is 'rediculous'? I do enjoy your intellectual contributions on topics like history and politics.
Hard luck, though....
Porridge there has worked out that you smiling sasanach are not only after his European Cup berths, and his fair share of the T.V. money, but also his all his country's oil.
You're not really that hard to figure out, lads. 'Oh, I love Scotland! x x x'
Ha.
Posted 20:08 28th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ porridge_time - my tongue-in-cheek comment was obviously missed and I apologise for that. I certainly don't want the Scots to have independence and love Scotland greatly. It was a poor attempt at humour, reacting to your unionist comment.
Posted 10:12 28th September 2012
porridge_time says...
@ porridge_time - ridding ourselves of the Scottish leeches would be a great boost for our economy. You want independence? You're welcome to it - we'd save a fortune on our third-world aid to those north of Hadrian's Wall. But back to the rugby..
Oh the old Scots leeches chestnut... who is going to top up your war chest once the oil revenue goes?
Makes no matter how much money the PRL get for showing there games... once rugby fans see that the on field product for English rugby is still dirge then they will look elsewhere as will BT Vision no doubt.
Posted 00:59 28th September 2012
APV1 says...
@ porridge_time - ridding ourselves of the Scottish leeches would be a great boost for our economy. You want independence? You're welcome to it - we'd save a fortune on our third-world aid to those north of Hadrian's Wall. But back to the rugby...
I'd rather the fiasco surrounding the HC was sorted out before BT announce anything else. They're hampering an already emotive subjust with this sort of thing.
At the moment, no-one can be sure what's at stake and what's on offer, so to make announcements seems a little rediculous.
Personally I don't care who shows them, as long as I can see plenty of rugby from around the world (although the thought of losing Barnes is very appealing).
Posted 19:10 27th September 2012
Norm says...
Erm sorry Melkdave
The first 2 posters didnt originally bring this BT deal into this discussion. For the life of me I cant recall who did, can you? Lafferty? Rafferty? No thats it Mark McCafferty thats the fella
Posted 17:08 27th September 2012
melkdave says...
I notice that the first 2 posters are going on about the european element to the BT deal,.Forgetting that its for the rights to AP matches mostly,which is an entirly english affair,yes there is a bit extra for some european games,but its mostly for the AP games,and such is a good vaildation of the product ,as has been said above.I also fail to see why the celtic unions or LNR dont also see an oppotunity here ,if theres a market for AP games ,surly theres a market for T14 and Pro12 matches aswell,maybe BT are also interested in televising Pro12 or since ESPN no longer show T14 since starting showing AP matches those.Slagging them off though isnt a good way to find out imo Or just maybe SKY/ESPN are now interested in them,since BT have the AP post 2014 who knows..Theres no doughting it is a very good deal as far as english clubs are concerned.The european element is a small part of it really.The ERC are concerned because if other unions /LNR do their own deals well they just become irrevalent ,and out of a job .Theres no reason for HEC matches to be bungled into just one package,really ,why cant the indivual leauges decide who can show there european matches??That way we might get european matches shown on not just SKY but all 3 platforms ie BT,ESPN and SKY depending on who has the rights to the home team,giving us a greater choice of matches to watch.This to me is the real question that fans/supporters should be asking .The format of course matters ,.and can debated ,i for one think the premier club competion in europe should be between clubs there on merit ,while the established AMLIN is used for club development and to introduce teams from Russia,Georgia ,Spain ect to playing fully profesional clubs,by expanding it to 24 teams 6 from england 6 or 8 from france and 6 from the Pro12,with 4-6 from the teir2 countries in europe Butthen thats just my opinion.
Posted 13:55 27th September 2012
ArmchairGeneral says...
Good news. They will be seeing how many people stream the itv player aviva rugby content (and the bbc pro12 content / scrum 5 etc) and would want to see some of that good advertising revenue they are delivering itv for themselves. If it means greater game coverage and no sky etc then good news. Itvs Martin Bayfield and Austin Healey (:-)) better step up the coverage.
Posted 13:32 27th September 2012
Norm says...
So let me get this straight,
this deal with BT, which may or may not be legally sound, is potentially going to offer some free to air games, in a televised deal of a competition which has not been devised yet?
Leicester, can the UN borrow Tom, if they could have him for 2 weeks, I think he could sort the war in Syria and then the Israeli-Palestine conflict and be back eating a pie at Welford road by mid October!
Posted 13:27 27th September 2012