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The SPL announced this weekend that there was an increase in viewers of 28% of live SPL matches on SKY Sports and ESPN last season.
The Official Broadcasters’ Audience Research Board statistics collated by IFM Sports Marketing Surveys – on behalf of the SPL – showed that there was a year on year increase in audience numbers for the SPL coverage.
According to the report over 9.7 million fans watched live SPL games in Sky Sports and ESPN, while there was an average audience rise of 35% for the BBC Sportscene highlight’s show. While millions more have taken in the SPL games from abroad.
Neil Doncaster, Chief Executive of the SPL, said: “This is fantastic news for the SPL, our clubs, fans, broadcast partners and sponsors and shows there is a lot to be positive about ahead of the new season. The Clydesdale Bank Premier League is known across the country, and indeed the world, for drama, excitement and passionate fans and this has been reflected in increased viewing figures. We look forward to working with all of our broadcast partners next season to build upon these figures and further improve the coverage of the Clydesdale Bank Premier League for fans and viewers across the UK.”
However the figures do not take into account the attendances at Scottish grounds, which are down for all to see.
There are now reports that, with the numbers increasing following the Setanta TV debacle, the SPL are looking to cash in on the figures by looking for a more lucrative TV deal.
Neil Doncaster said: “Back in 2009, Sky and ESPN were effectively the only deal in town and a deal had to be put together quickly as there were just six weeks to go before the start of the season. That meant no proper marketing process could be undertaken. We have to bring more money into Scottish football and ensure we get fair value for our rights.
“We will work with our current broadcast partners, with new broadcast partners or examine establishing our own channel. We need to know how much our own channel solution could generate. It’s a work in progress. By November, we must set out all the potential avenues and understand their risks and opportunities.
“Renegotiating our current agreement is a possibility but right now I wouldn’t count anything out. Anything is possible. There are independent companies that are sniffing around the UK and European market from elsewhere in the world. We must maximise our income because players determine the quality of your league and the wages clubs can pay determine the quality of the player they can afford.”
Rather than chasing the TV cash which has ruined the game somewhat and made footballers primadonas, the SPL and football bodies in Scotland should be looking at ways to entice the fans back to the stadiums rather than keeping them on their sofas.
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