Ask a group of Premier League club sup-porters their most pressing concerns surrounding the game and you’ll hear about ticket prices, unacceptable manipulation of the fixture list by broadcasters and a cynical disregard shown, in particular, towards travelling fans. Pose the same question of Premier League clubs and top of their list, by some distance, will be the issue of broadcast piracy.
Piracy, defined in this context as broadcasting material for which you’ve not paid a legitimate rights fee, is not limited to individuals or premises accessing content for commercial use; it can also have international, political implications. The issue was brought into sharp focus through a London conference speech made by Yousef Al-Obaidly, chief executive of sports and entertainment network BeIN Media Group. Al-Obaidly warned that the sports media rights bubble is about to burst, primarily due to the industry’s failure to tackle rampant piracy. Speaking at the Sport Business Summit held in London in early October, Al-Obaidly said: “The endless growth of sports rights is over. Not only that but in certain cases rights values are going to drop off a cliff. The very economic model of our industry is going to be rewritten.”
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Pirate Transmission
Broadcasters around the world are paying huge sums to screen football, but they will not be willing to invest if they cannot be protected.
Scandi Drama
Years before it was screened live in the UK, England’s Football League was building a cult following abroad thanks to a visionary broadcaster.
Pot Of Gold
A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever – and a useful financial boost – to one corner of Hertfordshire
Digital Divide
From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual players’ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.
Haringey Ladder
The decision to walk off in the face of abuse has shone a national spotlight on a community club with a progressive approach
Bournemouth 0 Norwich City 0
Dean Court may have received a Premier League facelift but against today’s visitors the home team fail to live up to their status, although the low-quality draw they play out is still somehow reassuring.
Unknown Fate
Manchester United were not the only team to be devastated by the Munich air disaster – England also lost some of their best players, changing the course of the 1958 World Cup and, potentially, the whole national game.
Stars In Their Eyes
From cricketers to athletes, plenty of sportsmen have tried to carve out a career in football – though few have switched disciplines with much success.
Sharp End
Torquay United look destined for English football’s sixth tier amid increasing distrust of the motives of their owner, Clarke Osborne.
Nice One Cyrille
A raw talent who thrilled crowds, Cyrille Regis overcame vicious racism to begin changing attitudes and inspire later generations of black players.
Anubian Kingdom Rises
Excavations at a city on the Nile reveal the origins of an ancient African power
RUNAWAY ANDREW CAUGHT IN THE ACT!
Lawmen thwart plot to evade extradition by fleeing Britain
World Stage
Culture, authenticity and hospitality attract global visitors to Doha.
A Smarter Diet
Will the food of the future be based on AI-created recipes?
Capture The Castle
A new conference center, legendary Welsh hospitality and a whole lot of history are driving Cardiff’s transformation into a global meetings venue
Netflix Bows To The Saudis
Even tech giants have to follow the law.
The Exclusive Story Of How The Feds Took FIFA
The exclusive account of how a small band of federal agents and an outsized corrupt official brought down the sports world’s biggest governing body.
QATAR & SAUDI ARABIA REOPEN LAND BORDER
ABU SAMRAH QATAR and Saudi Arabia reopened their land border Saturday, AFP correspondents saw, as they restore ties following a landmark deal to end a three and a half year rift.
GCC summit will unite Gulf countries, says Saudi prince
The Kuwait’s foreign ministry announced that Saudi Arabia will open its air and land borders with Qatar in the first steps toward ending the crisis; GCC chief welcomes move.
One very sTranGe year
AS THIS RACE TO DUBAI SEASON LIKE NO OTHER CLOSES IN ON ITS FINAL FORTNIGHT AT JUMEIRAH GOLF ESTATES, WE ASK WHAT HAPPENS NEXT FOR THE EUROPEAN TOUR.