Official 2012/13 Premier League thread

[Dingle]

Harry has apparently now left Spurs.

Boy, all those rumors on the internet, totally unfounded.

This is why we need Linikles, none of this Daily Mail style reporting.

[Lineker]

It was actually Richard Keys

But my sister actually knows Harry's agent. So.... yeah

[Lineker]

It's been upgraded to 'Sky sources' status!

[Lineker]

Kammy just tweeted Moyes to Spurs.

[DavidMarrio]

Would you have Moyes? I think he could do a good job, I mean as much as I hate Everton I do think he is a pretty good manager considering he is always on a shoe string budget and has a relatively small squad. I do think its time for him to leave and move on to a bigger club so this could be his opportunity.

Can't wait for Rafa to get linked to the Spurs job though, I'm sure he and the bookies will make a comment or two about the job

[Lineker]

I'd love Moyes, personally.

[brenchill]

I'd love to see Moyes get the job.

[Lineker]

Spurs announcement to come in the morning. Players have been told though.

Until then, I am sure that Dave Whelan will provide us with regular updates.

[Matt]

Could AVB be in with a shout? Why is Harry leaving, anyway?

[IAceI]

Ah well you'll 'ave to ask the chairman. He deals with all that stuff.

[therockbox]

Sad For Harry, but at least he'll get a £3m payoff, which after tax will be £3m

[Lineker]

Copying Conor McNamara, are we?

[brenchill]

Copying Conor McNamara, are we?

Is that Jackie's brother?

[therockbox]

who?

[Lineker]

BBC sports journo. Joke is doing the rounds now anyway!

[Lineker]

By the way - a full breakdown of the new TV rights deal:

Sky Sports has clinched five of the seven live Premier League match packages - but BT has caused a huge shock by snatching the other two packages (including Saturday lunchtime games from Sky) with ESPN losing all its games.

It means Sky will show 116 games from the 2013-2014 season - one more than its current deal which runs out at the end of next season and the most it has ever screened. It's the maximum number of games Sky could win as no broadcaster is allowed to own more than 116 under the Premier League's rights tender.

But BT has got two packages totalling 38 games including crucially the rights to 18 "first-pick" games. BT appears to have snatched the Saturday 12.45pm lunchtime games which Sky previously held meaning they will have some top games. It's thought the new deal is the first time Sky hasn't held all the first picks available.

Sky will continue to screen its double-header Super Sunday and Monday Night Football programmes as a result of the deal (see below for the full breakdown of games).

ESPN, which holds 23 matches until the end of next season, has lost out completely. It's a huge blow to the American broadcaster which was tipped to ADD to its games in this round of bidding and has been steadily adding to its sports rights portfolio in the UK.

BT has confirmed it will now launch a "football-focused" channel which will be available via its fibre-optic network, but also on other television platforms so it could yet be carried on Sky (like ESPN is currently) although that or pricing has yet to be confirmed.

The total value of the rights tops £3billion for the Premier League clubs - a massive rise of around £1billion on the previous deal.

It's not clear whether Al-Jazeera - which had been reported to bid for rights - made any offers for the rights.

> TV highlights of the Premier League had previously been announced with the BBC retaining the rights - and therefore continuing to show Match of the Day - for the same period as the live contract

> This deal has also seen the number of live televised matches increased to 154

WHO'S WON WHAT

Sky Sports (five packages - 116 games in total)

B: 26 matches (mainly Saturday at 5.30pm)

C: 26 matches - Sunday at 1.30pm

D: 26 matches - Sunday at 4pm

E: 26 matches (mainly Monday nights)

F: 12 matches - Saturday at 5.30pm

BT (two packages - 38 games in total)

A: 26 matches (Saturdays at 12.45pm)

G: 12 matches (midweek evenings and bank holidays, two matches Saturday 12.45pm)

WHO SAID WHAT

BT

BT spokesperson: "Our rights include 18 first picks, around half of those available, which means that for the first time consumers have a real choice of provider when it comes to watching the best games. We have secured access to 38 live games, including the opening game of the season, which represents a quarter of the 154 matches to be shown each season.

"We will launch a new football-focused channel to carry the games. It will offer new interactive features when supplied over BT's fibre network and we will look to distribute it on other platforms. Full details and pricing will be published in due course.

Ian Livingston, BT chief executive: "We are pleased to have won these rights and to have secured around half of the best games on offer each season. We look forward to offering football fans real value and great quality using the latest technology.

"BT is already investing £2.5bn in fibre broadband. Securing Premier League rights fits naturally with this, as consumers increasingly want to buy their broadband and entertainment services from a single provider."

SKY

Jeremy Darroch, Sky's chief executive: "This is a good result for our customers and for our business. It means that Sky Sports remains the home of Premier League football and that viewers will continue to enjoy our live and exclusive coverage until at least 2016.

"We have never offered greater depth and breadth of coverage on Sky Sports, with unprecedented live action right across the schedule. At the same time we’re pushing ahead with more original British content, extending our leadership as the UK’s favourite triple play provider, and launching our new internet TV service, NOW TV, which will give us even more ways to distribute our content.

“In what was a very competitive tender process, we are pleased to have secured the combination of rights that we wanted, providing certainty for us and our customers. Whilst the cost is higher, we have capacity for this increase through the combination of excellent work on cost efficiency across the business and choices over other future spending. As a result, we remain confident of delivering our financial plans, in line with our expectations, unchanged, in each year of the new deal."

Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports: "The Premier League has never been more popular with our customers so it’s excellent news that Sky Sports viewers will continue to enjoy the biggest and best games, including Super Sunday and Monday Night Football.

“Sky Sports viewers have never had so much choice of high quality action. Alongside the Premier League, we have long term agreements in place to show the best in live sport, including UEFA Champions League football, European, Ryder Cup and US tour golf, Test and one-day cricket and Formula One. At the same time, we’ll continue to innovate in providing the best coverage

possible."

THE PREMIER LEAGUE

Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore: "The Barclays Premier League continues to provide excellent football and enthralling drama as we saw last season. The value this drives for our rights holders is evident and we are extremely pleased that this has been realised for our UK live rights.

"As ever, the security provided by broadcast revenues will enable our clubs to continue to invest in all aspects of their football activities and plan sustainably for the foreseeable future. This deal allows them to keep delivering what fans want; top quality football in some of world’s best club stadia and an increasing focus on and commitment to areas such as Youth Development.

"The continuing support of BSkyB for Premier League football is significant beyond the revenues delivered; the longevity and quality of their commitment has done much for the English game as a whole. We are very happy to see this relationship maintained for another three seasons.

"We welcome BT as a new Premier League broadcast partner. They are a substantial British company that is at the leading edge of technology and infra-structure development. They are clearly investing in quality content to use on their platforms and when combined with the reach and pull of Premier League football they will deliver new ways in which fans will be able to follow the competition.

"These are exciting times for both the football and media worlds and we should all be proud of the value both industries contribute to the UK culturally and economically.

"I would also like to place on record the Premier League's thanks to the numerous other highly credible bidders that showed such interest in the live UK rights."

ESPN

ESPN spokesperson told the BBC: "We made a strong bid that reflected the value of the rights to our business, and we thank the Premier League for the chance to participate.

"We're looking forward to continuing our Premier League coverage next season, and continuing to serve fans with great live sports events and programming including the FA Cup, Europa League, Scottish Premier League, Serie A, Premiership Rugby, Top 14, golf, darts, UFC, NBA and much more."

[Lineker]

It is my understanding Spurs maay have already met with David Moyes today and that Moyes compensation has been agreed with Everton FC

Ian Abrahams.

[Hobo]

Moyes to Spurs! Think of the matches!

[Summers]

ESPN fucked up. BT -need- to work a deal with Sky.. because no fucker has BT anymore.

[Summers]

It is my understanding Spurs maay have already met with David Moyes today and that Moyes compensation has been agreed with Everton FC

Ian Abrahams.

D.T.T.S.

Don't trust Talk Sport.