Report: NBC Universal front-runner US EPL television rights

[1886]

This is unexpected if it turns out to be true.

Sources say NBC's bid would pay the EPL around $83M per year, an amount that would more than triple the $23M per year that Fox currently pays. Sources say Fox and ESPN have been told that their joint bid was not accepted. It is not clear if the Al Jazeera network, BeIN Sport, still is in the running.

Continued

 

[Mariah2014]

It is the only question now is does bein sport have a bid in and did they bid more otherwise next week NBC will be granted the rights. This makes me wonder if FOX Soccer Plus will stay around. I doubt it. They don't have enough programing for it. I'm not sure they couldn't merge what they got into the new fox sports one they are floating around anyway. I think the days of FOX Soccer channel and especially FOX Soccer Plus are numbered.

 

[kstuart]

Fox Soccer and ESPN drop out of EPL rights bidding

NBC Universal is the likely winner.

This is for 2013-16 seasons.

See:

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Closing-Bell/2012/10/26/EPL.aspx

 

[Yespage]

Well, way too many details not filled. If NBC Universal wins, does NBC Sports fall into a normal package or at least the Sports Pack? FSC stay where it is? The programming is limited, FS+ limited even more! When is the next deal for NBC Sports due?

 

[paulinespens]

Im hearing that Grant Whal from Sports Illistrated has contacts in BE IN Sport who are unware of a bid for the EPL rights. I guess its just a matter of waiting and seeing what will happen.

 

[Yespage]

I simply don't trust Comcast with any sort of sport broadcasting rights.

 

[1886]

Official press release from NBC

[link]

NEW YORK – October 28, 2012 – NBCUniversal, via the NBC Sports Group, has acquired the exclusive U.S. media rights to the Premier League through a multi-year agreement that begins with the 2013-14 season, both parties announced today. Per the agreement, NBCUniversal becomes the exclusive English- and Spanish-language media rights holder to all 380 Premier League matches across all platforms and devices in the United States.“

The Barclays Premier League is the preeminent soccer league in the world, and is on the cusp of exponential popularity growth here in the U.S.,” said Mark Lazarus, Chairman, NBC Sports Group. “NBCU will provide the broadest programming and promotional commitment that the league has ever experienced here in the United States. The Premier League provides NBCU with best-in-class content for 10 months of the year across our far-reaching broadcast, cable and digital platforms. This is a perfect match.”“

The NBC Sports Group has an excellent track record in sports broadcasting and will showcase the Barclays Premier League to fans across the USA through its extensive network of channels and high quality production,” said Premier League Chief Executive, Richard Scudamore. “We are extremely pleased that NBC has chosen to invest in the Premier League and look forward to working with them for many years to come.”

Each of the 20 Premier League teams plays 38 matches over a 41-week period from August to May. Although specific programming details will be announced at a later date, NBC, NBC Sports Network, and NBCSports.com will all be utilized to present live Premier League coverage, as well as Telemundo and mun2 for Spanish-language coverage. Additional NBCUniversal platforms and networks will occasionally be scheduled to air Premier League matches, while NBC Sports Live Extra will provide the live streaming platform across web, tablet and mobile devices.

The NBC Sports Group will also produce comprehensive shoulder programming around its live-event coverage of the Premier League, including pre- and post-match shows, as well as highlight and weekly wrap-up programs. It is also developing a package to make sure the most avid fans have access to every Premier League match.

edit: add some quotes from Sports Illustrated article [link]

In an interview Sunday night with SI.com, NBC Chairman Mark Lazarus said NBC Sports Network will be the primary carrier of EPL games and that EPL fans will have access to every game on the schedule through an NBC platform. "It will not be unlike the Olympics where you saw programming on CNBC, Bravo, USA or MSNBC," Lazarus said. "We are working to make it a consistent schedule so fans know exactly where to find games. But the Premier League fan will be able to get to every game live."

EPL clubs play 38 league matches over a 41-week period from August to May. The league has six traditional weekly broadcast windows, including three on Saturday, two on Sunday and one on Monday. According to Lazarus, broadcasts on those windows add up to about 200 games per season. Lazarus said the remaining 180 games (EPL clubs play games that do not count toward league standings) will be made available "digitally or through some sort of arrangement with MVPDs (multichannel video programming distributors) on some sort of pay television package."


As part of the new deal, Lazarus said EPL fans can expect a number of games to be broadcast on over-the-air NBC. Those matches will likely air Saturdays and be shown live. Lazarus predicted viewers might see up to 18-20 games on NBC during the season, which would be a significant increase from Fox's over-the-air broadcasts.

While offering few programming specifics, Lazarus said NBC will provide a "significant" amount of shoulder programming around live-event coverage of the EPL, including pre- and post-match shows, as well as highlight and weekly wrap-up programs. "The quantity or quality of what is on today will not be compromised in any shape or form,"Lazarus said.

Lazarus said NBC has already had early talks with BT (formally British Telecom), which acquired a set of the UK rights to the EPL, and the two could partner on production. As far as broadcasting talent, a subject of fanatical concern for soccer fans, Lazarus said he thinks NBC has some talent on its roster that will translate well but he will be in acquisition mode.
The network has an exceptional soccer play by play announcer in Arlo White and it's a near-guarantee he will play a significant role on EPL broadcasts.


"We think Arlo fits very nicely, and we are working to see who fits this content," Lazarus said. "I don't think you can take someone calling an MLS game on a regional sports network, put them on an English Premier League game and have the same tone that the fan is accustomed to. We believe in the indigenous voice. And the fact we have Arlo doing our games speaks to that. We think that there is a tone and tact that the international soccer fan expects and we will not disappoint."
​

 

[Yespage]

So will Comcast push to move NBC Sports down into a decent package on Dish Network.

 

[Derwin0]

Had to google what EPL was. The fact that I had to do that shows me how "popular" this league is in the U.S.

With everyone else grabbing up football, NBC Sports (Verses) is grasping at leftovers here which will do nothing for thier ratings (nor negociating powers with the carriers).

 

[Yespage]

Had to google what EPL was. The fact that I had to do that shows me how "popular" this league is in the U.S.

With everyone else grabbing up football, NBC Sports (Verses) is grasping at leftovers here which will do nothing for thier ratings (nor negociating powers with the carriers).

Glad you were able to figure out how to use Google.

EPL popularity is by far nothing compared to the popularity of the NFL in the US. However, the US is an emerging market for the EPL, which is the most popular soccer league in the world.

 

[Juan]

Well, way too many details not filled. If NBC Universal wins, does NBC Sports fall into a normal package or at least the Sports Pack? FSC stay where it is? The programming is limited, FS+ limited even more! When is the next deal for NBC Sports due?

NBCsports used to versuses..and its in a normal package

 

[Derwin0]

Glad you were able to figure out how to use Google.

EPL popularity is by far nothing compared to the popularity of the NFL in the US. However, the US is an emerging market for the EPL, which is the most popular soccer league in the world.

perhaps in the world, but ask most people on the street what the EPL is, and they'll stare at you blankly. Mention MLS, and you'll get a better response.

Which goes to my point, that it will do nothing to help NBC Sports (Verses) in the ratings or carriage negociations. With Hockey in lockout, the situation is even worse for them. Also doesn't help that the U.S. market will generally watch home leagues (MLS) long before foreign ones.

 

[Tampa8]

Virtually no one knows what EPL is, and Soccer has been "emerging" in the U.S. for years. However, the more exposed and easily received coverage is, can't hurt. With the increase of the Latino population, no doubt there are more viewers interested.

 

[Juan]

Virtually no one knows what EPL is, and Soccer has been "emerging" in the U.S. for years. However, the more exposed and easily received coverage is, can't hurt. With the increase of the Latino population, no doubt there are more viewers interested.

its one of those sports that are fun to play but terribley boring to watch

 

[jgags6]

Its going to be interesting to see what happens to Fox Soccer Channel. Now that they will only have the Champions League and Europa League, hopefully they can get Bundesliga from Goltv or Eredivisie... Would hate to see FSC just fade away. I think their coverage has been getting progressively better in the last few years.

 

[Juan]

Its going to be interesting to see what happens to Fox Soccer Channel. Now that they will only have the Champions League and Europa League, hopefully they can get Bundesliga from Goltv or Eredivisie... Would hate to see FSC just fade away. I think their coverage has been getting progressively better in the last few years.

maybe they will switch back to their original world sports format

 

[Yespage]

perhaps in the world, but ask most people on the street what the EPL is, and they'll stare at you blankly. Mention MLS, and you'll get a better response.

Which goes to my point, that it will do nothing to help NBC Sports (Verses) in the ratings or carriage negociations. With Hockey in lockout, the situation is even worse for them.

That's nice. Thanks for sharing.

Also doesn't help that the U.S. market will generally watch home leagues (MLS) long before foreign ones.

Seeing the EPL game is vastly superior to the national league the US has, that is rather doubtful. If someone will watch soccer, they would be better off spending time watching the English Premier League.

Virtually no one knows what EPL is, and Soccer has been "emerging" in the U.S. for years. However, the more exposed and easily received coverage is, can't hurt. With the increase of the Latino population, no doubt there are more viewers interested.

Soccer will never be the same in popularity than say the NFL. But that doesn't mean the brand isn't growing and that there is a little money to be made for this product. Ratings have been increasing, and games have begun being shown on national broadcast television. The goal isn't to make soccer as popular as everything else, rather just to give it the most exposure the networks will ultimately think it is capable of benefiting from.

its one of those sports that are fun to play but terribley boring to watch

Yeah, like baseball or maybe football which has 12 minutes of actual action within a 3 hour time span to get the game and endless commercials completed? As far as entertaining, it is a mix. You can your Man United v Chelsea exciting game or a Stoke City v Sunderland snooze fest. Soccer is a game that people either like or don't like. People don't have to like it... though those that don't like soccer seem to think it is worth their time to post as such in threads.

NBCsports used to versuses..and its in a normal package

In the Top 250, which is the second most expensive package. The question is whether Comcast will try to push to make NBCSports more accessible.

 

[Derwin0]

Seeing the EPL game is vastly superior to the national league the US has, that is rather doubtful. If someone will watch soccer, they would be better off spending time watching the English Premier League.

Has nothing to do with people watching it. ACC football gets better ratings on the East Coast than SEC football, even though the SEC is far better. Why? Because people care about their home teams.

Braves baseball kicked ass in ratings in the southeast during the 80's, even though they sucked beyond belief, but they were the only team in the Southeast, so people watched.

A foreign league with NO American teams will never be more than a blip on the radar.

In the Top 250, which is the second most expensive package. The question is whether Comcast will try to push to make NBCSports more accessible.

Seeing how hockey never helped it become more accessible, there is no way Soccer will.

 

[Yespage]

Has nothing to do with people watching it. ACC football gets better ratings on the East Coast than SEC football, even though the SEC is far better. Why? Because people care about their home teams.

Braves baseball kicked ass in ratings in the southeast during the 80's, even though they sucked beyond belief, but they were the only team in the Southeast, so people watched.

A foreign league with NO American teams will never be more than a blip on the radar.

People who like soccer will watch the EPL. Especially as more Americans continue to be signed there. In general, Americans wouldn't have cared much about Fulham, yet when Dempsey was signed by them, some people took notice of the squad. EPL isn't going to be the NFL, but that doesn't mean there isn't a market for it.

Seeing how hockey never helped it become more accessible, there is no way Soccer will.

FSC is in 120+, Latino Dos, so clearly soccer can get in lower packages. I'm only asking whether Comcast will try to leverage NBCSports down to a lower tier, or the sports pack. It is a reasonable question, regardless if you think people care about soccer or not.

 

[Derwin0]

I'm only asking whether Comcast will try to leverage NBCSports down to a lower tier, or the sports pack. It is a reasonable question, regardless if you think people care about soccer or not.

And my whole point is that it won't help, strictly because people in the US don't follow soccer, especially a foreign league.

Hockey couldn't get Verses into lower tier, non-US soccer definitely won't.