One TV deal which didn't attract huge publicity is the one just concluded to bring TT motorcycle racing to ITV.
North One is a production company which last year bought the rights to film and distribute TV coverage of the famous road races on the Isle of Man. They took over from well-established Manx firm Greenlight TV, amid much smacking of gobs.
Now North One are showing they mean business by selling 11 one-hour highlight packages to ITV4, plus two one-hour shows to the main ITV channel.
TT racing is a phenomenon and the riders are unquestionably the bravest and daftest men and women in sport. Check it all out at the beginning of June.
Wednesday, 11 February 2009
Tuesday, 10 February 2009
TWO SIDES OF THE SAME COIN
The media is like football. Money to burn at one end; barely enough to light a match at the other.
Chelsea can pay off Scolari's £6million a year contract while the likes of Morecambe and Chester can barely put 11 fit players on the park.
In the other crazy circus that is the media, Sky and Setanta can pay £1.78billion for rights to cover the Premier League while Barrow's local commercial radio station Abbey FM closes down.
Abbey's demise is more than the silencing of a community's voice. It is a sign that the big players who own most of our so-called "local" radio stations are not going to pussyfoot around when the going gets tough.
Abbey, which only gained a full licence in 2006, was owned by three large national companies: CN Group (owners of the Cumberland News newspaper group), TLRC (The Local Radio Company) and The Radio Business. One would have thought that set-up would have protected the station, but no. A town which started up its own radio station as a temporary project, then saw it blossom and be taken over by the big players, is left empty-handed. It would be nice to think that the chairmen of the three stakeholders would issue the same sort of grovelling apology as the bosses of our profligate banks. But don't hold your breath. Especially in Barrow, where they wouldn't be able to hear it anyway.
Chelsea can pay off Scolari's £6million a year contract while the likes of Morecambe and Chester can barely put 11 fit players on the park.
In the other crazy circus that is the media, Sky and Setanta can pay £1.78billion for rights to cover the Premier League while Barrow's local commercial radio station Abbey FM closes down.
Abbey's demise is more than the silencing of a community's voice. It is a sign that the big players who own most of our so-called "local" radio stations are not going to pussyfoot around when the going gets tough.
Abbey, which only gained a full licence in 2006, was owned by three large national companies: CN Group (owners of the Cumberland News newspaper group), TLRC (The Local Radio Company) and The Radio Business. One would have thought that set-up would have protected the station, but no. A town which started up its own radio station as a temporary project, then saw it blossom and be taken over by the big players, is left empty-handed. It would be nice to think that the chairmen of the three stakeholders would issue the same sort of grovelling apology as the bosses of our profligate banks. But don't hold your breath. Especially in Barrow, where they wouldn't be able to hear it anyway.
Monday, 9 February 2009
NO NEWS LIKE BAD NEWS
What a day! Adams out. Scolari out. And not just in sympathy with England's Test batsmen!
Bad news for big characters like these is good news for journalists. When things go wrong, public appetite for the media increases. People want to hear more, read more, and of course contribute more themselves via the numerous platforms which give everyone the chance to add their verdict.
Adams' exit was no surprise. Scolari's was. Chelsea's home form might not have been great but it's still a shock to see a man proven at the top level heading for the exit.
The day had already been significant for other, less spectacular reasons. Andrew Jennings, the sharpest thorn in the flesh of sports authorities worldwide, has resumed his attacks on FIFA vice-president Jack Warner. I won't flirt with the libel laws myself at the moment, but a visit to http://www.transparencyinsport.org/ will reveal more.
Today has also seen the launch of a new organisation to reperesent the interests of sports newspapers. The International Association of Sports Newspapers is based in Paris and the founding members are two papers from Spain and one each from France, Italy, Brazil and Argentina. The website, currently under construction, is www.press-iasn.org
Bad news for big characters like these is good news for journalists. When things go wrong, public appetite for the media increases. People want to hear more, read more, and of course contribute more themselves via the numerous platforms which give everyone the chance to add their verdict.
Adams' exit was no surprise. Scolari's was. Chelsea's home form might not have been great but it's still a shock to see a man proven at the top level heading for the exit.
The day had already been significant for other, less spectacular reasons. Andrew Jennings, the sharpest thorn in the flesh of sports authorities worldwide, has resumed his attacks on FIFA vice-president Jack Warner. I won't flirt with the libel laws myself at the moment, but a visit to http://www.transparencyinsport.org/ will reveal more.
Today has also seen the launch of a new organisation to reperesent the interests of sports newspapers. The International Association of Sports Newspapers is based in Paris and the founding members are two papers from Spain and one each from France, Italy, Brazil and Argentina. The website, currently under construction, is www.press-iasn.org
Sunday, 8 February 2009
BRING ON BOYCOTT
England's 51 all out against the West Indies in Jamaica was a spineless surrender and a national sporting disgrace.
The huge sums of money promised to Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (£1.1m each) to play for three weeks in the Indian Premier League sit awkwardly with this debacle. How can sportsmen who are valued so highly deliver so miserably?
If sport is in a megastar era, paying megabucks, it deserves performances to match. Supporters will not go on settling for insults like the one at Sabina Park. A year or so ago, Anton Ferdinand's car was vandalised after a series of dismal displays by his West Ham team. Loyalty is not so blind as not to notice when the mickey is being taken.
Still, Geoffrey Boycott's verdict on England's innings should be worth waiting for. It'll probably last longer than that innings too.
The huge sums of money promised to Kevin Pietersen and Andrew Flintoff (£1.1m each) to play for three weeks in the Indian Premier League sit awkwardly with this debacle. How can sportsmen who are valued so highly deliver so miserably?
If sport is in a megastar era, paying megabucks, it deserves performances to match. Supporters will not go on settling for insults like the one at Sabina Park. A year or so ago, Anton Ferdinand's car was vandalised after a series of dismal displays by his West Ham team. Loyalty is not so blind as not to notice when the mickey is being taken.
Still, Geoffrey Boycott's verdict on England's innings should be worth waiting for. It'll probably last longer than that innings too.
Saturday, 7 February 2009
NO ORDINARY JO
Jo looks like he will be a useful signing for Everton. He showed good touch and pace and was one of the key figures in Everton's 3-0 win over Bolton - scored two (one brilliant, the other a penalty) and created the other by inviting Andy O'Brien to trip him up which O'Brien obligingly did: another penalty, converted by Arteta.
Bolton were puzzlingly inert. A most un-Bolton-like performance, especially after their rousing finale against Spurs last week. Gary Megson made no excuses. Speaking to the press in the media room high up in the main stand, he described Bolton's performance as a non-event. "We will be relegated if we play like that." No-one could argue.
Can't help feeling that selling Kevin Nolan to Newcastle was a dumb move. Nolan's drive and commitment in midfield were missed today.
For Everton, Jo's debut reminded me of Duncan McKenzie's home debut for Everton some 30 years ago. The Brazilian wasn't as dominant as Duncan was on that day, but he produced the sort of skills which the Goodison crowd love, and scored one goal in open play and one penalty, just like McKenzie.
Bolton were puzzlingly inert. A most un-Bolton-like performance, especially after their rousing finale against Spurs last week. Gary Megson made no excuses. Speaking to the press in the media room high up in the main stand, he described Bolton's performance as a non-event. "We will be relegated if we play like that." No-one could argue.
Can't help feeling that selling Kevin Nolan to Newcastle was a dumb move. Nolan's drive and commitment in midfield were missed today.
For Everton, Jo's debut reminded me of Duncan McKenzie's home debut for Everton some 30 years ago. The Brazilian wasn't as dominant as Duncan was on that day, but he produced the sort of skills which the Goodison crowd love, and scored one goal in open play and one penalty, just like McKenzie.
CATCHING UP, LOOKING FORWARD
i-ontheball has been a blog-free zone recently. My excuse is that life has been very busy, but I guess it is when you are busy that blogging makes most sense. It's been a hectic time at the university with teaching back at full speed. Students in Year Three have been on placements and it's brilliant to discover how well they have done. The vast majority have had work published or aired and the feedback from host organisations has been uniformly positive.
Football assignments have taken me to the City of Manchester Stadium, the Reebok, and today I'm off to Everton v Bolton to see if either team can continue their encouraging form of last time out. I was there a week ago to see Bolton edge a lively game against Spurs with a late winner from Kevin Davies. Is it my imagination or have there been more crucial late goals this season than any other? It seems that every other week I and my fellow reporters have to do a late, hurried re-write when the game turns round in the final minutes and the Bolton game was yet another one.
At least by going to Everton in person I should be able to see the entire game, unlike the ITV audience for the replay against Liverpool.
But then, that is not entirely true. The view from the press box at dear old Goodison is so badly obstructed that the amount of action we can't see probably equates to the amount that ITV inadvertently blanked out on Wednesday.
Which brings me to one of the most significant developments of the week, and I'm not talking about Dan Gosling's goal, or even Setanta's retention of rights to Saturday football (which is good news for me personally). This week also saw the conclusion of the public inquiry into Everton's plans to build a new stadium in Kirkby. There are compelling arguments on both sides, and much for Hazel Blears to consider before she announces a decision. But beyond argument is the fact that Goodison Park is no longer abreast of modern stadia standards. The press facilities are just one example. In the 1970s, when I first turned up representing the Bootle Times, Everton and Aston Villa had the best media facilities. Since then, Villa have motored on, Arsenal, Manchester United and others have overtaken, and Everton have stayed rooted in a bygone age. Something has to change.
Liverpool fans gave their verdict on the Kirkby plan by throwing socks onto the pitch on Wednesday. It seems this was a symbolic insult, mocking Everton's plans by identifying them as "sock-robbers," a derogatory term for residents of Kirkby (and not one I'd heard till this week). It makes me wonder if those Liverpool fans are aware that two of the greatest players, Terry McDermott and Phil Thompson, came from Kirkby. And where is Liverpool FC's own academy? In Kirkby!
Football assignments have taken me to the City of Manchester Stadium, the Reebok, and today I'm off to Everton v Bolton to see if either team can continue their encouraging form of last time out. I was there a week ago to see Bolton edge a lively game against Spurs with a late winner from Kevin Davies. Is it my imagination or have there been more crucial late goals this season than any other? It seems that every other week I and my fellow reporters have to do a late, hurried re-write when the game turns round in the final minutes and the Bolton game was yet another one.
At least by going to Everton in person I should be able to see the entire game, unlike the ITV audience for the replay against Liverpool.
But then, that is not entirely true. The view from the press box at dear old Goodison is so badly obstructed that the amount of action we can't see probably equates to the amount that ITV inadvertently blanked out on Wednesday.
Which brings me to one of the most significant developments of the week, and I'm not talking about Dan Gosling's goal, or even Setanta's retention of rights to Saturday football (which is good news for me personally). This week also saw the conclusion of the public inquiry into Everton's plans to build a new stadium in Kirkby. There are compelling arguments on both sides, and much for Hazel Blears to consider before she announces a decision. But beyond argument is the fact that Goodison Park is no longer abreast of modern stadia standards. The press facilities are just one example. In the 1970s, when I first turned up representing the Bootle Times, Everton and Aston Villa had the best media facilities. Since then, Villa have motored on, Arsenal, Manchester United and others have overtaken, and Everton have stayed rooted in a bygone age. Something has to change.
Liverpool fans gave their verdict on the Kirkby plan by throwing socks onto the pitch on Wednesday. It seems this was a symbolic insult, mocking Everton's plans by identifying them as "sock-robbers," a derogatory term for residents of Kirkby (and not one I'd heard till this week). It makes me wonder if those Liverpool fans are aware that two of the greatest players, Terry McDermott and Phil Thompson, came from Kirkby. And where is Liverpool FC's own academy? In Kirkby!
Sunday, 11 January 2009
CONDUCTING THE ORCHESTRA
The media is not simply an observer and a message-carrier. It is also a big player in the daily drama of 21st century sport.
The last few days have seen great examples. First we had the newspapers, notably the Daily Mail, setting the agenda for the future of the England cricket captaincy. Matters which had been discussed in private took on new significance as soon as Kevin Pietersen's doubts about the coach Peter Moores surfaced in public. If the media had not shed light on that particular row, it is doubtful if the positions of both coach and captain would be appearing in the "situations vacant" column.
Then there were Rafa Benitez' high-profile accusations against Sir Alex Ferguson - allegations prepared with the specific aim of airing them in front of TV cameras. Vinny O'Connor, the Sky reporter who asked the question, told me yesterday at the Everton v Hull game that he had no idea that he would be rewarded with such a headline-grabbing response.
The response to Benitez' comments has been widely interpreted as an attack on Sir Alex. They were certainly that, but they were also an attack on the FA and Premier League authorities. Rafa has put their decision-making under the spotlight and one thing is for sure - the next time Fergie has a pop at Keith Hackett or any individual referee, or the compiler of the fixture lists, the authorities will be much less likely to reach for the brush to sweep it under the carpet.
The last few days have seen great examples. First we had the newspapers, notably the Daily Mail, setting the agenda for the future of the England cricket captaincy. Matters which had been discussed in private took on new significance as soon as Kevin Pietersen's doubts about the coach Peter Moores surfaced in public. If the media had not shed light on that particular row, it is doubtful if the positions of both coach and captain would be appearing in the "situations vacant" column.
Then there were Rafa Benitez' high-profile accusations against Sir Alex Ferguson - allegations prepared with the specific aim of airing them in front of TV cameras. Vinny O'Connor, the Sky reporter who asked the question, told me yesterday at the Everton v Hull game that he had no idea that he would be rewarded with such a headline-grabbing response.
The response to Benitez' comments has been widely interpreted as an attack on Sir Alex. They were certainly that, but they were also an attack on the FA and Premier League authorities. Rafa has put their decision-making under the spotlight and one thing is for sure - the next time Fergie has a pop at Keith Hackett or any individual referee, or the compiler of the fixture lists, the authorities will be much less likely to reach for the brush to sweep it under the carpet.
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