Scudamore Not Ruling Out Pan-european TV Deal
Speaking exclusively at the Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club in front of a packed room of leading industry executives, Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive Officer of the Premier League, did not rule out the idea that the new TV deal, which will run from 2013, could be pan-European rather than domestic, while medical procedures will also be reviewed following Fabrice Muamba’s collapse at the weekend.
Mark Pougatch asked if loyalty to Sky Sports would count for anything ahead of the new deal, the broadcaster having supported the Premier League for 20 years – amid growing speculation that broadcasters including Al Jazeera could provide a rival bid.
Scudamore explained: ‘Loyalty counts in many senses but remember that our current arrangements are regulated heavily, and our packages are put out into the open market and we have to have an open tender for those packages.
‘Fundamentally, our packages have to be issued on the open market, they have to be sold to the highest compliant bidder, and they have to be sold on a stand-alone basis.
‘There’s not a decision yet on whether or not we will make a domestic deal. One of the implications of the ECJ decision is that we are still working on whether we might sell the rights on a pan-European basis.’
Scudamore also announced that the Premier League will review their medical procedures following Fabrice Muamba’s cardiac arrest, to ensure stricken players receive the best possible care.
Scudamore praised officials and medical staff for saving the Bolton midfielder’s life during the club’s FA Cup tie at Tottenham last Saturday.
The level of care Muamba received after collapsing at White Hart Lane owed much to the fallout from the fractured skull suffered by Chelsea goalkeeper Cech five-and-a-half years ago.
‘Incidents and events shape policy, shape developments, shape progress,’ said Scudamore.
‘What we will certainly be doing is looking at every aspect of what happened and if there are ways and means of improving, if there are ways and means of making it better in the future – just like we did in 2006/07 following the Petr Cech incident – we will do everything we can to make sure we reduce to the point of elimination, if we possibly can, things like that.’
‘There are no guarantees but we will do whatever we can to improve.’
The Premier League CEO also responded to questions regarding the behaviour of Sir Dave Richards at the International Sport Security Conference in Qatar last week.
Addressing the room, Scudamore said: ‘At the end of the day, he’s apologised, he apologised sincerely, he’s rung the people who – if he has offended – he knows he may have offended and he’s dealt with it.’
‘Clearly, that’s a reflection that he knows what he said was wrong and misguided. It doesn’t reflect the Premier League’s views. He’s away on foreign shores.’
‘It detracts from him, it detracts from the Premier League’s image, I suppose. But the reality is he’s done his stint at the Premier League, he’s done a fantastic job, and he’s done more for good causes, charity stuff, the stuff that never gets mentioned.’
Meanwhile, asked whether the Premier League would consider inviting Celtic to join the competition, the league’s CEO stated that the answer was no, and he does not envisage the situation changing.
‘Our rules are simple, it says we are a league formed for clubs from England and Wales and I don’t see that ever changing. We’re doing alright as we are, we’re still pretty popular without them. I think there’s more in it for them then there is for us.’
The Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club will convene again at Bloomberg on Tuesday 19th June for a morning with 2011 Road World Champion and winner of the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2011, Mark Cavendish. To join the club, click here.
