TV new deal?

[Hawk127]

6 hours ago, moxey63 said:

Speedway is like that bloke, Michael Carroll, who won £9.7 million on the lottery in 2002 but blew it all within eight years and had to return to his old job as a bin man.

 

He lived near Kings Lynn and use to race bangers. Any relation to the esteemed leader of the sport in this country.

It is unfortunate but the halcyon days have gone. Speedway is no longer viable as a professional sport and to add to the dire situation the weekend’s debacle only puts another nail in the coffin on this once great sport. If it is not too late I cannot i believe it is time to re-trench and look inwardly at all that does not work and consider regrouping and start again. To be brutal It has no appeal to younger audiences, the diehards are drifting away in droves and the riders live in cloud cuckoo land when it comes to thinking it is a viable option to making a living. If BT sport walk who can blame them. Having followed speedway since 1969 it is sad to see that the sport has lost its way and that the light at the end of a tunnel may well be another train coming. It has to take on board all that is wrong and stop burying one’s head in the sand. BSPA/ Clubs, wake up you do not have a viable business proposition and must work together to find a solution for the  benefit of all. Carry on in your silos and speedway is dead.

[PHILIPRISING]

19 hours ago, moxey63 said:

The SKY coverage during the first 10 years at least should have put speedway on a sound footing. Had real business people been running the sport, no doubt it would have done.

For two-to-three years from 1999 there were real signs speedway was on the up. Crowds seemed to be improving and SKY really did recognise viewing figures were good for its network of channels. We had our faces painted and kids were let in for a quid on the evening SKY rolled up for a live broadcast. There did seem to be a hint of proper promoting by those who had lazily worn the tag for yonks beforehand.

But it didn't really last. It drifted into being taken for granted, speedway being on TV every week, and sometimes twice. I felt the sport - promoters and fans - thought SKY and the influx of cash would always be there. We even began having long faces when certain matches weren't on SKY, despite all they had done for us. Fans began getting picky when commentators were pronouncing riders' names wrong, or if certain teams featured more than theirs.

That afternoon SKY had its cameras set up for the Riders' Championship at Coventry, when the promoter was scrambling on the floor looking for the dummy he'd just spat out, that was the final nail for SKY. They had so many rained-off meetings towards the end, I believe they decided to cut their loses. They were a professional broadcasting company working within an amateur sport. They couldn't drag it up to their level. For example, how many times did live matches overrun?

BT have only half-heartedly accepted it, but we should be thankful for small mercies and not start bickering of who's doing a bad job and who you'd like to see on the panel.

I often look at some of the dross SKY are covering during the summer months and cannot believe how SKY messed up its opportunity and no longer featured. As a fan, I don't really know the ins and outs. But I do recall the amount of money SKY used to shell out setting up all the gear, and then the match was washed out. They aren't a charity and won't put up with it. BT also.

I look at speedway, 20 years after SKY could have saved it, and see a dangerous shortage of riders with clubs having to share them, like the last cigarette being passed around by kids behind the bike sheds. I see clubs going weeks without a match in the height of summer, which will surely mean some fans will simply get out of the habit and get used to the cash in their pockets.

Meanwhile, fans are expected to tune in to the GPs and see many of the riders (or their type) who put two fingers up at Britain and merely used it like a Tom Cat when the female was in season. Fans are expected to turn up trackside and support riders in their team who aren't even their riders. It's like visiting someone in hospital you don't know and wishing them to get better. It's not someone you know and love. In fact, you ask yourself why bother turning up at the bedside every week to wish someone you don't know get better.   

Looking at British speedway right now, I see remnants of what might have been, ghosts of live matches on SKY and all the missed opportunities.

That could have been the sport's saviour. It should have. But look at it now.

How many lives does it have remaining for British speedway to mess up?

   

 

 

 

DIFFICULT to argue with any of that...

[racers and royals]

Saga Magazine this month(shows my age ) full page Speedway article(GP and domestic)  "armchair sport! by John Aizlewood(award winning writer). Decent article, he obviously did some research about the history of the sport.

couple of quotes

With BT Sport`s coverage seducing a new audience, it`s ticking over very nicely , thank you.

Dirty ? yes smelly ? yes loud ? yes. And rather wonderful ? oh, yes

Edited July 23, 2019 by racers and royals

[SteveLyric2]

The big questions re the new BT negotiations which are supposed to be concluded by end August 2019, are if BT are pleased with their League viewing figures (I am led to believe they are!!) and will there be enough/any money heading to the BSPA? The end-August deadline is so that the BSPA can decide on the 2020 league format in readiness for the November AGM.

Whatever we all think of the current standard of British racing, there are still some promoters who (rightly?) believe that we are selling the sport too cheaply - hence the rumblings about streaming their own meetings and compiling a magazine-type programme which could be flogged/given to a specialist channel like Premier/Freesports/Quest or similar.

[Odds On]

after the debacle of Team GB at the weekend, who in their right mind would want to go anywhere near British speedway as it stands right now?

[moxey63]

2 hours ago, Odds On said:

after the debacle of Team GB at the weekend, who in their right mind would want to go anywhere near British speedway as it stands right now?

But, do you know what, I don't get upset with what Team GB do anymore. When you grew up supporting your local team first, then the riders who often went off in various directions for the British League Individual events, if England ( as it was at the time) did well, that was extra custard on your crumble. It was better of course if your club favourites - Peter Collins and Chris Morton - brought the World Pairs back for England and Belle Vue.

They may look the part in their team suits, but I can't say I could gain any National pride cheering on Cook, Harris or Lambert.  Would much rather roar on a local side in domestic racing.

Edited July 23, 2019 by moxey63

[Hawk127]

4 hours ago, moxey63 said:

But, do you know what, I don't get upset with what Team GB do anymore. When you grew up supporting your local team first, then the riders who often went off in various directions for the British League Individual events, if England ( as it was at the time) did well, that was extra custard on your crumble. It was better of course if your club favourites - Peter Collins and Chris Morton - brought the World Pairs back for England and Belle Vue.

They may look the part in their team suits, but I can't say I could gain any National pride cheering on Cook, Harris or Lambert.  Would much rather roar on a local side in domestic racing.

Totally agree. Supporters need to recognise that team GB, England or whatever you want to call the motley crew of riders racing under the banner are with one exception no real match for those who race at GP, Euro or Polish league speedway.

Why do people bang on about the overseas contingent not riding in in the UK when in fact they could not give a fig about British speedway. The current state of the sport offers up the ideal opportunity to regroup and foresake all that has gone before.

Time to look after number one and re-build from the bottom up. Those riders who cannot commit to weekly racing in the U.K. between April and September, go ply your trade elsewhere. Build with what we have, invite overseas teams for test matches and forget Poland, ask Germany, Italy, France, Norway, Czech, etc. and get to watch riders who will only grace these shores is these type of matches. Bring back the interest in seeing overseas riders at test matches only. Work on a U K open individual championship, and look at a league format that has riders competing with equal ability rather than machines and stop the nonsense of throwing money at bikes and instead give riders machines that are standard so that all competitors really have to look at their track craft and hone their skills rather then rely on the gate and go aspect of the sport. The sport may once have been part time and a hobby for some riders but it was much more of a level playing field when it came to machinery. Oh for the days when it was announced that a rider was using the track spare. A reality check is needed before it reaches the point of no return. To those in charge, be dynamic, be forceful and stop living in a dream world.

[Byker Biker]

10 hours ago, Skidder1 said:

The big questions re the new BT negotiations which are supposed to be concluded by end August 2019, are if BT are pleased with their League viewing figures (I am led to believe they are!!) and will there be enough/any money heading to the BSPA? The end-August deadline is so that the BSPA can decide on the 2020 league format in readiness for the November AGM.

Whatever we all think of the current standard of British racing, there are still some promoters who (rightly?) believe that we are selling the sport too cheaply - hence the rumblings about streaming their own meetings and compiling a magazine-type programme which could be flogged/given to a specialist channel like Premier/Freesports/Quest or similar.

It's a simple choice. BT want a 2 year deal the BSPA only want 1 so that they can pursue alternatives. Lets be honest if cost effective streaming generates more revenue for the sport it can't be ignored but streaming is, without doubt Kelvin, the way that tv is going. The Corporate world is already buying airtime on streaming servers and taking options on propositions, 2 major international household companies I work with have already set up digital broadcast facilities, it's happening and within 2 years you will not know which way to turn, a bit like Internet radio now.

[Speedtiger]

On 7/22/2019 at 12:15 PM, moxey63 said:

The SKY coverage during the first 10 years at least should have put speedway on a sound footing. Had real business people been running the sport, no doubt it would have done.

For two-to-three years from 1999 there were real signs speedway was on the up. Crowds seemed to be improving and SKY really did recognise viewing figures were good for its network of channels. We had our faces painted and kids were let in for a quid on the evening SKY rolled up for a live broadcast. There did seem to be a hint of proper promoting by those who had lazily worn the tag for yonks beforehand.

But it didn't really last. It drifted into being taken for granted, speedway being on TV every week, and sometimes twice. I felt the sport - promoters and fans - thought SKY and the influx of cash would always be there. We even began having long faces when certain matches weren't on SKY, despite all they had done for us. Fans began getting picky when commentators were pronouncing riders' names wrong, or if certain teams featured more than theirs.

That afternoon SKY had its cameras set up for the Riders' Championship at Coventry, when the promoter was scrambling on the floor looking for the dummy he'd just spat out, that was the final nail for SKY. They had so many rained-off meetings towards the end, I believe they decided to cut their loses. They were a professional broadcasting company working within an amateur sport. They couldn't drag it up to their level. For example, how many times did live matches overrun?

BT have only half-heartedly accepted it, but we should be thankful for small mercies and not start bickering of who's doing a bad job and who you'd like to see on the panel.

I often look at some of the dross SKY are covering during the summer months and cannot believe how the sport messed up its opportunity and is no longer featured. As a fan, I don't really know the ins and outs. But I do recall the amount of money SKY used to shell out setting up all the gear, and then the match was washed out. They aren't a charity and won't put up with it. BT also.

I look at speedway, 20 years after SKY could have saved it, and see a dangerous shortage of riders with clubs having to share them, like the last cigarette being passed around by kids behind the bike sheds. I see clubs going weeks without a match in the height of summer, which will surely mean some fans will simply get out of the habit and get used to the cash in their pockets.

Meanwhile, fans are expected to tune in to the GPs and see many of the riders (or their type) who put two fingers up at Britain and merely used it like a Tom Cat when the female was in season. Fans are expected to turn up trackside and support riders in their team who aren't even their riders. It's like visiting someone in hospital you don't know and wishing them to get better. It's not someone you know and love. In fact, you ask yourself why bother turning up at the bedside every week to wish someone you don't know get better.   

Looking at British speedway right now, I see remnants of what might have been, ghosts of live matches on SKY and all the missed opportunities.

That could have been the sport's saviour. It should have. But look at it now.

How many lives does it have remaining for British speedway to mess up?

   

 

 

 

Very good post. You hit the nail on the head, Sky was a great opportunity to develop and build a strong base for the sport. Unfortunately a big chunk of the cash was pocketed by one TR and the rest blew on unsustainable rider pay. Them days will never return as sports broadcasting has changed forever and sadly speedway just doesn’t figure. I’m told that the current BT deal is rubbish and in real terms brings in zero cash. The clowns at the BSPA are to blame, them and only them have now destroyed the sport which is beyond repair. How many clubs at the end of October will go the way of Workington, Lakeside, Rye House, Coventry, Oxford? Your guess is as good as anyone’s!! 

[geoff100]

On 7/22/2019 at 1:39 PM, iainb said:

I think Golden Doubles were more of a cost saving exercise, as for Play-Offs, that's the price you pay for having TV coverage, only Football has the financial clout to be able to say no to Play Offs

Football only has the clout because of sky money

[moxey63]

7 hours ago, geoff100 said:

Football only has the clout because of sky money

But football is properly run. No golden goal when a team is behind; no doubling up and down; players not commuting and facing burn-out and impacting overall performance for each team; no not knowing if the match is on or off, or what time it'll end; supporters getting to know their team for longer than a couple of weeks before musical chairs and the big shake-up for the play-off begins..... I could go on. 

Football has the clout because of SKY money; but SKY has the clout because of football.

Speedway had its chance with SKY cash. But, as that annoying saying goes: We are where we are.

Only Boris Johnson is allowed so many chances to mess up.

[steve roberts]

8 minutes ago, moxey63 said:

But football is properly run. No golden goal when a team is behind; no doubling up and down; players not commuting and facing burn-out and impacting overall performance for each team; no not knowing if the match is on or off, or what time it'll end; supporters getting to know their team for longer than a couple of weeks before musical chairs and the big shake-up for the play-off begins..... I could go on. 

Football has the clout because of SKY money; but SKY has the clout because of football.

Speedway had its chance with SKY cash. But, as that annoying saying goes: We are where we are.

Only Boris Johnson is allowed so many chances to mess up.

...and, of course, the mass media covers football to a saturation level which obviously adds to the appeal which encourages the masses to endorse the game.

Edited July 24, 2019 by steve roberts

[IainB]

7 hours ago, geoff100 said:

Football only has the clout because of sky money

Yes... but the PL know they could get just as much money by going to BT, Amazon, Disney etc. Which puts the PL in a postion of strength... look at the lower leagues, they have play offs all be it not for the top spot

[Speedtiger]

7 hours ago, geoff100 said:

Football only has the clout because of sky money

Agreed geoff, but you can not compare any other sport to football it’s on another planet. Having Sky Sports on board superbly promoting the sport live weekly at prime time was a golden opportunity and then losing them was a fatal mistake. The sport should have worked together with Sky to develop the sport instead Sky was seen by the BSPA as a ‘problem’ that were taking fans from the terraces. As has been proved time and again the people running the BSPA are clueless clowns. Sadly nothing will change with numpties Chapman and Godfrey in charge.

[steve roberts]

9 minutes ago, Speedtiger said:

Agreed geoff, but you can not compare any other sport to football it’s on another planet. Having Sky Sports on board superbly promoting the sport live weekly at prime time was a golden opportunity and then losing them was a fatal mistake. The sport should have worked together with Sky to develop the sport instead Sky was seen by the BSPA as a ‘problem’ that were taking fans from the terraces. As has been proved time and again the people running the BSPA are clueless clowns. Sadly nothing will change with numpties Chapman and Godfrey in charge.

I was never sure at which market speedway being on SKY was aimed at...was it to attract new supporters and/or sponsorship or for the benefit of those already attending? Unfortunately it achieved neither for reasons that have been discussed many times over the superseding years.

[Daniel Smith]

24 minutes ago, steve roberts said:

I was never sure at which market speedway being on SKY was aimed at...was it to attract new supporters and/or sponsorship or for the benefit of those already attending? Unfortunately it achieved neither for reasons that have been discussed many times over the superseding years.

The main aim was over a 5yr plan, first and formost to make the sport more professional. 

2nd was an attempt to bring more money in to keep the "star" men. 

3rd was advertising 

4th, maintaining existing supporters

5th, being attractive enough to encourage new fans. 

What's actually happened in the 20yrs of television is absolutely none of the above. 

In fact, from 1999 to today the sport in the uk has declined in horrendous fashion. 

Even die hards have given up and walked away, new millenia fans have come and gone. 

This sport in the UK is in serious need of a defibrillator 

[SteveLyric2]

10 hours ago, geoff100 said:

Football only has the clout because of sky money

Sky only have the clout because of the advertising/sponsorship revenue from the gambling companies. If the law changes more to block gambling companies from their TV advertising and sponsorship then Sky and football will be up s#!t creek!

[mikebv]

A promoter once told me that the "Sky Money" basically paid for the EL No1..

As it was circa £110k per team not a bad little earner for your '3rd job'..

Think they also got £10k a match to cover any crowd shortfall..

Literally MILLIONS handed out to riders, (and tuners) over 20 years to deliver what we have today..

Truly a criminally sad joke...

 

[Tsunami]

26 minutes ago, mikebv said:

A promoter once told me that the "Sky Money" basically paid for the EL No1..

As it was circa £110k per team not a bad little earner for your '3rd job'..

Think they also got £10k a match to cover any crowd shortfall..

Literally MILLIONS handed out to riders, (and tuners) over 20 years to deliver what we have today..

Truly a criminally sad joke...

 

Ha Ha.

Not quite the right spin on it again. When it was confirmed, it was understood to be a reward to the promotions to maintain the team strengths, and as expected a most needed increase in the income stream to keep speedway more viable. Certain powerful riders from another country, upped their demands followed by home riders in the same class. That filtered down to lesser riders , and in order to keep SKY happy and retain the top riders, the promoters were forced to cave in just to retain the status quo. You could blame the promoters, like you usually do, but the alternative would have been vastly reduced team strengths, and SKY possibly rethinking the deal as the UK speedway bosses would have been though to not delivering their side of the deal. The potential windfall reluctantly went to riders, who held the them Elite League promoters to ranson.

A very sad joke indeed but for different reasons to yours.

[waytogo28]

6 hours ago, Daniel Smith said:

This sport in the UK is in serious need of a defibrillator 

What it needs and what it's going to get are two very different things. Nothing except vastly better racing on standardised bikes ( as in the Nice trial ) is going to bring in new fans. That really could be a saviour for the UK sport, if rider power does not thwart it.