The agreement, which means that terrestrial channels will not be permitted to show any Southend matches other than those in the FA Cup, excluding ITV Sport’s highlights package, sees 70 Football League matches broadcast per season. With 55 of these coming in the Coca-Cola Championship, around ten League One clashes are set to be shown next year.
After the success of the screening of all fifteen play-off encounters for the 2004/5 season, including Blues’ 0-0 draw with Northampton Town, the second leg 1-0 triumph and ultimately the promotion-deciding extra time thriller with Lincoln City at the Millennium Stadium, SKY will once again have exclusive rights to these fixtures, with a similar programme likely to be announced. All three finals, at the new Wembley Stadium, will definitely be shown, as will 15 live Carling Cup ties and the final of the LDV Vans Trophy.
Football League chairman and former Conservative Party MP Sir Brian Mawhinney commented to the Football League website, www.football-league.co.uk, “This tremendous news caps what has been an enormously encouraging season for the Football League. Crowds have increased yet again, as have viewing figures and we are also delivering on the promise we made to increase our club’s commercial revenues.”
Vic Wakeling, the Managing Director of SKY Sports, declared impressively, “In SKY’s comparatively brief history, we have covered every one of the 72 Football League clubs live, home or away, in cup or league. We look forward to continuing this in-depth coverage over the next four years. We think this deal is good for football and good for SKY Sports subscribers.” ITV’s deal has also been extended by three years to take them to June 2009.
Meanwhile, at the League’s Annual General Meeting, it was decided that they would be keeping a close eye on club’s ticketing policies. Clubs will now have to submit a pricing plan, distributed to all the other clubs in their division, which outlines their charges for the upcoming campaign. This is not to be changed after it has been agreed, unless in special circumstances and at the agreement of opposing sides.
It was also agreed that in a ground with only standing areas for away fans, those supporters should be charged no more than 90% of the cheapest ticket available in a home seating area. Away followers cannot be charged above 10% more than home fans when they are deemed to have superior accommodation to their compatriots. The rules have been put in place immediately.
Robert Craven
www.thelittlegazette.com