Football on TV in Thailand - Quo vardis?
by Russ John
First of all let me preface this piece with an admission. I am a lazy, sofa loving, “watch all sport on TV jockey” who by dint of early retirement has the luxury of sitting at home most weekends (and often weekdays) watching sport on the tellie!!
Without a particular sport on TV and particularly live sport on TV, that sport will die. Taken away from the sofa hugging masses, the sport surely will quietly evaporate from the sporting public’s mind like a lump of lard melting in a warming frying pan.
It’s not just the viewing, it’s the accompanying publicity and exposure - the news bulletins, the newspaper reports and the “ineterweb thingie” stuff generated by TV coverage that forbids us, the public from letting it sink into memory.
I well remember ,way back in the UK, when sports such as athletics and speedway were televised, sometimes at peak viewing times - everyone knew the names of the top athletes and riders and viewers eagerly awaited their weekly fix. Then petty squabbling over money led to the lack of coverage and the aforementioned sports lapsed into sports that only real enthusiasts could be bothered to take an interest in.
The EPL is a classic example of a sport being able to maintain a worldwide presence, with all the commercial opportunities that that provides, by negotiating preferential TV rights. Of course it goes goes without saying that revenues from TV rights keeps most sports and football clubs in particular afloat financially.
The ongoing impasse that is currently consuming the thoughts of football fans in Thailand is the threat of a potential financial crisis for Thai clubs caused by an ongoing spat between the FAT and current TV rights holder Truevisions. The old adage that “the farmer and the cowpokes should be friends is relevant here.
At this point, a note to football administrators everywhere, do not fall out with the company that is your major source of income. The fact that the FAT did not consult with Truevisions about dropping the number of clubs in the TPL with the obvious reduction on number of fixtures that can be televised and the refusing to negotiate on the restart of the current season are examples of a complete lack of consultation and communication been the two parties The marriage of Truevisions and the TPL is a marriage made in heaven - a local, reliable national TV provider, surely a mutually advantageous deal could be and should be hammered out.
So with True TV coverage about to cease in October, the spectre of no TV coverage for the current season after that date and other companies hovering, praying mantis like, for a cut price deal that no one else is interested in could spell a financial apocalypse for Thai football.
I can’t help thinking that powerful Truevisions have given the FAT the proverbial two fingers and I don’t blame them - wake up FAT , don’t forget who butters your bread !!
One thing is for sure if a TV deal is not done, Thai football will die a painful death!!
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