Originally Posted by p_c_u_k:
“The problem with Scottish football is there are relatively few bankers that would get a big commercial audience.
Old Firm matches and Scotland games get a disproportionate audience to any other game that takes place, which most of Scotland wouldn't watch if it was taking place in their back garden.
Unfortunately for STV, Old Firm and Scotland games have a market outside the country. It may be one that's not mainstream and fairly small, but subscribers of sports channels will be interested in them, so it makes commercial sense for Sky to take them on.
The test is whether what STV would pay for these games would be met by advertising and sponsorship. Given the price has been pushed up over the years, and that the publicly-funded BBC would be in for them as well, I fear the answer is no.
I would bring back the sports discussion programme btw. The audience for the Old Firm is just so big that any sort of talk about them whatsoever gathers a huge audience. One upon a time we had an era where Clyde, Real and Radio Scotland all had football programmes at the same time, and Real have only moved away from that because it won't fit with future plans to change it into Heart. People are obsessed in this country, particularly in the west of Scotland, but unfortunately (for me, as I don't like the Old Firm) outwith as well.
Thing is, I think STV's playing a political game at the moment. The independence referendum date will be announced today, there's always a danger of ITV swooping into to buy them, and the future of the Border region is under discussion. They want to demonstrate to politicians and opinion formers that they still have a role to play. Hence the likes of localising STV News and producing Scotland Tonight will do more to win those people over than ratings-grabbing (but presumably expensive to produce) football shows.”
“The problem with Scottish football is there are relatively few bankers that would get a big commercial audience.
Old Firm matches and Scotland games get a disproportionate audience to any other game that takes place, which most of Scotland wouldn't watch if it was taking place in their back garden.
Unfortunately for STV, Old Firm and Scotland games have a market outside the country. It may be one that's not mainstream and fairly small, but subscribers of sports channels will be interested in them, so it makes commercial sense for Sky to take them on.
The test is whether what STV would pay for these games would be met by advertising and sponsorship. Given the price has been pushed up over the years, and that the publicly-funded BBC would be in for them as well, I fear the answer is no.
I would bring back the sports discussion programme btw. The audience for the Old Firm is just so big that any sort of talk about them whatsoever gathers a huge audience. One upon a time we had an era where Clyde, Real and Radio Scotland all had football programmes at the same time, and Real have only moved away from that because it won't fit with future plans to change it into Heart. People are obsessed in this country, particularly in the west of Scotland, but unfortunately (for me, as I don't like the Old Firm) outwith as well.
Thing is, I think STV's playing a political game at the moment. The independence referendum date will be announced today, there's always a danger of ITV swooping into to buy them, and the future of the Border region is under discussion. They want to demonstrate to politicians and opinion formers that they still have a role to play. Hence the likes of localising STV News and producing Scotland Tonight will do more to win those people over than ratings-grabbing (but presumably expensive to produce) football shows.”
I'll pick up on this part for discussion - but isn't STV playing a very dangerous game with politics?? I personally think STV IS the SNP propaganda machine as far as I see being honest and not as most people say BBC - you just got to look "behind" the STV led sponsored programming ie Their charity or a worst example "the greatest scot" they were all backed by the SNP government and regarding the referendum didn't STV get sponsored a whole week with "The Sun" and oh look coincidence or not BOTH announced it the same day makes you think doesn't it?

I ain't into much politics but I just look at more outside the box and do the "maths"
thats what I make of it




And Ray Mears disappears from the STV schedules next week - another explanation for the viewers? No chance.
.... yet we have Murder She Wrote/House Gift and Midsomer Murders (wonder what happens if match over ran .... guess another "filler" would be stuck on
And repeats of Cornwall & The Dales make random appearances on Sunday afternoon & Friday night respectively - no sign of the "new" Ray Mears series though!