By Mark Baber
December 3 – With UK television regulator Ofcom’s review of the issue likely to drag on for months, Virgin Media’s chief executive Tom Mockridge has stepped up the campaign for 3pm Saturday kick-offs to be televised with a blog post on the Virgin Media site and briefing for sports journalists.
Mockridge argues that “UK football fans are getting a raw deal. They pay at least twice as much to watch half the games as fans in the rest of Europe.” Hoe puts part of the blame for this situation on the fact that, “This season there will be 380 Premier League games played but only 154 will be available to watch live on TV, denying many loyal fans the opportunity of seeing top-flight games on the small screen.”
Mockridge backs up his argument with research (commissioned by Virgin Media) which finds, “more than three quarters (of fans) believe that they pay too much to watch live football. What’s more, just 6% of fans say they are able to watch every live match they want to on TV at home.”
Mockridge points out that in the US all 380 Premier League games are available live meaning “UK football fans living in the States can enjoy more live Premier League football on TV than those in the UK.”
Speaking to journalists, Mockridge appealed directly to the Premier League saying, “Consumers are entitled to make their own choices rather than have other people make them for them.”
“The Premier League argues there is a consumer benefit in limiting the number of matches. We would argue the opposite. I am not criticising the Premier League. Richard Scudamore has done a terrific job for them but it’s up to Ofcom to act as the referee. Their primary aim is to protect the consumer. What is the consumer benefit in showing only 40% of the games on TV?”
Mockridge has appealed to fans who agree with him to unite behind the #MoreBalls hash tag.
The investigation by Ofcom of Virgin Media’s complaint against the Premier League rights may not report for another year (with any changes unlikely to come into effect until 2012-2022). Both the Premier League and the Football Supporters’ Federation argue the 3pm blackout window on a Saturday is important to safeguard attendance in lower league football.
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