This post really echo's my own thoughts. I don't expect it to affect home crowds really but can see extra revenue being made from those supporters who rarely go to away matches bar the biggies.

I think it sounds positive, every game of TV and the VR at all games, adding some level of consistency to games. Ok there is a drop in money, but all games on TV, gives clubs and the league an the opportunity to earn money extra ways.

Not really surprised Sky have dropped the figures, I'd love to see the viewing numbers compared to 5 years ago, nearly everyone I know doesn't play for Sky but watch on a firestick instead.

I'd be interested if they go down the our league route for the non Sky and C4 games (and I presume they will, with the trials this year) how it will work, who gets the money, is it the home team, will it go in a central pot and be divided. I hope they offer some kind of season ticket to watch all games, like the NRL do with Watch.

Everybody I know has has got rid of Sky and has got a firestick as well.

Sky has lost several sports to competitors but still charge over the odds.

People have simply had enough of being ripped off and it serves them right.

That's it in a nutshell, for many its just far too pricey these days and not value for money, but then SKY aren't alone in this as even streaming sites are now watering down what you get for current subscriptions by moving some of the content to other subscription channels they then set up.

Nobody using a firestick can moan that the deal has gone down as they are part of the problem with the lost revenue from sky and also not counting in the viewing figures l

And people who go to games are to blame too. There I am sat in the stand with rugby going straight in my eyeballs with not a penny going to Rupert Murdoch.

To be fair though Steve lost revenue from ex subscribers now using firesticks throughout the country doesn't seem to impact on what they are prepared to pay for Premier League rights.

Murdoch hasn’t owned Sky for a while.

Although all money flows to him and his ilk eventually.

The reasons RL rights aren’t worth much are much bigger than RL, although better governance, leadership and competitive balance would mitigate things, the sport is largely a victim of circumstances beyond its control. It has always had to adapt and it will again - to digital innovations, to medical concerns and to economic challenges. At the moment it does feel like we’re slowly heading back to a semi-pro game on this side of the world, unfortunately. A small reduction in the Sky fee is a big deal in real terms, given what inflation has been like over the last year or so.

Also could mean they get some income in from overseas channels, there are Sports channels out there wanting cheap filler, also people are increasingly betting on random sports from around the world, thats a big reason the NRL are taking games to Vegas.

People who use fire sticks must be responsible for the hike in pass prices next year because of the fall in Sky revenue

I thought the idea was to get more fans into the grounds.
Cant see how live screening all S/L matches will do that.
IMG also came in supposedly with a no fee model where they make their money on increased crowds.
Not that i believe that but if that were the case and they are part of this negotiating team on TV rights then its another nail in their coffin.
12 years might last two

There's also the chance that more coverage through TV audiences via Streaming ,C4 or Youtube besides Sky could give the game more exposure to a wider audience thus possibly encouraging new fans to take in a live game .

To be fair I don’t think that’s something that IMG can do directly as that’s surely down to each individual club be it SL or below. Creating better over all coverage for the game itself and getting more exposure will help the game get more fans in to the grounds. Whilst I’ve been a little critical of IMG there is only so much that they can do and I get the impression there is still a reluctance by certain sections of SL to get on board of move forward.
The clubs and game sometimes hinders its progression due to the internal politics and a narrow minded view.

IMG wanted to scrap magic weekend, clubs voted against it, IMG wanted to scrap loop fixtures, clubs have voted against it...can't now say IMG aren't helping the game when the clubs reject their ideas, same self serving clubs holding the game back

Once again they bring in people to help improve the game and the clubs themselves continue with their narrow minded views & self interest within the game ignoring what the fans of the sport say. The loop fixtures are a farce and bring the integrity of the competition in to question as it creates an unlevel playing field with lopsided fixtures. Either play more games so they play every team once more or not at all, not play half the teams on a random lottery based on final league positions the previous season. The clubs need to look at themselves as individuals and a collective when they wonder people are losing faith in the game and nothing changes.
Not point continuing bringing in people to change things to rake the game forward when they just continue to keep their heads in the sand, ignoring change and carrying on with blinkers on.