Early Doors - Your morning briefing blog

Setanta bubble bursts

Wed Jun 24 09:05AM

If the demise of Setanta tells us anything, it is that the gap between the Big Four and the rest is even bigger than we thought.

We all know about the gulf in wealth between the Premier League's haves and have-mores, but in terms of interest and support, the margin is even greater.

Setanta needed 1.9 million subscribers to stay afloat, but fell well short principally because their package of live rights did not include enough matches involving elite teams.

Theirs were the third-choice games, tucked away on a Saturday or a Monday evening, while Sky continued to trumpet its Grand Slam Slam Dunk Home Run Shock 'N' Awe Sundays with full Big Four privileges.

And that was that. Because, at the end of the day, who is going to pay £10 a month to watch Middlesbrough v Fulham or Sunderland v Portsmouth?

In the mass market, people only care about the Big Four. It is the same story on this and every other website.

Interest in articles involving the top clubs vastly outstrips the rest of the division. So you only have yourselves to blame the next time you see an 'Alvaro Arbeloa breaks toenail' story on these pages.

There is a second tier comprising Tottenham, Everton, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City and, er, Newcastle, but the bottom tier is ratings poison - unless, of course, they are getting six thumped past them at Old Trafford.

Go abroad and what do you see? Knock-off English football shirts being sold everywhere. But you won't find any 'Little 16' shirts on that market stall in Marrakech. Apart from the odd anomaly like Fulham's popularity in Korea, it is a solid diet of big names.

One of the more amusing consequences of the 39th game plan would have been Kuala Lumpur coming to terms with the fact that it had been assigned Stoke versus Burnley.

For all the supposed financial might of English football, the Big Four are propping everyone else.

Former culture secretary Andy Burnham has called for a more even distribution of wealth, but already the big are subsidising the smaller to the tune of tens of millions per season.

Half of TV money is split evenly, a quarter is based on performance and a quarter on the number of televised matches. In 2007/08 Manchester United received the most, £49m, and Reading the least, £30m. It is not parity, but it is a long way removed from what each club could fetch if they sold their own TV rights on the open market.

ED isn't calling for greater inequality - just for recognition that the appeal of the Premier League is reliant on a worryingly small percentage of teams.

Can things change at the top? Chelsea have shown that they can, but only if you have pots of cash and Jose Mourinho. A decade ago, nobody would have put them in the country's four biggest clubs.

Then a run of seven consecutive top four finishes, four domestic cups and a Champions League final made them hard to ignore. But Manchester City must start winning things before they can truly refer to themselves as 'massive'.

Although Setanta's demise was painfully predictable, Early Doors sympathises with the 200 people who have lost their jobs (well, most of them - that Mourinho puppet can rot in hell).

Fans never took to Setanta because they didn't care about competition. Most of them already had Sky, and now they were being asked to shell out more cash for the same football.

And they had to go to the pub to watch England games, a situation made worse by the lack of any highlights package on terrestrial TV.

You have to say the writing was on the walls when travelling England fans chanted "We hate Setanta" during the away World Cup qualifier against Andorra.

It was the most virulent attack against a TV institution since the Tartan Army unveiled their spectacular "We hate Jimmy Hill, he's a poof, he's a poof" campaign.

Finally, here's a pub quiz question that may rear its ugly head at some 'noughties' nostalgia night in the not-distant-enough future: Which player was the subject of the final top story in the setanta.com football section?

The answer: Dinamo Zagreb striker Mario Mandzukic.

- - -

Douglas watch: After mocking Brazilian wunderkind Douglas yesterday, Early Doors asked you to defend the name's honour, and you obliged with a fine selection.

British table tennis great Desmond Douglas

Fictional teen doctor Doogie Howser, M.D.

TV's most Scottish man Dougie Donnelly

Isle of Man capital Douglas

Hollywood royalty Douglas Fairbanks

Former US Army chief Douglas MacArthur

Internazionale right-back Douglas Maicon

Boxing giantkiller James 'Buster' Douglas

Punchline and man without a spade Douglas

First President of Ireland Douglas Hyde

Actor and cleft chin purveyor Kirk Douglas

All Black and car park menace Doug Howlett

- - -

QUOTE OF THE DAY: "Sometimes you have to spend a little bit more. You can't compete in the top four of the Premier League unless you spend some money. We were looking for a player of quality and also somebody who is British because of the new Champions League rules. Glen Johnson fits both categories." Rafa Benitez does his best to convince himself that £17m Johnson is a bargain.

FOREIGN VIEW: Another Manchester United transfer target looks like slipping through their fingers if you believe Marca (which you probably don't). Real Madrid have apparently given up trying to sign David Villa and are instead in advanced talks with Lyon over Karim Benzema.

COMING UP: Spain v USA in the Confederations Cup, plus all the usual transfer silliness. And Early Doors hereby grants you permission to get your tennis on.

Comments61 - 90 of 332
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#62 - I have the skysports package but I think you only get 2 s.hitty channels from ESPN, surely we will have to pay extra!
From who_are_ya_85 on Wed Jun 24 10:36AM
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Remember Ian DOUGLAS Smith, the late former Prime Minister of Southern Rhodesia, then Rhodesia, then Zimbabwe-Rhodesia, and back to Southern Rhodesia, before finally settling for the name Zimbabwe under the permanent leadership of a certain Robert Mugabe.
From mpofutpz on Wed Jun 24 10:36AM
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Wow, fair enough. If we do get it free via Sky then bonus! I guess we will just have to check out the schedules for next year. And I'll have to rejig my dads Sky for him. Again. Old people and technology - not good bedfellows!
From danny_saks on Wed Jun 24 10:39AM
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Kev I was just saying to Bobo that we will end up paying more for it
From annieh97 on Wed Jun 24 10:40AM
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Has everyone forgot about Douglas from the Lurpack advert
From hart1lfc on Wed Jun 24 10:46AM
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57.How much does ESPN cost?
From who_are_ya
IT COST NOTHING YOU CAN EVEN GET IT ON YOUR I PHONE(ONE OF THE APPS IS TVU PLAYER)
THERE ARE NUMEROUS SITES WITH LINKS FOR FREE
BUT I WOULD RECCOMMEND TVANTS PLAYER WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE GAMES
IF YOU ARE MARRIED YOU MIGHT WANT TO BUY A BIGGER MONITOR OR A SECOND TELLY TO CONNECT TO LOL
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 10:46AM
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THANKS ANNIE;AND YES I DO KNOW THE REPREBATES YOU MENTION(MOST OF THEM ARE THE SAME PERSON LOL)
AND YES I LOVE THE BANTER (AND ABUSE LOL)
BUT IT SEEMS SOMEPEOPLE ARE NOT PLAYING ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD
MENTALLY OR TECHNICALLY LOL
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 10:51AM
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#69 - That's sounds like a spamming advert to me mate. lol
I have TVU player on my laptop but quality of the streams are gash and they cut out regularly! I shall fork out the required money to watch it in comfort.
From who_are_ya_85 on Wed Jun 24 10:53AM
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Paul Parker shut up, head in the clouds isnt it
From mrbearphotography on Wed Jun 24 10:56AM
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They had the english games as wee, the only thing that put me off was the £35 subscription charge, or 1 off charge, if they didn't have that, i would of brought there box and paid the £10 monthly fee, but i thought that 1st charge was a rip off so i just went down the pub for the england away games.
From postmanpatcan on Wed Jun 24 10:59AM
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toplfcfan has someone been faking you all then and playing techie games?
From annieh97 on Wed Jun 24 10:59AM
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71.#69 - That's sounds like a spamming advert to me mate. lol
I have TVU player on my laptop but quality of the streams are gash and they cut out regularly! I shall fork out the required money to watch it in comfort.
LOL I SUPPOSE I DESERVED THAT
AS FOR THE PLAYERS I AM NOT FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO HAVE SKY OR TO PAY FOR IT SO FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS I HAVE HAD TO USE THE INTERNET.
FIRSTLY JUST WATCHING CHINESE CHANNELS AND NOW WITH THE LUXURY OF ENGLISH COMMENTRY
NO SOME DONT STREAM PERFECT BUT WITH 3 DIFFERENT PLAYERS I HAVE NOT MISSED
A GAME YET
IN AN IDEAL WORLD I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE SKY AS WELL
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 11:01AM
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Does it matter Top Liverpool fan as long as the game is played
From annieh97 on Wed Jun 24 11:02AM
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Best news of the day that Setanta has gone bust, I had their package last year which for some reason when a premier league match was on the picture went off, when i complained they said it was bad weather ( SNOW ) in Luxembourg, Anyone who builds a satellite receiver in Luxembourg with all its snow deserves to go under, feel sorry for the people who lost their jobs except Adam on customer services, WHAT A WASTE OF SPACE, try McDonalds son better prospects.
From pjones66631 on Wed Jun 24 11:02AM
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74.toplfcfan has someone been faking you all then and playing techie games?
From annieh97 on
OH YES (THEY ARE VERY VERY GOOD)
CLONED ME ,WIPED OUT 2 PAGES OF CONVERSATION
WHEN I CHANGE PROFILE SO DOES HE ITS PERFECT
FOR 10 minutes I THOUGHT I HAD TOURETTES
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 11:03AM
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"the gap between the Big 4 and the rest is even bigger than we thought."
You're actually surprised? Your claim that the PL 'is the best league in the world' is only passable because of the Big Four. The rest provide them
with little competition, especially the ones with an English manager. I usually always watch the big 4 against each other but I dont watch ManU vs Wigan/Sunderland/Reading etc because you know its 3-0 or higher. I prefer Seie A because there at least the smaller teams know how they should play against the bigger ones. Chances of Wigan getting a pt vs ManU 3%, chances of siena getting a pt vs Inter 30%. Less predictable, more entertaining, at least for me.
From perrydente on Wed Jun 24 11:05AM
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What...that Mourinho puppet was the only good thing on there, them puppets were funny i thought.
From postmanpatcan on Wed Jun 24 11:08AM
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74.toplfcfan has someone been faking you all then and playing techie games?
From annieh97 on
LOL I TAKE YOUR POINT
ANYWAY YAHOO DONT CARE AND NIETHER DOES ANYONE ELSE SO ID BETTER JUST GET OVER IT
LOL
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 11:08AM
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BYE FOR NOW ANNIE SEE YOU THIS EVENING
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 11:11AM
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Carl Douglass (Kung fu Fighting)
From paulwebb914 on Wed Jun 24 11:13AM
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toplfcfan all you have to do is take all the alternatives @yahoo.com, @yahoo.co.uk @yahoo.rocketmail.com and @yahoo.ymail.com then they cant do it
From annieh97 on Wed Jun 24 11:14AM
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See ya laters toplfcfan have a good one
From annieh97 on Wed Jun 24 11:17AM
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84.toplfcfan all you have to do is take all the alternatives @yahoo.com, @yahoo.co.uk @yahoo.rocketmail.com and @yahoo.ymail.com then they cant do it
From annieh97 on Wed Jun 24 11:14AM
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THANK YOU THAT IS THE ONLY SENSIBLE ADVICE I HAVE HAD. BUT FOR SOME REASON I HAVE A DIFFERENT ID IN THE EVENING AND ITS THAT THAT IS CLONED EXACTLY. BUT I WILL TAKE YOUR ADVICE THANK YOU
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 11:18AM
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Setanta? What is Setanta?
From cokrowinoto on Wed Jun 24 11:49AM
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Arbeloa who?????
From kaggwa2000 on Wed Jun 24 12:04PM
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Who would wanna pay to watch that dross at sunderland full stop - not me that's for sure!
An insignificant, backwater club, only known becuase of the fame of its near neighbours up the road.
From cameronwestwood on Wed Jun 24 12:20PM
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89 - and you are...? ;)
From danny_saks on Wed Jun 24 12:25PM
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STOP CRYING SU.CKY LIVERPOOL FAN!!!
From toplfcfan on Wed Jun 24 12:25PM
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The whole problem is the likes of Sky promoting and pushing the top four, I for one would not be overly happy or inclined in watching Chelsea V Man Utd, because lets be honest, self respecting true football supporters support their home team and dont go glory hunting. So anyone for Wolves V Burnley on Sky ? Guess not, but Joe Smith A.K.A. who lives in London would love to watch Man Utd v Liverpool. So all you suckers keep paying the ridiculously high Sky subscription fees.
From denise64cat on Wed Jun 24 12:26PM
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LMAO Its you LMFAO
From annieh97 on Wed Jun 24 12:28PM
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