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Helsinki Edition About Us |
Man U's own goal In the aftermath of the vastly popular World cup this summer the pitch has been overshadowed by the boardroom. David Beckham and Posh Spice aside the big story in British football this season has been Sky's plans to take over Manchester United. This proposed union between a premiership club and a major media company has resulted in much criticism from many papers. Murdoch already rights to televising British football's premiere league. The news was revealed by The Sun. Here it was portrayed as being a great idea as they claimed benefits for fans as prices for players and facilities are shared with the TV audience. However this is not very suprising when you consider that this paper is already owned by Rupert Murdoch. The Times, also owned by Murdoch, also praised the deal. BSkyB is already creating a TV station for Manchester United. Buyin the club itself will guarantee a dominant position in any future TV deals, assisting in the lucrative pay-per-view business. In Europe there is already precedent for such mergers. Former Italian Prime Minister and media mogal Silvio Berlusconi owned AC and a TV empire. In France the TV channel Canal Plus own Paris St German. In the US a small station becam huge when its owner, Ted Turner, scrreened the games of his baseball team the "Atlanta Braves"" and put it on satelite. Murdoch already has interests in baseball and basketball teams in the US. Also in Britain the late, great (well obese) Robert Maxwell owned a large stake of Oxford United. However the rest of the press were not as positive. The Guardian accused Murdoch of "Reducing Old Trafford to a TV studio". The Mirror used the hadline "Red Devil" which contrasts sharply with The Sun leader "Gold Trafford". Supporters Unite Against Murdoch - fight takeover. Try to persuade other shareholders to vote against Sky offer. Prevent Murdoch removing club from stock exchange - affairs kept public. Synronising sport and media. The football ground will be the TV studio. British soccer as a national instituation developped a cancer six years ago when Rupert Murdoch brought the TV rights to the premiere league. Now it seems that cancer could be in dnager of becoming terminal. It appears obvious that Murdoch's aim is to dominate popular football. Gareth Andrewertha |
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