BBC Berks Live commentary is no more....Oh yes it is!

Dawn · by **Dawn** » 21 Jul 2006 12:12

Just been rereading the official sites report about 107 winning the commentary rights:

Reading FC Chief Executive Nigel Howe said, "With promotion to the Premiership, the media rights of Reading Football Club have increased in value considerably.

"We are delighted that Reading 107 have been able to meet the new valuation and we look forward to assisting them with their live coverage.

"We greatly value our long-term partnership with BBC Radio Berkshire, but unfortunately on this occasion they haven't been able to match the valuation for live commentary rights.

"We will of course continue work closely with all our local media, and Reading fans will also be able to benefit from greatly increased national media coverage."

Does this suggest that RFC put a set value on the commentary rights for next season and that if BBC RB had met this value they would have had commentary rights along with 107? Rather than the club giving exclusive rights to the highest bidder??

floyd__streete · by **floyd__streete** » 21 Jul 2006 12:27

CocoPops YET again it comes down to money and not the benefit of reaching a wider audience.

Exactly. Parochial decision making from the bean counters at the MadStad.

Bowman's Quiver · by **Bowman's Quiver** » 21 Jul 2006 12:30

Dawn Just been rereading the official sites report about 107 winning the commentary rights:
Reading FC Chief Executive Nigel Howe said, "With promotion to the Premiership, the media rights of Reading Football Club have increased in value considerably.

"We are delighted that Reading 107 have been able to meet the new valuation and we look forward to assisting them with their live coverage.

"We greatly value our long-term partnership with BBC Radio Berkshire, but unfortunately on this occasion they haven't been able to match the valuation for live commentary rights.

"We will of course continue work closely with all our local media, and Reading fans will also be able to benefit from greatly increased national media coverage."

Does this suggest that RFC put a set value on the commentary rights for next season and that if BBC RB had met this value they would have had commentary rights along with 107? Rather than the club giving exclusive rights to the highest bidder??

From what I understand that isn't true. I've heard that a figure in the region of 70K was offered for the rights by BBCRB which is the going figure for the product on offer.

Did 107fm really bid more than that? Or is this just a cynical attempt to save a dead duck?

WestCoast Life · by **WestCoast Life** » 21 Jul 2006 12:36

if the club wanted to maximise revenue they could have opened it up to all-comers at £70K (or whatever) each, even 210.

Wycombe Royal · by **Wycombe Royal** » 21 Jul 2006 12:38

For Reading FC to have made more money out of this surely Reading 107 must have bid at least double what BBC Berks bid unless of course RFC's intentions were to have exclusive rights.

For example Reading 107 bid £70k and BBC Berks bid £50k. To maximise revenue they could give boths rights at £50k, rather than accepting one at £70k.

Mad Dog's Ghost · by **Mad Dog's Ghost** » 21 Jul 2006 12:43

Wonder if other clubs have exclusive deals with just one radio station that broadcasts little further than 5 miles from the ground?

Are we going to see a bidding war between The Chronicle and The Post for the honour of being RFC's official paper.

PR-wise this whole stunt makes the club look petty and small time. Hope the money's worth it

Smillie's Dive · by **Smillie's Dive** » 21 Jul 2006 12:54

If it is £70,000 - in the context of a premier league football club, that is a tiny sum of money to risk the goodwill of the fanbase for. Who do they think will fill the extra seats in the madstad one day?

JC · by JC » 21 Jul 2006 13:07

Mad Dog's Ghost Wonder if other clubs have exclusive deals with just one radio station that broadcasts little further than 5 miles from the ground?

Are we going to see a bidding war between The Chronicle and The Post for the honour of being RFC's official paper.

PR-wise this whole stunt makes the club look petty and small time. Hope the money's worth it

Is the point here that the exclusive deal is with the radio station owned by JM?

STAR Voice · by **STAR Voice** » 21 Jul 2006 14:08

STAR has responded on this issue - see http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45280

Platypuss · by **Platypuss** » 21 Jul 2006 14:47

Stranded The majority of those live in Reading, which 107 covers (and I would imagine they stream on the internet as well)

Only if you subscribe to Readingworld, of course.

STAR Voice · by **STAR Voice** » 21 Jul 2006 14:59

Stranded The majority of those live in Reading, which 107 covers (and I would imagine they stream on the internet as well)

From the March 2006 official RAJAR figures, the difference in audience reach between the two stations is 514,000 (771,00 minus 257,000) And this only relates to people over the age of 15).

That's over half a million people who now are unable to receive Reading FC commentaries by radio because of this decision.

Alan Partridge · by **Alan Partridge** » 21 Jul 2006 15:01

STAR Campaigns STAR has responded on this issue - see http://hobnob.royals.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=45280

STAR in showing they will actually stand up to RFC in something shocker.

Spot on response and glad to hear it.

Woodcote Royal · by **Woodcote Royal** » 21 Jul 2006 15:18

Dirk Gently IMHO an absolutely outrageous decision, which no-one can support.

Meanwhile, BBC Berks, who have provided the club with masses of free publicity even back when we were sh*t and in Tier 3, are dropped like a stone, leaving the number of fans able to hear radio coverage of their team massively reduced - and all at a time when it's harder then ever to get access to see the team play live.

Without reading all 9 pages, this sums it up for me.

Even Radio Berkshire's coverage isn't great in some directions but I07's is an absolute joke

The Madstad will be full and those who can't attend deserve some radio commentary that can be heard in their cars when more than just a few miles from the Stadium................................this is a disgusting decision by someone who I doubt wants to be named!!!!

RoyalBlue · by **RoyalBlue** » 21 Jul 2006 15:24

WestCoast Life
Dirk Gently Their agenda is to maximise revenue for all of JM's companies, at the expense of past (and potential future) customers of just one of those companies.

Wrong.

Nigel Howe works for Reading FC. Reading 107 is a separate business.

No doubt 107 are paying more than BBC Berks - they will be able to increase the advertiser rates for premiership coverage. I guess there will also be loads of programme sponsorship, premium lines for phone-ins etc. BBC is paid for out of the TV license and is not as flexible.

And Nigel Howe is really going to upset his boss at RFC who also happens to own 107?

The pile of shyte called 107 will only be able to increase advertiser rates/revenue if they can show that people are listening to their RFC coverage.

What's more, if supporters kick up enough stink about 107, the advertisers are likely to avoid that station like the plague for fear of becoming impregnated with the unpleasant odour.

Let's do for 107 what the Scousers did for The Sun (that's not wishing to belittle what happened to prompt that campaign).

earley_royals · by **earley_royals** » 21 Jul 2006 15:43

Doesn't bother me as I'll be at virtually all of the games if there are any I do not go to I shall watch Soccer Saturday.

PieEater · by **PieEater** » 21 Jul 2006 16:17

This is just a ploy by his Madj to get rid of spoiling goal announcements in the chat room that arrive minutes before Reading World notices a goal's been scored.

Rob-Royal · by **Rob-Royal** » 21 Jul 2006 16:22

earley_royals Doesn't bother me as I'll be at virtually all of the games if there are any I do not go to I shall watch Soccer Saturday.

It's so heart warming to know that RFC has followers who care about more than just themselves and can add valuable contributions to these boards........

fozzy · by **fozzy** » 21 Jul 2006 18:30

a further thought....
CAR STICKERS

It was only when leaving the office today that I discovered a bad mistake I'd made. At the Derby(?) game I innocently took a Premier Partner car sticker from a young lady (I was excited about the promotion 'n' all that) and stuck it in my car.

It's only today i really realised what it is... a bloody 107FM sticker.

I have burned it.

KILL THE 107FM CAR STICKERS!!

YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!! RIP IT OUT NOW!

earley_royals · by **earley_royals** » 21 Jul 2006 19:15

Rob-Royal
earley_royals Doesn't bother me as I'll be at virtually all of the games if there are any I do not go to I shall watch Soccer Saturday.

It's so heart warming to know that RFC has followers who care about more than just themselves and can add valuable contributions to these boards........

Simply stating the facts.

earley_royals · by **earley_royals** » 21 Jul 2006 19:18

fozzy KILL THE 107FM CAR STICKERS!!

YOU KNOW YOU CAN DO IT!! RIP IT OUT NOW!

Calm down.

BBC Berks Live commentary is no more....Oh yes it is!

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