End of the line for the Football League Show

The end of the road

The Football League Show is to be axe has the BBC turn their backs on live League football and that was just 10 games and season. Next season they could be no football at all on the BBC, but for Match of the Day and two Carling Cup semi-final with those rights due to end.

Given the opportunity, I always prefer the BBC coverage of sport including Sky. The BBC share the rights to the Football League in a deal worth £264million with Sky who made the bigger contribute to the figure, but with no free-to-air TV rights sold to date it is left to Sky who have secured a three-year deal for £195million.

If looks as if the BBC are more interested in tying up the future of Match of the Day, which is up for tender next year. With the BBC, pulling out that only leaves ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 to pick up the free-to-air rights. However, there has been no rush to beat the doors down at the Football League offices for talks. The Football League are hopeful of a deal  with the BBC that will keep the football League Show on the air next season. Their is talk of a deal over highlights without the 10 live game which could then be offer to other broadcasters.

Maybe they are waiting to see if they can get the rights on the cheap or something, which will not help the league club with less money to go around. It is sure to hit Cardiff City balance sheet with less money coming in  while at the top table of the Premier League pockets are over flowing with TV cash.

The Football League Show is on far too late just before midnight and unlike Match of the Day don’t have a second screening on TV. You have to watch via the red button or Iplayer someone like my ageing dad don’t want to play around with remote controls.