Eleven Sports boss says a Super League wouldn't generate the big money promised on TV
By Samindra Kunti in Brussels
January 13 - Eleven Sports Group CEO Marc Watson has said the creation of a European Super League will not bring more commercial money from broadcasters into the football market.
Speaking in the Belgian capital at a La Liga event, Watson said: "The current ecosystem is quite efficient. A European Super League will not add much more value to the market. Big games are probably the most important of all.
"There's real value in scarcity. One of the values generated by the Champions League is the fact that some of these big clubs don't play each other week in and week out (and) when they're playing , it's a special occasion. It's often a knockout event at this stage (of the competition) as well, and that creates a lot of value."
"I'm not saying the new format, a Super League, wouldn't take money. I'm saying it wouldn't create an exponential amount of fresh money entering the market."
Watson questioned the financial benefits of a future European Super League, but said as a broadcaster there is always interest in a new product, even if the money in the market is limited . Watson: “A broadcaster is always interested in new properties, but the value of sports rights is capped. There is no huge pot waiting to be unlocked."
Union St Gilloise president Alex Muzio has argued that the focus should be on redistributing broadcast revenue more fairly, warning that the inequality in the European game and the creation of a European Super League endangers long-term competition.
Muzio's club were a positive disruptor of the competitive balance in the Belgian top flight, challenging for the league crown last season and maintaining their fine form this campaign, but Muzio said even a club in full boom as Union struggled to compete due to a lack of redistribution at the top of the game.
"The model is too skewed at the top. Champions League teams and big clubs are getting too much money and it's not being redistributed. We have a big problem. Some clubs – like Bayern Munich – are winning relentlessly. UEFA's money has become so huge and the other team in the league cannot compete. We all want competition," Muzio said.
Last season, Munich won the Bundesliga title for the 10th time in a row. In Belgium, Brugge have emerged as the dominant club enjoying the benefits of their consecutive Champions League. They will face Benfica in the Champions League Round of 16 while Union will represent Belgium in the Europa League Round of 16.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1673611833labto1673611833ofdlr1673611833owedi1673611833sni@i1673611833tnuk.1673611833ardni1673611833mas1673611833
By Samindra Kunti in Brussels
January 13 - Eleven Sports Group CEO Marc Watson has said the creation of a European Super League will not bring more commercial money from broadcasters into the football market.
Speaking in the Belgian capital at a La Liga event, Watson said: "The current ecosystem is quite efficient. A European Super League will not add much more value to the market. Big games are probably the most important of all.
"There's real value in scarcity. One of the values generated by the Champions League is the fact that some of these big clubs don't play each other week in and week out (and) when they're playing , it's a special occasion. It's often a knockout event at this stage (of the competition) as well, and that creates a lot of value."
"I'm not saying the new format, a Super League, wouldn't take money. I'm saying it wouldn't create an exponential amount of fresh money entering the market."
Watson questioned the financial benefits of a future European Super League, but said as a broadcaster there is always interest in a new product, even if the money in the market is limited . Watson: “A broadcaster is always interested in new properties, but the value of sports rights is capped. There is no huge pot waiting to be unlocked."
Union St Gilloise president Alex Muzio has argued that the focus should be on redistributing broadcast revenue more fairly, warning that the inequality in the European game and the creation of a European Super League endangers long-term competition.
Muzio's club were a positive disruptor of the competitive balance in the Belgian top flight, challenging for the league crown last season and maintaining their fine form this campaign, but Muzio said even a club in full boom as Union struggled to compete due to a lack of redistribution at the top of the game.
"The model is too skewed at the top. Champions League teams and big clubs are getting too much money and it's not being redistributed. We have a big problem. Some clubs – like Bayern Munich – are winning relentlessly. UEFA's money has become so huge and the other team in the league cannot compete. We all want competition," Muzio said.
Last season, Munich won the Bundesliga title for the 10th time in a row. In Belgium, Brugge have emerged as the dominant club enjoying the benefits of their consecutive Champions League. They will face Benfica in the Champions League Round of 16 while Union will represent Belgium in the Europa League Round of 16.
Contact the author of this story at moc.l1673611833labto1673611833ofdlr1673611833owedi1673611833sni@i1673611833tnuk.1673611833ardni1673611833mas1673611833
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