Broadcasting crisis in football grows: Prices exceed rent

With the start of the leagues in Turkey, interest in football matches has increased once again. However, even though the third week of the league has passed, many businesses in areas where fans frequently watch matches are still not broadcasting them. The biggest reason for this is the rapidly increasing broadcasting costs.

While it is alleged that the broadcaster is charging businesses up to 2.6 million liras, reactions are growing. The increase in the broadcasting rights fee from 400 thousand liras last season to 2.6 million liras this season represents a 550 percent increase.

Business owners argue that the broadcasting fee is equal to or higher than their shop rent, and that this cost will be passed on to customers, which will seriously harm the football economy.

Sector representatives in Beyoğlu, Beşiktaş, and Kadıköy made assessments regarding the ongoing broadcasting crisis.

According to the news on NTV, there has been no response yet from the BeIN Sports side regarding the criticisms.

“BROADCASTING RIGHTS ARE ALMOST TWICE THE RENT”

Aydın Ali Kalaycı, President of the Beyoğlu Entertainment Venues Association (BEYDER), reminding that there are 31 weeks left until the end of the league, said that ''when the 1.2 million lira fee is divided by the weeks, it results in a broadcasting expense of approximately 39 thousand liras.''

Claiming that broadcasting prices have risen from the 400 thousand lira level to 2.6 million liras, Kalaycı said that ''rents are around 80 thousand liras, and the broadcasting right is almost twice the rent.''

He stated that ''due to price increases, only 10 out of 50 businesses in Nevizade were able to purchase broadcasting rights.''

''THE STATE NEEDS TO INTERVENE''

Stating that matches of Anatolian teams are not watched in venues in Turkey, Kalaycı said, ''he noted that Fenerbahçe-Galatasaray derbies are the most watched, and there is no demand for other teams' matches. For this reason, broadcasting fees are much higher for derby matches.''

BEYDER President Kalaycı expressed that ''the broadcaster has not set an official tariff, and therefore the state needs to intervene in the matter.''

Emphasizing that low-income families in Anatolia will not be able to watch matches at these prices, Kalaycı said that ''fans are not visiting Nevizade, and the venues remain empty. He stated that tea, which is 30 liras in cafeterias, could rise to 100 liras on match days, and this would harm the football economy.''

''ONLY 1 BUSINESS IN KADIKÖY PURCHASED IT''

Mr. Süleyman Erdal Eroğlu, President of the Kadıköy Tradesmen Association (KADIDER), ''said that until two years ago, 150-200 businesses in Kadıköy were broadcasting matches, this figure dropped to 20 last year, and this year only one business was able to purchase the right to broadcast matches.'' Eroğlu claimed that ''3 million 450 thousand liras were requested for this as well.''

Eroğlu said that ''they want an increase in match broadcasting fees at the rate of inflation.''

''30-40 PERCENT OF TRADESMEN COULD NOT PURCHASE BROADCASTS''

Mehmet Mehdi Dalmaz, President of the Beşiktaş Tradesmen Association, stated that prices in the Beşiktaş region are more affordable compared to other regions, and said, “30-40 percent of the tradesmen could not purchase broadcasts. In Beşiktaş, broadcasting rights were sold for 700-750 thousand liras to non-alcoholic venues, and for 1-1.2 million liras to venues serving alcohol.”

Dalmaz made the assessment that due to price increases continuing in this manner, these costs will be passed on to consumers and that small tradesmen will be crushed under this burden in a few years.