Sports Economist Yavuz Çandır evaluates the past and present of the Süper Lig broadcasting tender: What will the Union of Clubs do?

Selçuk Ahmet ÇELİK- 12punto.com.tr

Sports Economist Yavuz Çandır evaluated the process regarding the Süper Lig broadcasting tender for 12punto.com.tr.

Çandır made statements regarding the Turkish league's broadcasting tender process, the broadcasting tenders secured by clubs in Europe, and the highly prevalent issue of pirate broadcasting in Turkey.

(Sports Economist Yavuz Çandır)

THE PAST AND PRESENT OF FOOTBALL BROADCASTING IN TURKEY

Stating that it is useful to evaluate the issue of the broadcasting tender in Turkey from the past to the present, Çandır said:

''With the 90s, the Süper Lig broadcasting tender was under 100 million dollars. With the year 2000, the broadcasting tender crossed the 100 million dollar threshold. This situation continued gradually until the 2010s. In 2017, a tender record was broken. There was a tender of approximately 500 million dollars that season. However, when we reached 2022, the broadcaster beIN Sports wanted to walk away from the table. Because the figure was extremely high. The federation's expectation was also around 350-400 million dollars. However, the broadcaster offered 60-70 million dollars. In other words, it wanted a decrease of approximately 80 percent. At that time, a two-year contract was signed for 100 million dollars for the broadcasting tender between the Federation and the broadcaster. At the end of the two-year agreement, the broadcaster wants to acquire the league tender again. However, a discount is expected. But these are things we see entirely through news reports.''

ILICALI AND SARAN ARE INVOLVED

Stating that in addition to beIN Sports, Acun Ilıcalı and Sadettin Saran are also in the broadcasting tender in Turkey, Çandır said, "It is said that a broadcaster from England or a different European country also wants to enter the tender. It is said that Saran and Acun Medya will enter the tender together in Turkey. However, a different situation has emerged here. The Union of Clubs has also purchased the tender file," he said.

WHY DID THE UNION OF CLUBS PURCHASE THE FILE?

Emphasizing that there is no legal obstacle to the Union of Clubs purchasing the broadcasting file and that the broadcasting tender prices in Turkey are very low, Çandır said, "By purchasing this file, the Union of Clubs gains the right to sell league matches to the institution it wishes. Purchasing the broadcasting file means a basic offer. Because this crisis between the Union of Clubs and the broadcaster has been going on for about the last 3-4 years.

A 25 percent discount was made towards the last seasons with the Broadcaster. Problems had started since that day. Clubs say, 'Our revenues are in Turkish Lira, our broadcasting revenues are very low. For these reasons, we cannot compete with our rivals in Europe.' That is why the Union of Clubs plans to win the broadcasting tender this period and sell these broadcasts itself. But of course, I am not sure if they can win. I also have no information on this subject. However, the current figure is already in the 80-90 million dollar band. A figure of 200 million dollars is being discussed for the upcoming period. It is said that the TFF's expectation is 250 million dollars, and the figure the broadcaster will provide will be 200 million dollars.

Of course, there is also the situation of the price rising and falling. A serious decline occurred in the broadcasting tender held two years ago. No winner emerged in the first round of the broadcasting tender. The offers came in very low. It was decided to continue with the current broadcaster beIN Sports in the tenders held for the second time. However, I am also waiting to see what will happen at the point reached.

In the current process, the party that purchased the broadcasting file is the Union of Clubs, which paid 300 thousand liras for the broadcasting file. But of course, I am not very sure when the result of this broadcasting tender will end. But it could be in April or May. Until that day, every institution can purchase the specifications," he said.

BROADCASTING TENDER PRICES IN EUROPEAN LEAGUES

Stating that when Europe's five major leagues are compared with the Turkish League, there is a very serious difference in terms of club revenues, Çandır continued his words as follows:

''When looking at the broadcasting tenders in Europe, which we see as rivals, it is seen that the Premier League is approximately 1.9 billion euros. It is exactly 10 times the broadcasting tender figures we are talking about. The German Bundesliga is at the 1.1 billion euro level, and La Liga is at the 900 million euro level. Serie A is 800-850 million dollars, and France is in the 500 million band if I am not mistaken. In other words, the broadcasting revenues of the leagues of the clubs we see as qualified rivals are at these levels. They start their annual revenues with approximately 7 times more broadcasting revenue than us every year.

When this is the case, and when the Federation's current success premiums are also in Turkish Lira, a serious rise in the exchange rate has occurred in recent years. We see that 80 percent of salaries and other expenses are in euros. Only Turkish players are given contracts in Turkish Lira. Therefore, this broadcasting tender pushes the clubs into a major problem.''

THE ISSUE OF PIRATE BROADCASTING

Making statements regarding the illegal broadcasting problem in Turkey, Çandır said, ''Illegal broadcasting in Turkey is of course one of the important factors in the broadcasting tender falling so much. For example, Turkish Cup matches are broadcast on open channels. But Süper Lig matches are broadcast by beIN Sports. The broadcasting rights for European matches belong to EXXEN. Therefore, football fans can follow Turkish Cup matches without paying money on open channels. But you have to pay for EXXEN and beIN Sports.

Now, for example, you want to watch a match from the Spanish League; you have to subscribe to the broadcaster to watch this match. When I calculated it two years ago, if you tried to buy all the decoders, it corresponded to approximately 500 TL. Now, when examined this year, it is probably around 2,000 TL. Now, instead of buying these, people prefer to follow the matches via illegal broadcasts,'' he said.

Stating that illegal broadcasts are outside the law, Çandır said, ''Of course, it must be said that this pirate broadcasting is primarily outside the law. At the same time, by following illegal broadcasts, you are also harming the club you are a fan of. Of course, it could be much more effective for broadcasters to go for a bit more of a discount by taking into account the economic conditions in the country or to broadcast the programs as a single package. In other words, it could bring it to a more relaxing point both for the sports fan and for the broadcaster. But of course, I don't know if it will happen or not,'' he said.

EUROPEAN CUP MATCHES TENDER

Finally, evaluating the broadcasting tender for European Cup matches announced last week, Sports Economist Yavuz Çandır said, ''Starting from next year, European matches have moved to TRT. There was also a serious increase in figures there. It was said that before this, EXXEN had acquired European matches in the 25-30 million dollar band.

Now, the figure that TRT will pay is 100 million dollars per season. This corresponds to an increase of approximately three times. Thus, European matches will also be broadcast on open channels,'' he concluded.

News Source: Selçuk Çelik