IMG Reliance may not officially drive the merger but everything will be dictated by them to maximise their revenue .....what I expect them to allow is:- is a 12 team 4 month league on current ISL lines, rest of the season and the domestic calendar can go to the dogs as it happens now.
The teams will " tie up" with a local school to pretend they have age group teams and academies...no new investments there
ISL is making loss alright. But that doesn't mean IMG-R would like to offload it. Each of the loss-making clubs are valued much higher than the amount of money the individual promoters have put into. This is because of the whole package of the league they play in -- telecast, sponsorships, organized club structure, (promise of) better infra (plus the LED boards). When the ownership change hands, the owners get huge return. IMG-R gets a share.
One would be a simpleton if one thinks IMG-R would throw these all away for a new league, particularly when they had made the investments.They would fight tooth and nail to retain the ownership of the league, in any form.
They dont need to own the league to make money, on the contrary, they will continue to loose money as the years go by. MLS is a brand because the US isnt a weeny in world football same with China, they are way better than us. IMG would be smart enough to realize that sooner they focus on their core competency the better it is for them money wise. Running a league, owning 8 teams, the entire administration is not something it would like to be associated with in the long run. When they came in, AIFF had killed the product called ileague, so they didnt have something to sell. Now that they have made a semblance of a product which can be sold, IMG would most probably want to go back to what it came for, market it, sell it, make money. Nurturing, spoon feeding, adminstering a football league in an unmature market on a long term basis is not a money making business.
P.S. End of the day. the NT or atleast a couple of players need to perform at a global level to really popularise the game but that wont happen in next 10 years atleast.
People need to realise the best position that IMG- REL can be is to be a mere Media & Marketing Partner for the Merged League. Its very costly to maintain and run the league.. Its easier to just sell it off to AIFF and get Marketing rights for say 10 years at throwaway prices. (Like SKY in EPL @ 1992 when they were coaxed the top 20 clubs to breakaway and there by got a long term contract as a gift)
I feel its a Win-Win situation were IMG-REL lets go of its ownership and obtains a domestic & overseas media rights long term. Individual franchises will be then taken up in a closed merger deal with other i-league clubs or go for the highest bidder.
IMG- REL have a 15 year deal to have exclusive rights on sponsership, advertising, Broadcasting, Merchandising, Video, Franchising & Rights to create and run the new league (ISL)
Sponsorship, Advertising, Merchandising & Rights to create a new merged league rights can be given up to AIFF who will take it up at a central pool level am sure. By giving up to AIFF the pending money of say 700 crores (If am not wrong full amount is not paid yet but paid yearly) can be written off.
Franchise costs is anyways (8 crores) being deducted from the respective Franchises, If clubs remain adament not to pay these in the new league then sponsership at a club level can be sold by AIFF to the respective clubs with commissions to IMG- REL per sponsership. I think ATK got 8 crores in season 2 as sponsership in the shirt and ad boards?
That leaves Broadcasting, Video and distribution rights, As we all were surprised, ISL 2 TRP's were higher in Non english local channels than in the Traditional English Star Sports channels? SKY makes billions in distribution rights, IMG- REL will want to cut Star co-ownership to do the same, Keep the English and Hindi part in Star Sports but sell distribution rights to Local channels and raise money.
The overseas marketing rights will surely be retained or sold to Star by IMG REL as their parting gift at throwaway prices or free. Thats a significant amount in itself.
Some serious number crunching and we can have a deal. In fact they would be interested to getting teams/franchises were TRP's can be higher, So dont be surprised in NE Clubs (Except Shillong Lajong) are largely pushed into 2nd div while actively pushing for clubs from Telengana & Probably one from the Hindi belt although I might be wrong.
BTW, surprised about the Atletico de Kolkata stuff... how can one NOT hate them? East Bengal and Mohun Bagan are much better teams and have so much more potential than some team named after fucking Atletico Madrid! What the fuck is Spanish about Kolkata? Nothing!
ATK may be actually doing stuff but I still hate that rubbish brand they have created... worst ever in world football.
Yes it wont be easy, Number crunching and Ego stare's will be done.. Am sure when it comes to money, Star will go ahead and get a new contract done at throw away prices for atleast 10 years while compensating its ownership stake in ISL.
Comments
One would be a simpleton if one thinks IMG-R would throw these all away for a new league, particularly when they had made the investments.They would fight tooth and nail to retain the ownership of the league, in any form.
P.S. End of the day. the NT or atleast a couple of players need to perform at a global level to really popularise the game but that wont happen in next 10 years atleast.
I feel its a Win-Win situation were IMG-REL lets go of its ownership and obtains a domestic & overseas media rights long term. Individual franchises will be then taken up in a closed merger deal with other i-league clubs or go for the highest bidder.
Not sure if that is how this works.
Sponsorship, Advertising, Merchandising & Rights to create a new merged league rights can be given up to AIFF who will take it up at a central pool level am sure. By giving up to AIFF the pending money of say 700 crores (If am not wrong full amount is not paid yet but paid yearly) can be written off.
Franchise costs is anyways (8 crores) being deducted from the respective Franchises, If clubs remain adament not to pay these in the new league then sponsership at a club level can be sold by AIFF to the respective clubs with commissions to IMG- REL per sponsership. I think ATK got 8 crores in season 2 as sponsership in the shirt and ad boards?
That leaves Broadcasting, Video and distribution rights, As we all were surprised, ISL 2 TRP's were higher in Non english local channels than in the Traditional English Star Sports channels? SKY makes billions in distribution rights, IMG- REL will want to cut Star co-ownership to do the same, Keep the English and Hindi part in Star Sports but sell distribution rights to Local channels and raise money.
The overseas marketing rights will surely be retained or sold to Star by IMG REL as their parting gift at throwaway prices or free. Thats a significant amount in itself.
Some serious number crunching and we can have a deal. In fact they would be interested to getting teams/franchises were TRP's can be higher, So dont be surprised in NE Clubs (Except Shillong Lajong) are largely pushed into 2nd div while actively pushing for clubs from Telengana & Probably one from the Hindi belt although I might be wrong.
As long as in the end we have a proper 6-month league with 10-12 teams that we can see a proper plan with, then lets go.
ATK may be actually doing stuff but I still hate that rubbish brand they have created... worst ever in world football.