It was being reported yesterday that Andrea Radrizzani’s Eleven Sports had run into difficulty and far from being the ‘Netflix of Sport’ it was now at risk of closure with mounting losses. A number of Leeds United fans made the leap and wondered whether it would have any telling impact on the club.
The Telegraph reported that having gained a lot of attention in recent months, with rights secured for football in both Spain and Italy in recent times, that in effect they may branched out a little too far, too quickly.
A deal with the UFC that was due to begin in January has apparently now been pulled after they triggered an exit clause, and that has added additional pressures given the number of UK subscribers they have attracted in general anyway.
it sounds like the UK arm which is under pressure (recently invested in Serie A/La Liga/UFC rights) rather than the whole company. Contracts in a number of other countries in Europe and beyond.
— Phil Hay (@PhilHayYEP) December 12, 2018
As Phil Hay suggests above, it’s not the whole company it seems, just the UK arm, but it’s understandable as to why some fans were concerned with the development.
so will Radz need to sell up if Eleven Sports go under ?
— Armo ☀️???? (@Jordan_Armo) December 12, 2018
the PL is a guaranteed £100m
and here's the thing about Eleven Sports. I'm sure Radrizzani isnt' stupid enough to use his OWN money in that company, but more likely he borrowed the money to fund Eleven Sports. So someone's gonna take a hit, but it sure ain't gonna be Radz.
— Thru It All Together (@ThruItAllLUFC) December 12, 2018
It starts….
— Ross O'Connor (@lufcroc) December 12, 2018
Nah eleven are hugely successful overseas. Just his venture into the uk will flop
— Marreta Santos fan account (@Backagain28) December 12, 2018
Can't have any impact on us. He doesn't spend anything on us anyway
— jayjay82 (@jwh1982) December 12, 2018
I always got the impression the sports broadcast market was already very crowded. Not sure what Eleven Sports strong points were to attract customers. This really doesn't surprise me.
— Stephen Lewis (@vegansmithsfan) December 12, 2018
See no issues with relation to LUFC, this is only the UK branch. It's a shame if it has to shut down in the UK, as it means Sky and BT continued to squeeze others out of broadcasting, which the government should be dealing with.
— Si (@LeedsInShetland) December 12, 2018
Is it wrong that I find myself thinking “I don’t care if Radz crashes a thousand other businesses provided he gives Bielsa what he wants to get us up” ?
— Jettatura (@J3tt4tur4) December 12, 2018
yeah, Radz's personal assets and LUFC should be totally separate, as Eleven Sports is almost certainly set up as a Corporation, which would protect his assets.
— Thru It All Together (@ThruItAllLUFC) December 12, 2018
I can’t see it having any impact at all to be honest. The only real read across is in relation to the (now quiet) nonsense that we’re at war with the EFL, looking to set up a Championship 1.2 and Eleven Sports would be the broadcast vehicle – but most of that was a nonsense anyway.