Kettering V Setanta

[purpleronnie]

From SUSD

KETTERING TOWN OFFER TO WAIVE TV FEE FOR COVER OF FA CUP TIE

Wed, 07/01/2009 - 16:48 — SdeC Kettering Town FC Press release, 7th January 2009

Kettering Town reached the 4th round of the FA Cup last Saturday for only the second time in 136 years, one of only two teams from the 670 non-league entrants to make it this far. Even more improbably, the draw pitted Kettering against Premier League side Fulham owned by Mohamed Al-Fayed, which made it the competition’s first ever clash between two Muslim owners.

Kettering Town and the football world looked forward to a great challenge while the club anticipated the traditional windfall that every non-league team expects when drawn at home to a Premier League side –a cheque for £160,000 for live TV coverage. Televising the game would have had a further benefit – a chance for Kettering’s shirt, which carries the slogan Palestine Aid, to raise awareness and charitable aid for the humanitarian crisis in Palestine.

But yesterday afternoon ITV and Setanta took the almost unprecedented step of not choosing as one of their live matches a non-league team drawn at home to a Premier League side. Not only is it a tradition that such a tie is screened live, the schedule chosen contradicts the Football Association’s stated objective “to use The FA Cup to redistribute funds throughout the game” as Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham were all screened live in the 3rd round, whilst Tottenham will be live on TV for six consecutive games.

The decision has not only shocked and angered the supporters of Kettering and Fulham, but supporters of other clubs, including Tottenham, have flooded club message boards complaining.

Not only will Kettering Town miss out on the much-needed windfall and millions of football supporters be deprived of watching a match that embodies the essence of the Cup, more importantly the opportunity has been lost to raise further awareness and humanitarian aid in Palestine and follow the FIFA edict that says: “Due to its values, popularity, universal nature and appeal, football (in all of its forms) can be a viable and practical instrument for achieving social and human development targets…from a 'charitable giving' approach to a meaningful 'socially responsible, involved, and committed' one.”

For this reason, Kettering Town have today decided to offer ITV another opportunity to broadcast our game against Fulham live and will waive our right to the £160,000 fee we would be entitled to. Furthermore, if ITV are unable to fit our game into any of their four channels, over the four day period set aside for 4th round games, we will allow Setanta Sports to screen our game, on any of their seven channels, again waiving the £160,000 fee.

If, for any reason, neither ITV or Setanta can fit the game into the eleven channels and four days of programming we would ask the FA to allow the game to be moved to another date, as happened in the first round of the FA Cup, to assist ITV and Setanta with their scheduling.

And finally, if for any reason, none of the three options above works, we have other non-subscription TV channels that would be willing to screen the game live or allow ITV or Setanta to use their platform on any date the FA choose.

Chairman Imraan Ladak said "we were all very disappointed when the news was announced, but we hope our offer will allow ITV or Setanta to help increase awareness of the humanitarian crisis, whilst giving Kettering, Fulham and the neutral supporter the chance to watch one of the ties of the round."

We look forward to working with the FA, ITV and Setanta Sports.

[DB11]

It's hardly a glamour tie so the tv companies should, rightfully, choose the best games and what they want to put on. Stop throwing toys out of the pram because they want money.

And I did read the bit about they would put it on for free to promote the Palestine thing but don't even get me started on that

[Granno]

It's hardly a glamour tie so the tv companies should, rightfully, choose the best games and what they want to put on. Stop throwing toys out of the pram because they want money.

And I did read the bit about they would put it on for free to promote the Palestine thing but don't even get me started on that

EDIT - Didn't read all of DB11's post.

[dandannieldanok]

It's hardly a glamour tie so the tv companies should, rightfully, choose the best games and what they want to put on. Stop throwing toys out of the pram because they want money.

Agreed, a big fuss about nothing.

[Floating Fox]

Why do people like watching all premiership ties? There JUST THE SAME AS THE MATCH IN THE SEASON!!!!

I can see why they'd be pissed. I'd rather watch this any day. I'll probably go and watch it live if city aren't there. How you can't say it's not a glamour tie is beyond me.

I personally like Setanta and have defended them before, but with FA cup ties they only pick the teams with big support (Leeds in the 1st Round etc) so that more people with subscribe with them...Pissed me off the beeb haven't got it...they would have shown Kettering.

[Ultra]

There has to be a political motive.

A non-League side is drawn at home to a top-10 Premier League side at this stage of the competition, and the TV companies don't want to show the game live?

I'd be very surprised if this has EVER happened before in the lifetime of the Premiership.

But given that the FA chairman is a Jewish ex-government minister, Kettering are literally paying the price for bringing politics into football.

[Fosse Boy]

It's hardly a glamour tie so the tv companies should, rightfully, choose the best games and what they want to put on. Stop throwing toys out of the pram because they want money.

And I did read the bit about they would put it on for free to promote the Palestine thing but don't even get me started on that

Liverpool v Everton. Fair enough. The Merseyside derby is one of the biggest games in the country. If I was a TV exec, that would probably my first pick.

Again with Derby v Forest, a massive local derby in the Cup. That's a no brainer, put it on TV.

But after that to pick Man U v Spurs above the likes of Kettering v Fulham, Hartlepool v West Ham or even Torquay v Coventry, just smacks of favouritism towards Premier League clubs and does nothing but devalue the traditions and heritage of the Cup.

The FA Cup thrives on producing the unexpected, the great underdog stories, and to not screen ties with such potential is a stupid move, but is nonetheless unsurprising in an era where Premier League status is everything, and everything else is nothing.

I for one won't be tuning in to Man U v Spurs.

[Floating Fox]

What he said.

[J.Lisemore]

At the end of the day this is what this cup is all about...Giantkillings, and thats what people want to see, we wont see many teams the size of Kettering in the 4th round of the cup for a while. Personally i would much rather watch a non league club take on a prem club than an all premiership tie which will already be played in the league anyway .

[Daggers]

Stop throwing toys out of the pram because they want money.

AND

And I did read the bit about they would put it on for free

Some people seem to have an awful problem joining the dots sometimes; what should be a nice picture of a vase with flowers ends up looking like a penis with ears!

[Lillehamring]

AND

Some people seem to have an awful problem joining the dots sometimes; what should be a nice picture of a vase with flowers ends up looking like a penis with ears!

ASH17LCFC????

[BoneDog]

I for one won't be tuning in to Man U v Spurs.

Me neither. Wankers

[Alexikokopops]

But given that the FA chairman is a Jewish ex-government minister, Kettering are literally paying the price for bringing politics into football.

Why would the FA Chairman have a say in which matches ITV and Setanta choose to show once the rights have been sold to them? Unless I'm missing something

[Ultra]

They are both commercial organisations.

They would know Kettering v Fulham would attract a far wider audience, both in the UK and abroad, than for example, Derby v Forest.

It therefore seems very likely that discreet pressures were applied from senior sources at the FA to overlook the Kettering-Fulham game, though obviously all sides will deny this.

But the consequences could be quite significant. If other countries, especially in Asia and Africa, pick up on what's happened here then England can kiss goodbye to any thoughts of ever hosting the World Cup again.

[Darkzzz_]

Liverpool v Everton. Fair enough. The Merseyside derby is one of the biggest games in the country. If I was a TV exec, that would probably my first pick.

Again with Derby v Forest, a massive local derby in the Cup. That's a no brainer, put it on TV.

But after that to pick Man U v Spurs above the likes of Kettering v Fulham, Hartlepool v West Ham or even Torquay v Coventry, just smacks of favouritism towards Premier League clubs and does nothing but devalue the traditions and heritage of the Cup.

The FA Cup thrives on producing the unexpected, the great underdog stories, and to not screen ties with such potential is a stupid move, but is nonetheless unsurprising in an era where Premier League status is everything, and everything else is nothing.

I for one won't be tuning in to Man U v Spurs.

Bloody spot on as well.

It is a joke.

Non league clubs in the 4th round of the F.A Cup and they don't get a sniff.

The rich get richer.

[andyh1884]

Wouldn't the Kettering vs Fulham game fit in perfectly with ITV's marketing of the FA Cup? The adverts are going on about 'where all men are equal' or whatever it is, with firemen, milkmen etc are seen challenging for the ball with millionaire premiership football stars.

Seems a little odd that a game that was virtually made for their marketing campaign should be overlooked for the televised games.

[Alexikokopops]

.

[Corky]

Why do people like watching all premiership ties? There JUST THE SAME AS THE MATCH IN THE SEASON!!!!

I can see why they'd be pissed. I'd rather watch this any day. I'll probably go and watch it live if city aren't there. How you can't say it's not a glamour tie is beyond me.

I personally like Setanta and have defended them before, but with FA cup ties they only pick the teams with big support (Leeds in the 1st Round etc) so that more people with subscribe with them...Pissed me off the beeb haven't got it...they would have shown Kettering.

I don't mind the Liverpool v Everton choice, that's a very big game, but Man U v Spurs? That's been on already this season, it was on twice last season, it's ridiculous and as others have said, it contradicts what ITV and Setanta have been banging on about (all men are equal stuff).

[Sparky]

All down to viewing figures , Man Utd vs Spurs will attract far more than Kettering vs Fulham despite the romance of the tie. Football lovers would all rather watch the Kettering game but the average bloke at home who is an armchair fan will watch the United game in my opinion .

[RowlattsFox]

ITV are showing the Spurs v United game, so why is it Kettering vs Setanta? Setanta are showing Derby/Forest, Cardiff/Arsenal and Liverpool/Everton which are all fair enough.

Kettering have also been on TV already, which always goes against you, because unless you're one of the big four then they don't like showing the teams.

[Bert]

ITV are showing the Spurs v United game, so why is it Kettering vs Setanta? Setanta are showing Derby/Forest, Cardiff/Arsenal and Liverpool/Everton which are all fair enough.

Kettering have also been on TV already, which always goes against you, because unless you're one of the big four then they don't like showing the teams.

So have Man Utd and Spurs, just last weekend.

[Darkzzz_]

It seems like Spurs are on the box every week.

[RowlattsFox]

So have Man Utd and Spurs, just last weekend.

I know, but I'm pretty sure Spurs were only on TV because them and Arsenal couldn't play at home on the same day so they moved the game to Friday. Utd v Spurs was always going to be on tv, it was this time last year as well.

Havant got to the 4th round last year, they weren't on TV. Its not like its new thing that the bbc and sky never did, last years 4th round live games were Wigan/Chelsea, Utd/Spurs, Mansfield/Boro and Sheff Utd/Man City.

[Sparky]

In fairness Setanta went down the fairytale route in the 3rd round with Blyth vs Blackburn . Wonder if poor figures for that influenced this decision ??

[RowlattsFox]

In fairness Setanta went down the fairytale route in the 3rd round with Blyth vs Blackburn . Wonder if poor figures for that influenced this decision ??

On a Monday night though, so figures were always going to be low.