Celtic and the rest of Scottish football are facing uncertainty over the future of Viaplay.
The streaming service outlined plans on Thursday to shift its focus back to markets in its native Nordics and the Netherlands. (Hollywood Reporter)
It is said that Viaplay will lay off more than 25% of its staff and end streaming services in the UK, as well as Canada and the USA.
The moves are seen as cost-cutting measures after the company encountered financial troubles in recent times.
Viaplay are relatively large stakeholders in Scottish football, holding television rights for Scotland international matches, the Scottish Cup and the League Cup. The latter is even sponsored by the company.
Celtic would typically appear on the channel seven or eight times in one season. So they’re big players.
Their CEO Jorgen Madsen Lindemann said on Thursday: “We are today announcing a new strategy and plan, which includes, but is not limited to, focusing on our core Nordic, Netherlands and Viaplay Select operations; implementing a new operational model; downsizing, partnering or exiting our other international markets; rightsizing and pricing our product offering in the Nordics; undertaking a major cost reduction program; and conducting an immediate strategic review of the entire business to consider all options, including content sublicensing, asset disposals, equity injections or the sale of the whole group.”
From that, it seems very much like the company’s expansion out of Scandinavia hasn’t worked, and they are now looking to go back to the way things were.
A number of outlets have reported the noises coming out of Viaplay, including Scottish football journalist Stephen McGowan who gave his thoughts on what it could mean for our game.
McGowan tweeted: “[They’re] likely to try to sell the UK business, rights packages or find partners for existing deals. No evidence that they will can or will just walk away from existing Scottish football deals.”
Of course, the money on offer from Viaplay isn’t a game-changing amount for Celtic. The Champions League revenue is where we can excel as a club. But for much of the rest of Scottish football, this will be worrying news.
In other news, Celtic have announced some positive television arrangements for the rest of pre-season
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