Ogilvie sure Hearts can survive TV blow

Published on Monday 22 June 2009 22:09

THE Scottish Premier League has just eight weeks to try and secure a new broadcaster in time for the start of the 2009-10 season, and top-flight clubs are brace themselves for the implications of a vastly different financial landscape from the one they had anticipated when a £125m deal with Setanta was announced last year.

Hearts managing director Campbell Ogilvie was one of the first club chiefs to comment on the SPL's decision to reluctantly terminate its lucrative television contract with troubled Setanta, but is convinced the debt-ridden Tynecastle outfit can survive the financial hammer-blow.

With the wider economic picture having blackened since the new 125m deal was brokered last year, worried clubs are expected to have to rely on vastly reduced TV income for the coming season amidst fears some could be forced out of business.

In April Hearts announced a reduction in their debt to 30.48m, and yesterday Ogilvie, who is also vice-president of the Scottish Football Association, said: "While the current situation regarding Setanta is disappointing, we must look to the future. We now have an opportunity to create a new and rewarding broadcast partnership for the future of the Scottish Premier League.

"The league is an excellent product and I am confident that there are significant tangible benefits for our future broadcast partners. At Hearts, for some time now, we have been preparing for an increasingly challenging business environment.

"Because of this approach, the present circumstances are manageable and I am confident that we can come through this period positively. Our wider prudence and an on-going focus on increasing operational efficiencies and improving revenue streams is ensuring that Hearts are well prepared to weather this particular situation."

Dundee United chairman Stephen Thompson, meanwhile, is confident the SPL will find a new broadcaster before the start of the season and believes the product on offer will encourage the likes of Sky and ESPN to make an offer.

"What's happened with Setanta is very disappointing but it's finished now and we have to look forward," said Thompson.

"What we can't forget is that our league is one of the top ten in Europe and the product is good. I'm pretty sure there will be interest so I'm confident we'll get a new deal in place."