The latest news out today in a 6 year grudge match is pub landlady Karen Murphy has won the European tie against the Premier League and is set for a final replay in the High Courts over her right to screen matches in her pub using foreign decoders.

Mrs Murphy lost the initial case and was ordered to pay £8000 to the vast Premier League coffers but instead of taking this lying down she referred the case to the European Court of Justice (ECJ) who have ruled in her favour, this now needs to be settled in the high court back home but it’s highly unusual for them to go against the ruling of the ECJ.

The repercussions of this ruling seem almost endless so let’s have a look at how this affects the key players:

Pubs across the country

At first glance this is excellent news for the suffering pub trade in the UK, you would have to be blind to have not noticed the increasing number of boarded up pubs over recent years and with an industry which relies solely on being able to draw a crowd more match day offerings can only be a good thing. Also in Karen Murphy’s case she paid £118 pound per month for her Greek decoder compared to £480 for Sky’s package this saves her £4344 a year!

The football fan

Quite simply more live football down your local, who doesn’t like the sound of that

Premiership clubs

With football TV rights being a major source of revenue for the clubs especially those without the big foreign investment they must be looking very closely how this is all going to pan out with the likelihood of the Premier League having to package the TV rights deals very differently in the future. There is also the potential drop in ticket sales with the option of fans having a few pints and watching the game much more economical for most (depending on how much you drink though I suppose).

The Premier league

This is where things get complicated as the ruling was quite specific in that it was only the screening of the match itself that cannot be considered intellectual property all surrounding media like the Premier League anthem, graphics and video sequences were protected by copyright allowing them to apply their many varied restrictions. This is also only an EU ruling and vast sums are made selling the TV rights to the wider world.

Sky & ESPN

Perhaps these two should be most worried about the ruling, especially Sky, with their ever increasing fees and seemingly iron grip on football coverage in the UK will this be a step in, as the ruling commented, making the EU single market a border-free zone for goods and services. On the other hand no one can deny the quality of coverage provided by Sky and is any other broadcaster really able to compete with that?

In summary this seems to be a victory for the common man, the nation’s landlords/ladies get to save money and increase trade, the average football fan gets to enjoy more games. Let’s leave it to the power mongers to sort out the technicalities as long as Karen gets her 8 grand back we’ll be on the right road.

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Written by Graham Brown

It's the freakin' weekend... gonna have me some fun. The words of R Kelly there and if your idea of fun is watching live football and hvaing a cheeky bet, amongst other things, then this blog post has everthing you need. You can check out our site for the full list of live weekend football and also check out our free bets page if you want to cpmare the best free bet offers around.

There is a full preveiw of all the weekends Premier League games plus our TV treble tip which we will be using our £50 Free Bet from Ladbrokes

TV Treble Tip

Forest v West Ham - Forest @ 7/4

Spurs v Man City - Man City @ 7/5

Man United v Arsenal - Man United @ 1/2

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Premier League Preview

Saturday 27^th August

Aston Villa (10/11) v Wolves (3/1) Draw (12/5)

Wolves travel to Villa on the back of their best start to a campaign for thirteen years. Villa on the other hand, still coming to terms with the loss of England internationals Downing and Young, will hope Agbolonhor carries his solid start to the year. N’Zogbia will be out to prove he can fill the hole’s left by the departures at Villa Park this season, and Darren Bent will be on the lookout to prove his hefty transfer fee was well spent. 

Wigan (5/4) v QPR (11/5) Draw (9/4)

QPR fans may well be distracted by the reports of signing Joey Barton this week, but Warnock will have his squad focused on the business of picking up points away at Wigan. Wigan fans will hope to see their unspectacular start to the season develop this weekend against the newcomers. Wins at the JJB Stadium are a must for Wigan this year.

Blackburn (2/1) v Everton (11/8) Draw (9/4)

The Everton ship has been rocked heavily by reports of serious financial issues at the club, whilst Blackburn will hope their midweek cup win will inspire their first points of the season. Ewood Park is never a easy place to visit, and senior Everton players Neville, Arterta and Howard will have to dig deep to pick up morale, and possibly points this weekend.

Chelsea (1/5) v Norwich (14/1) Draw (5/1)

Chelsea will face tougher opponents than Norwich this year, but last years campaign was blighted by slip-ups against hard working teams like Norwich. If Torres and Drogba can’t find their groove, then Norwich might have a good a chance as any to steal some points at Stamford Bridge. Norwich must avoid a similar drubbing to the one they received off MK Dons this week, or Manager Paul Lambert will by looking to shake up the squad before the transfer window closes.

Swansea (11/8) v Sunderland (2/1) Draw (9/4)

Swansea has yet to replicate their dazzling form in the Championship last year, and Sunderland will be looking to pick up their first win of the season, despite key figures O’Shea and Gordon absent with injury. Wes Browns commanding start to his Sunderland career will be tested again this weekend, and keeping Swansea quiet will go a long way towards the Black Cats gaining all three points.

Liverpool (2/5) v Bolton (7/1) Draw (7/2)

Liverpool’s strong start to the season was epitomized by their convincing win at Arsenal last weekend, but Merieles broken collar bone will see Daglish have to tinker with his midfield this time out. Bolton will have to play at their very best if they are to share any of the points this weekend, the threat of Suarez and Carrol might just be too much.

Sunday 28^th August

Newcastle (11/10) v Fulham (13/5) Draw (9/4)

Newcastle Football Club is never short of talking points and this season has been no different. Slowly but surely Pardew has began to get his squad doing the talking on the pitch, and a home win at Fulhan will do much to confirm a few suspicions that they are contenders for Europe this year. Fulham have yet to prove that the Europa league is a negative distraction to their domestic campaign.

Tottenham (15/8) v Manchester City (7/5) Draw (23/10)

A truly mouth watering fixture will see plenty of stars on show in North London. City fans will hope to see new boys Nasri and Aguero run riot in the capital, whilst Spurs may boast the best two players on the field in Van der Vaart and Modric. Both teams will be in the mix for fourth or higher come May, and this game will get the taste buds flowing for all neutrals. Expect lots of talk regarding the selection of Modric.

West Brom (11/10) v Stoke City (13/5) Draw (9/4)

Stoke Manager Tony Pulis is putting together a very capable squad, with some shrewd and exciting new signings this summer. West Brom will be plenty aware they have a game on their hands this weekend, and Hodgson will be hoping their midweek thrashing of Bournemouth will kick-start their campaign this year. Don’t be surprised if Hargreaves is fast tracked to the match squad should he join before the weekend.

Manchester United (1/2) v Arsenal (6/1) Draw (3/1)

Is there another game in the Premiership that produces the atmosphere of the battle of United and Arsenal. Gone are the days of Keane v Veira or Van Nistelrooy v Henry, but warlords Fergie and Wenger still stand strong with a new young army ready to do battle at the Theater of Dreams. United are most people’s favorites for the title, and their deconstruction of Spurs on Monday night will springboard them into this weekend. A defeat for Arsenal may see Wenger pressured into making some signings, before he loses the faith of his board, players and fans.

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TV Treble

Arsenal v Liverpool - Draw

Chelsea v West Brom - Chelsea

West Ham V Leeds - West Ham

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Live football on TV preview

Saturday 20th August

12:45 - Arsenal (11/8) v Liverpool (2/1) Draw 9/4

Arsene Wenger is coming under increaisng pressure from fans and the media as they question his lack of investment in the transfer market. With the departure of captain Fabregas and what seems the imminent depature of Nasri the Gunners fans are beocming increasingly anxious and it is staring to show at the Emirates. Fabreags is a loss but with Ramsey and Wilshire Arsenal have two ready made replacements in central midfield and with the retrun of Van Persie Arsenal will still be a strong attcking team.

Liverpool faded in the seodn half at home to Sunderland but there were some promsing signs of attacking content from Dalglish's team. Suarez is looking like he is going to be a star player and Downing will add much needed pace and width to the Liveprool team. Any Carroll will be looking to take advantge of what is seen as a soft Arsenal back line and I think this should eb a good game. neither team will want to lose so we are going for a score draw.

Prediction 1-1

17:20 - Peterbrough (11/8) v Ipswich (15/8) Draw 12/5

Ipswich conceded 5 at home last game to Southampton and will travel away to a Peterbrough side that have had a couple fo good results, including a draw away at Millwall last time out. It's hard to judge early season form but expect goals in this game and a home win,

Prediction 2-1

17:30 - Chelsea (1/4) v West Brom (11/1) Draw 9/2

Chelsea were unlucky not to take all 3 points at Stoke and with Torres looking sharp and on form it's going to be hard to see anything but a home win here. West Brom were slightly unlucky last week and Roy Hodgson has got his West Brom team organised and playing some good football, however we feel Chelsea will eb to strong for the Baggies and Chelsea will run out comfortable winners.

Prediction 3-0

Sunday 21st Auguts

13:30 - West Ham (8/1) v Leeds (7/2) Draw 11/4

Both teams are looking to mount a promotion challenge this year. West Ham have started the season well with two wins out of three and they looked very good against Watford when they beat them 4-0 away in mid week.  With Big Sam in charge they have a good manager who has been there and done it at this level with Bolton and they have to be one of the favourites to get promoted.

Leeds had a dodgy start to the campaign losing at newly promoted Southampton and then a tetchy home defeat to local rivals Boro but they seem to have found some of the exciting goal scoring form they showed last season with a 4-1 romp against Yorkshire rivals Hull.

It’s early season so it’s hard to judge form as teams are still getting into their stride. However with both teams having scored four in their last outing there will be goals in this game. It’s going to be a tough game for Leeds especially as their away form last season was poor, I can see this being an exciting  game with a win for West Ham.

Prediction – West Ham 3 – 2 Leeds United

14:00 - Motherwell (5/1) v Rangers (8/13) Draw 13/5

Motherwell will be looking to keep their spot at the top oif the SPL when they face Rangers at home. Motherwell ahve looked good so far this season and will not be daunted at facing Rangers on Sunday lunch time. Rangers have been poor in Europe so far this season so will be hoping to turn things aorudn domestically however with Motherwell in good form we are going for a draw here

Prediction 2-2

16:00 - Bolton (4/1) v Man City (8/11) Draw 5/2

Bolton had a great win away at QPR last week and it will give them a good boost going into this tough game. Bolton had a good seaosn last year and under Owen Coyle are playing some good football and will be tough to beat. When Augero came on in the seond half against Swansea last weekend City looked very good, the question is how cautious will Mancini be away from home? Man CIty look like they could be real title contenders this seaons and they will need to pick up points away from home at teams like Bolton if they are to challenge and we think they might just nick this one.

Prediction 1-2

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Although there was not a lot of goals in the Premier League this weekend there were still a few good games on TV, Stoke v Chelsea may have ended 0-0 but it was a good game and at least we got some goals in the 4pm kick off between Man u and West Brom and for those that watched it the Spanish Super Cup between Bacra and Real finished 2-2.

The lowlight of the weekends football was clearly Gary Nevilles dodgy little ratty facial hair, he needs to sort that out if we have to look at his mug for the next 9 months.

New boys Swansea travel to moneybags City tonight and we are hoping for goals but we think it might be quite a tight affair just as  all the other opening round games have been. We predicted the three games on TV results correctly on our Live on TV tips so we are looking for 4 out of 4 for our TV game tips tonight.

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Man City (2/7) V Swansea (10/1) Draw (4/1)

Man City are clear favourites to get all three points here and they should be with the money they have spent and the players of the quality of Silva and Augero. The fact they are to home and will be keen to get off to a winning start all points to a City win. However Swansea are fresh from the Championship and in this first game they have nothing to lose. Everyone is expecting a City win but Swansea play some attractive football and will be organised, the big questions is whether they will be organised enough to keep City at bay for 90 minutes?

It will be a big ask for Brandon Rogers Swans but I think the adrenalin of their first game in the Premier League will keep them going and I think they might just nick a 1-1 draw.

So we’ll be putting our free bet on a draw tonight at 4/1 and might even go all out and bet on 1-1 at 9/1

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Premier League Preview

This weekend see’s the start of the new Barclays Premier League season get on the way with some crunch fixtures for the opening weekend games; Below is our full preview with our prediction. 

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We love our accumualtor bets here at football on the TV and below is our cheeky 3 game accumulator

Fulham v Villa - Draw

QPR v Bolton - QPR

Stoke v Chelsea - Draw

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SATURDAY 13th AUGUST

15:00 - Blackburn (9/4) v Wolves (9/4) draw 12/5

This is a repeat fixture from the last game of the season back in May where both sides were fighting for premiership survival. It was all smiles on that day where both teams maintained their Premier League status, but both teams will be determined to get the better of each other this weekend. Jamie O Hara will no doubt impress for McCartheys men, while Argentinian Formica could be the surprise package for Blackburn this season.

15:00 – Fulham (6/5) v Aston Villa (12/5) draw (12/5)

With two new mangers at the helm of both clubs Martin Jol and Alex Mcleish will be looking to get off the best possible start with a win. Fulham’s competitive season kicked off last month with the early qualifying stages of the Europa league while Alex Mcliesh will have a tough task being without Ashley Young and Stuart Downing while trying to win over the Villa fans.

15:00 – Liverpool (1/2) v Sunderland (7/1) draw (3/1)

New signing Jordan Henderson will be hoping to make his Anfield debut against his former club Sunderland this weekend. Both clubs have made numerous changes to their squads, with Steve Bruce bringing in ten new faces to the stadium of light. Steve Bruce will be looking to finish in the Europa League places this season while Daglish will be chasing the Premier League title.

15:00 - OPR (11/8) v Bolton (11/5) draw (9/4)

Championship winners Queens Park Rangers make their return to the Premiership by hosting Owen Coyles Bolton. It has been a difficult summer for Neil Warnocks QPR who has had little funds to help him add to his squad. He has however signed Jay Bothroyd and DJ Campbell who will be looking to get off to a scoring start, while Adhel Taarabt is still at the club despite being linked with a move away.

15:00 - Wigan (11/10) v Norwich (13/5) draw (12/5)

Wigan maintained their Premiership status by the skin of their teeth last season and welcome new boys Norwhich who are another team returning to the Premier League. Paul Lambert has achieved consecutive promotions with his Norwich side who will be looking to get off to a great start against potential relegation rivals.

17:30 - Newcastle (3/1) v Arsenal (EVS) draw (12/5)

Its been an uncertain summer for both clubs as they both have to tend with losing their best players. Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri look like they are moving away from the club without any real replacements in place. And Newcastle are without last season’s key players of Kevin Nolan and Joey Barton. If the game is anything like last season’s 4-4 epic we will be in for a great match.

SUNDAY 14th AUGUST

13:30 – Stoke (9/2) v Chelsea (4/6) draw (14/5)

Andreas Villas Boas will make his first Premier League appearance in the Chelsea dugout, but all eyes will be on whether £50 million man Fernando Torres will start the game. Chelsea have been surprisingly quiet so far in the transfer window with the current squad deemed good enough to win the league by Boas. It’s a tough game for last season’s runners up who will have to deal with a strong Tony Pulis side.

16:00 – West Brom (6/1) v Man Utd (1/2) draw (10/3)

The Premier League Champions face a visit to the Hawthornes and if they show the same form as last week’s community shield performance, Roy Hodgsons West Brom could be in for a long day. Ben Foster will make his debut against his old club in the West Brom goal as he will be looking to keep out the likes of Wayne Rooney, Berbatov, Nani, Young and Wellbeck.

MONDAY 15th AUGUST

20:00 - Man City (1/4) v Swansea (12/1) draw (5/1)

After a disappointing loss to rivals Manchester United last week City will be hoping to bounce back with a win against the newly promoted Swansea. It’s a tough start to Premier League life for Championship playoff winners Swansea, but there will be no dount that they will try to play their own football at the Etihad Stadium on their debut season in the Premiership.

The start of the Premier League season kicks off this weekend and it is set to be one of the closely contested campaigns we have seen for years with Man United, Man City, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool all setting their sites on the premiership title.

After winning their 19^th League title last season, Alex Ferguson wasted no time in rebuilding his squad this summer, spending £50 million on Phil Jones, Ashley Young and David Da Gea, while getting rid of Old Trafford favorites Wes Brown and John O’Shea.

It is going to be a big season for the current champions who have lost the retired trio of Paul Scholes, Gary Neville and Van der Sar who have all been instrumental in United’s recent success. But having watched the Community Shield performance against their rivals Man City last weekend, Ferguson’s new squad looks as strong as it has ever been as they were a class above their rivals, and with Wesley Sneijder constantly linked with a move to Old Trafford, they might just get even better.

The new generation of youth in the club such as Danny Wellbeck, Tom Cleverly, Phil Jones and Chris Smalling were all very impressive at Wembley last week, as were the usual faces of Rooney, Nani and Young. With the depth of quality, experience and youth, it is arguably one of the strongest squads Ferguson has ever had which make’s them 13/8 favorites to retain their Premiership crown.

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The appointment of Andre Villas Boas has been the major talking point at Chelsea this summer as well as the ongoing Luka Modric transfer saga, as the blues have seen three bids turned down from Tottenham for the Croatian midfielder.

There are a lot of question marks surrounding the 33 year olds inexperience and if he has what it takes to bring both European and Premier League success to Stamford Bridge. Despite his young age though, there is no disputing his incredible record at Porto and judging by the way he has addressed the media I’m sure the Portuguese man has what it takes to be a real success at Chelsea.

They have been extremely quiet in the transfer market while Man United have heavily invested, but the current squad certainly has enough to win the league. All eyes will be on Fernando Torres who will be feeling the pressure of the £50 million price tag and his lack of goals, and it will be interesting to see how Boas manages the ego’s of Terry, Drogba and Anelka throughout the season. Despite the potential problems at the club and the lack of transfer activity I see Chelsea as the main threats to Manchester United and put them as 3/1 odds to win the league.

Man City haven’t had their usual influx of transfers this summer with Kun Ageuro and Clichy the only real major signings so far. The arrival of Samir Nasri looks imminent and I doubt we will ever see the end of the Tevez transfer saga, but with or without their Argentine talisman, Im sure Mancini’s men will be in the mix for the Premier League crown and have odds of 7/2 to snatch title out of their City rivals hands. Despite the loss to Man Utd last week, City will be looking to build on last season’s FA Cup win and Champions League qualification by winning Premier League crown this time out.

Liverpool have also been splashing the cash this summer as Daglish looks to bring the Glory Years back to Anfield. The Reappointment of King Kenny has given the club a huge lift and with a number of signings made this summer, its exciting times for Liverpool fans.  Daglish has heavily bolstered his squad with more quality and depth with Stuart Downing, Charlie Adam, and Jordan Henderson arriving at Anfield for substantial fees.  Luis Suarez has had a great summer with Uraguay and will be a real force in the Premiership, and Im sure Carrol will benefit form the service that Gerrard, Adam, Downing and Henderson will supply. With odds at 14/1 I’m not sure they will have enough to win the league but they will certainly be in the running for 2^nd or 3^rd place.

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Arsenal fans will be extremely disappointed with the way their summer has turned out and I’m sure their will be growing frustration towards Arsene Wenger and his transfer policies. Despite admitting last season that the squad needs new faces and major signings, Wenger has failed to bring in any big name signings to add to his squad. To make things worse, Fabregas and Nasri are almost certain to leave the Emirates before the window closes and there are no adequate replacements in line to replace them. Instead Wenger has again invested in youth, with 18 year old Oxlade Chamberlain signing from Southampton for £15 million. Chamberlain will no doubt be money well spent three or 4 years down the line, but Arsenal need to sign players for this season and If Fabregas and Nasri go, Arsenal will struggle to finish in a Champions League place and have title odds of 11/1