General : ESPN, BT, Euro, Premier and Sky Sports news

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Journalism at its best ,



Wasn't aware time travel was available.

Ha, ha, I noticed hat as well, and wondered whether this was what he was going to say! However, I think it should have read 2014!

Nonetheless, recent developments indicate that a bid in competition with Sky is quite likely to be successful this time around. Sky may find itself left with the minority share of the Premiership rights.

All speculation, of course, but these are interesting times.

[andy_m]

I confidently predict that the distribution of Premier League rights will remain broadly similar to the current situation. Friday night football is, imo, a way of allowing BT more matches without impacting Sky.

I'm more interested in what Sky are planning to do with Sky Sports 5 once they lost the Champions League.

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Ha, ha, I noticed hat as well, and wondered whether this was what he was going to say! However, I think it should have read 2014!

Nonetheless, recent developments indicate that a bid in competition with Sky is quite likely to be successful this time around. Sky may find itself left with the minority share of the Premiership rights.

All speculation, of course, but these are interesting times.

Not for customers! The more the rights are fragmented the more we have to pay.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Ha, ha, I noticed hat as well, and wondered whether this was what he was going to say! However, I think it should have read 2014!

Nonetheless, recent developments indicate that a bid in competition with Sky is quite likely to be successful this time around. Sky may find itself left with the minority share of the Premiership rights.

All speculation, of course, but these are interesting times.

Does it really matter who's successful ? In my opinion all these companies want a maximum return from their investment unless your of the opinion BT will somehow save us a vast fortune over Sky's current subscription model.

Let's face it whoever outbids Sky is going to have to pay huge sums to do so.

Your last sentence should have perhaps said the following

All speculation, of course, but these could be expensive times.

Or it will for those stupid enough to pay full whack.

[telegramsam]

And let`s not forget Sky have more money to spend now they don`t have the champions league games,next season of course.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by telegramsam

And let`s not forget Sky have more money to spend now they don`t have the champions league games,next season of course.

Don't forget that Sky UK & Ireland has spent heavily on acquiring its sister companies in Italy and Germany.

[muppetman11]

That's true but in my opinion I'd say these rights are essential to Sky's future success.

A few years back Sky was virtually unchallenged , now it has to continue to compete with its traditional pay TV platforms as well as the likes of Netflix , Amazon and the many other low cost online alternatives. Whilst moving into Entertainment made sense I still believe one of the main drivers is Premier League football.

BT's potential purchase of EE must also be causing some headaches at Sky , Vodafone could also make a move for a pay TV provider , this is probably the most challenging time the Sky board has ever faced.

[andy_m]

I don't think it's as big a headache as all that because I don't think there's quite the appetite for quad play. I've been a quad play customer. I had a two year mobile contract and little opportunity to renegotiate my other three services which were on 1 year deals. I'm now with another provider on a better deal and can't see me going back. Besides which, EE already offer broadband and home phone, so apart from good 4g infrastructure and 25m customers to sell tv to, BT aren't adding anything to their core triple play business. I think if it happens we'll continue to see them run separately.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Does it really matter who's successful ? In my opinion all these companies want a maximum return from their investment unless your of the opinion BT will somehow save us a vast fortune over Sky's current subscription model.

Let's face it whoever outbids Sky is going to have to pay huge sums to do so.

Your last sentence should have perhaps said the following



Or it will for those stupid enough to pay full whack.

Well, I hope this ends with a more positive impact on prices than a lot of us are thinking may happen, but I think the good thing that is likely to materialise with other companies getting a share of the Premiere league is less of this nonsense in which some matches, or the HD versions of them are 'exclusive' to one TV platform.

I simply don't see the likes of BT or Discovery getting into that silliness except as retaliation against Sky's tactics.

[muppetman11]

Let's wait and see , BT haven't so far been in the dominant position when it comes to sport , they've needed their channel on as many platforms as possible to promote it.

BT aren't making an aggressive push into sports rights to benefit other platforms this is purely to sell Fibre Broadband and push people onto its own TV service.

As for its potential purchase of EE , this will allow it to sell BT Sport bundled with its 4G service similar to how Vodafone offer Sky Sports with 4G contracts.

[one2escape]

Sport and in general but particular is now the only selling point of paid tv now. However the PL need to get real as well as BT and sky. What is going to happen in this bidding is the prices will soar to record levels again which will then have the know on affect of raising prices to the consumer. With the prices the way they are now I am cancelling my movies and sports as there is no value anymore. For the amount of money I am paying compared to the number of matches I watch there isnt the value there and judging by the people I speak to Im not the only one. Im a broken record here but in order to show value all the matches should be available. I can see a crash or a readjustment happening as it looks like it will be a viscous circle. The prices are going to go up because the rights are more expensive. More people are going to cancel as the prices go up. And off we go again.

[telegramsam]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Don't forget that Sky UK & Ireland has spent heavily on acquiring its sister companies in Italy and Germany.

Wouldn`t that of come out of a separate budget though?

[muppetman11]

Thierry Henry to join Sky Sports

Story

[denphone]

Great footballer's generally don't make great pundits in my humble opinion.

[Bircho]

Originally Posted by denphone

Great footballer's generally don't make great pundits in my humble opinion.

Normally I would agree but Henry was fantastic with the BBC in the World Cup.