Originally Posted by Jameseh (Post 35270716)

They need more channels to begin with. American sports are often being broadcast on standard ESPN and not America so there is already an excess of content for one channel.

Originally Posted by Lew (Post 35270738)

The reason that they show American sports on ESPN as well as ESPN America is firstly that not all ESPN viewers can receive ESPN America (DTT viewers, for example) and secondly that for sports such as the NFL and NBA they only have the rights for the UK and Ireland and the version of ESPN America that we get also goes to several other countries where they don't have the rights.

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35270732)

That would make sense however a lot of fanatical US sports fans who sub to VM wouldnt be to happy if all their HD sport dried up , at least now they can watch a fair bit on ESPN HD.

Originally Posted by richard1960 (Post 35270769)

Very true time to get ESPN america HD on VM me thinks.:erm:

But to be fair ESPN perhaps need to launch another channel for uk/european content,its a bit bad when the cricket rights come up Sky seem to be the only bidders bidding against themselves no doubt!:D Even if the BBC lets say were to bid the rights are well out of their reach,you might have thought ESPN might have shown some interest but they would perhaps need another sports channel first.

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35270776)

I suppose they have to balance sport acquisitions against subscriber revenues. BSKYB get at least 20.00 per subscriber for their sports channels were as ESPN get 9.00 from Sky subscribers or 12.00 without sky sports and we don't know how much they make off VM per subscriber as this is integrated into XL.

Originally Posted by braysoj1 (Post 35270781)

when is prem sport coming 2 vm

Originally Posted by Jameseh (Post 35270778)

ESPN could try and get F1 and MotoGP now that the BBC are cutting costs. Get the NASCAR from Premier Sports (or even buy them out and rebrand) and whatever ITV 4 shows plus the WRC they already have and they'd have a motorsport line up that Sky couldn't challenge.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35270783)

Yes definitely F1 as the only other company that will probably bid for it would be Sky as ITV l believe would not pay the price that Ecclestone wants.

Originally Posted by richard1960 (Post 35270786)

Bernie Ecclestone has stated in the past he wants a mass market for F1 that is why it is not already on Sky he prefers terrestrial tv for F1 ,i did hear that C4 were interested in F1 now the BBC are cutting costs.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35270788)

l am not sure C4 can afford it though.

Originally Posted by Jameseh (Post 35270791)

I've heard about C4 as well but I can't imagine them doing it. T4 has been on weekend morning for years and I doubt they're going to drop that group of cheap repeats for some of the most expensive sports rights especially when C4 aren't exactly known for sports at all except horse racing.

Originally Posted by Jameseh (Post 35270791)

I've heard about C4 as well but I can't imagine them doing it. T4 has been on weekend morning for years and I doubt they're going to drop that group of cheap repeats for some of the most expensive sports rights especially when C4 aren't exactly known for sports at all except horse racing.

Originally Posted by richard1960 (Post 35270795)

When ITV lost interest in formula 1 Eccleston let the BBC have it for a comparitive snip,would not be surprised in that sport wether mass advertising revenues from it being available to a mass audience on FTA TV is worth more then selling to sky, Bernie Ecclestone is very much against selling to pay tv channels. If he was it would be on sky now as he would have sold the rights to sky instead of the BBC.

I am sure he would package it so C4 could afford it if they really wanted F1.

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C4 did make a good fist of cricket coverage a few years ago before sky hoovered up all the live rights exclusively,C4 could show F1 on more 4 i suppose its available on freeview and well as satellite and cable.

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35270809)

Yes and they do not even pay for that because bookmakers did to start with and now Sheikh Mohammed now pays for it as far as l know with them advertising his brand.

---------- Post added at 19:42 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------



Lets hope they do bid for F1.