Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Nothing. Sky have owned all Premier League rights before, UFC might be a problem with their WWE deal, WRC would go along with their current motorsport, FA Cup would be a first...

Sky have always had a monopoly over sport so I doubt Ofcom could have much input otherwise they'd be contradicting themselves.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

The EC took SKY too book over the football rights and they could if this all transpired?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

European Council? I don't know. Maybe they'd let it pass if they kept ESPN separate and continued selling both on Virgin/BT/Top Up/etc as they do now.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

ESPN is owned by Disney, by buying Sky Disney would get all the sports rights that Sky own.

Disney want ESPN to be the worlds biggest sports channel, so if anything happened I would imagine Skysports would become ESPN branded.

Also Disney has a nice image but they're as ruthless as Newscorps in the business.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I have not looked in to the law that was passed that much and what it envelopes. So can not tell you fully? But I think that it is one company owns it they would not be able to?

I need to look at the law on this?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I think 1 company can own all the football rights but must offer it out at fair market value to other providers. The price is tied in to how much they charge there own customers.

So they can't charge there own customers £20 a month but sell it to other providers for £35 a month.there by forcing other providers to re-sell at £35 just to break even.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

No way in hell would Sky Sports become ESPN. The word 'Sky' when referring to sports on (UK) TV is like 'iPod' to MP3 players.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

How wrong are you, the word Sky is like ipod when referring to FOOTBALL maybe.

But I enjoy a lot of sport and ESPN,ITV ,Eurosport and the BBC a very important in my viewing.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

BBC and ITV show cup finals. Football is the biggest sport in the UK and I'd imagine at the very least 80% of people with Sky Sports have it for the football especially since it dominates the listings.

ESPN in the UK is the little niche american sports channel with a handful of premier league games and other drastically less popular sports.

If this goes through and Sky Sports gets changed to ESPN, I'l buy a hat from eBay and eat it.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Well that your opinion, but in my home ESPN AmericaHD is watched a hell of a lot, as is Eurosport.

Like I said I'm a sports fan, not a just a football fan. Have you enjoyed today's golf on the BBC? I DID. Or the tour de france? On ITV4HD and Eurosport?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I wouldn't really say the majority of Sky Sports viewers are there for Premier League football is an opinion. Plus you might watch ESPN America (as do I) but its firmly a second-tier brand of sport channel in the UK to the majority.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

So back to the original point, Disney really would love to buy Sky if only fo rthe sports rights.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

This guy seems familiar?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

I'd annoy film studios to no end knowing that their rival is the main handler of their content in the UK I guess. Channel 4 better be hoping so.

The name, the registration date, the fact whatever he (or she) does is different from the majority on CABLEforum and er, 'debating' with myself does seem similar but its all in good spirit I hope.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III.
 

Come on branson get yer bid in,That would really put the cat amongst the pigeons lol