Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

All i see in the link is rugby super leagues richard lewis talking up the rights just before renewal to force the bidding up all rights holders do it,i would be very surprised no make that astounded if ESPN bid against sky in any meaningful way they are too closely bound to have a big fallout, as ESPN themselves have said in some areas we will not be bidding against sky and are happy to be second placed, sky also do ESPNS marketing in the uk and possibly europe and as ESPN also say they piggy back off sky in the USA.


It does not take much working out although they have deep pockets i cannot see them going head to head with sky no matter how much people may wish.:(

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

More likely to carve sports rights up between them.

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

my view entirely.:erm:

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

If they do that VM I think will get the better deal with ESPN been free in the XL package:erm:

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

To those who have been complained about HD picture on ESPN HD things maybe improving, check out this article... http://www.broadcastingcable.com/art...r_For_ESPN.php

Arqiva Builds U.K. Playout Center For ESPN
Facility is being used for Barclays Premier League Soccer and playout of 11 channels
By George Winslow -- Broadcasting & Cable, 2/17/2011 11:13:51 AM
Arqiva has built a new HD playout center for ESPN in the U.K. that is being used for the playout and distribution of Barclays Premier League soccer and for the playout and distribution of 11 ESPN channels to countries throughout Europe, Africa and the Middle East. The dedicated HD playout center is located at Arqiva's Chalfont Grove Teleport in the U.K.

"ESPN chose Arqiva to build, staff and manage a state-of-the-art dedicated HD playout center which would handle its premium sports content for Europe, Africa and the Middle East," said Barrie Woolston, commercial sales director at Arqiva Broadcast & Media in a statement. "Their decision leveraged our expertise and infrastructure for global playout and distribution of live content in high definition."

Woolston added that "Arqiva ingests and provides live playout of a wide array of sports action for ESPN, including major football, rugby, basketball, motorsports and American football events from locations around the U.K., Europe and the USA."

ESPN worked with Arqiva to design and direct construction of the HD playout center with Dolby Surround Sound technology. It features four live playout suites, a multi-channel playout pod, production areas, a supervisory control area and an edit suite.

Arqiva's infrastructure and teleports provide international satellite and fiber connectivity and there is a dedicated fiber IP circuit to ESPN's headquarters in the USA for rapid sharing of content between ESPN's staff at various locations.

"The Playout Centre is manned by Arqiva technicians trained to work specifically and exclusively with ESPN's content and they work very closely with ESPN production and engineering personnel in both the U.K. and U.S.," Woolston added. "By working together in such close cooperation we can efficiently and effectively manage and control live HD feeds into ESPN programming at any time."

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

I suspect if ESPN pay more to get more sport then it won't be free for much longer. If a bidding war breaks out all that will happen is they will both end up paying a lot more. Niether of them want.

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

It all depends on how long the contract is for:erm:

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

I agree. And this seems to point to ESPN and Sky forming a close relationship rather than going head to head.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/broadcas...r-x-games.html

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

Why would DISNEY Want to "line up against" the UK's biggest digital tv provider? Its not a fight Disney need or want hence cinemagic HD is only available on Sky.

If ESPN/Disney go VM exclusive they have an instant 3million tv households who "may" take there service.

If ESPN/Disney go SKY exclisive they have an instant 10 million households who "may" take there sevice.

If they go on both they have a instant 14 million potential customers.

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

They are much bigger than News Corp and why not have a larger slice of the cake and sell it not just to SKY, but VM, BT, Freeview haven't they got the most viewers

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

Hey I think all channels should be available on all platforms. Then price and quality of service will be what makes us choose one over the other.

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

Well it makes sense to most people.

However, if you are a power crazy megalomaniac who has already helped to break the UK press unions,owns more media outlets than average and seem intent on world domination of all media outlets plus you have the power to make or break the UK government plus influence them between elections, then you might not see it in that reasonable light. ;)

Re: Disney-backed ESPN line up against Rupert Murdoch
 

VM have close on 3.9 million tv subs now.