Cable Forum - General ESPN, BT, Euro, Premier and Sky Sports news

How does BT being restricted on bidding top dollar for sports rights - which is what the article says - result in higher sports auctions and higher prices for consumers? :confused: Do you mean because BT will probably have to charge its customers for its sports channels and not bundle them with its fibre broadband?

denphone

19-06-2014 22:25

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1andrew1 (Post 35708388)

How does BT being restricted on bidding top dollar for sports rights - which is what the article says - result in higher prices for consumers? :confused:

There are many ways to skin a cat Andrew and BT will find many ways around these things just like Sky do.

Chad	19-06-2014 22:28

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

It's an interesting article. Imagine if BT do have to start charging their customers for the channel whilst Virgin are still able to offer it free in the XL package, or whatever silly name the package has now.

telegramsam

19-06-2014 22:32

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11 (Post 35708274)

Ofcom controls threaten BT's power to buy Premier League football rights

http://www.theguardian.com/business/...lesale-profits

Read the article but not sure whether that could be good or bad news for football fans/virgin customers.

1andrew1

19-06-2014 22:38

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone (Post 35708397)

There are many ways to skin a cat Andrew and BT will find many ways around these things just like Sky do.

Agreed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad (Post 35708398)

Yes, the same thought did cross my mind but then I thought BT's lawyers probably have put in a get-out clause for that scenario.

Quote:

Originally Posted by telegramsam (Post 35708401)

Read the article but not sure whether that could be good or bad news for football fans/virgin customers.

Agreed. I'm uncertain of the implications and I don't know if BT can appeal it either.

harry_hitch

19-06-2014 22:50

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chad (Post 35708398)

BT are already charging customers who are willing to pay for it though, surely?

If BT win the rights and have to charge customers for PL football, I imagine it will still be cheaper than Sky are charging currently. I know Sky have more sports to offer, but I know a number of people who do not watch golf, tennis, rugby or cricket and only have sports for football. Those fans should, in theory, save money as BT can offer the football at a cheaper price due to the lack of other sporting rights they have not paid for.

Chad	19-06-2014 22:57

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

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...hts-spree.html

"The inclusion of BT Sport means that any extra spending, which currently costs £246m per year in Premier League football rights alone, could force the company to reduce the wholesale prices BSkyB and TalkTalk pay for broadband, or increase its own retail prices. BT Sport is already due to become much more expensive next year when it begins spending £300m per year on exclusive right to European club football."

I like the following comment from a disgruntled BT customer:

"As a BT Broadband customer, I resent absolutely that some of the extortionate charge I pay for broadband is being spent to deliver BT Sport for free. I am not the slightest bit interested in sport. I resent being forced to pay for it. I am not alone. BT's competitors are looking more and more tempting."