Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That was my worry, I knew they had got TV rights in France not sure about anywhere else. Certainly can't afford to pay out for another sports package if it came to that.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That would be a disaster for the avid football fan, it really is a worse case scenario.:(

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

l doubt whether that will happen though.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Why? Aren't people always complaining about Sky's power and dominance? Won't this help with this issue?

Of course, VM don't actually carry Al Jazeera...

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

You're right of course. Because football in the UK is basically owned by Sky, so they will decide who gets what, nobody else.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

The Premier League has issued an invitation to tender for the domestic UK broadcast rights for the 2013-14 to 2015-16 football seasons.

It says 154 matches will be shown live on TV each season from 2013-14 - 16 more than currently broadcast and more than 40% of all top-level matches

The extra 16 live games comes as matches are moved away from Saturday 15:00 kick-off times, due to Europa League involvement or police advice.

No 15:00 kick-offs can be shown live.

The 154 games will be split into seven packages comprising five packages of 26 matches and two packages of 12 matches. No one buyer will be allowed to buy more than five packages or 116 matches.

The current rights are held by Sky and ESPN, and a challenge from Al Jazeera is also expected this time round.

"This creates a more attractive and compelling offering for both broadcasters and fans; whilst allowing the continued protection of the Saturday 3pm 'closed window' and minimising further displacement of Premier League fixtures," said the league.

Another sales process will be conducted for two "near live" packages each containing 226 matches, and an internet-based clips package for all 380 matches.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

I believe the word they were looking for was "expensive". Especially if they do "spread the wealth" so to speak, and give them all some of the packages.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

There may be some truth to this. I think there is a European competion ruling that means Sky can't have all the packages. I may be wrong here, it was a while ago, but I think that Sky were not expecting to get five of the six packages last time but that Setanta's bidding strategy went wrong and their failure to get two packages led to their demise.

Perhaps there are, at least, two packages up for grabs and as ESPN seem fairly cosy with Sky they may get them and save Sky a bit of money.

Of course Disney and Al Jazeera have deep pockets so if either were really serious....who knows.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That will never happen in my opinion , they both don't have a big enough existing subscriber base , if ESPN were to win 4 or more packages I believe it would no longer be able to offer it to VM subscribers inclusive with XL when contracts are renewed. I can see Sky picking 5 up and ESPN taking the remainder.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Thanks Chad. So Sky could get five packages (4 more games) and ESPN two packages (12 more games). That would keep everybody happy.

Al Jazeera the wild card to keep the bids high?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Firstly it's important to realise how close ESPN and Sky are to each other. Indeed, Sky actually produced ESPN's Premier League coverage when they first picked up the rights from Setanta. When you consider that there are seven packages on offer, ESPN have openly said they'd like two of them, and the most Sky will be allowed is five, it's not much of a jump to imagine that they would do well to cooperate throughout the bidding process.

Secondly, Al Jazeera cannot simply be discounted. They have demonstrated a strong commitment to live football elsewhere in the world and, it has to be said from my experience of their Champions League coverage, that they're actually pretty good at it. What will be interesting, however, if they are able to stop ESPN getting the 2 packages that they want, and Sky getting the 5 that they'll need if they want to continue to be considered as the home of English top flight football, is how they end up delivering what they get. I cannot see Al Jazeera getting people to subscribe to yet another sports package in the current climate unless they have a significant number of matches, and I can't see them getting that if Sky and ESPN have their way. So, assuming they found a way to follow the ESPN model of slowly gaining a foothold, they'll also need to find a way of providing their new channels for free to customers who are already paying for other Sports packages.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Spot on MM as l this is what may happen Sky 102 = (3x26 + 2x12)ESPN 52 = (2x26) or Sky 116 = (4x26 + 1x12)ESPN 38 = (1x26 + 1x12.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

If we end up with either 38 or 52 games free in the xl pack, ESPN maintain their commitment to the FA Cup and the Europa League, and we end up with ITV 4 HD, then Virgin will be a very attractive proposition for football fans.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

Translated: "Sky's customers, who they rip off on a daily basis...". Shocking.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2012) Vol. 2.
 

That would be an excellent scenario.

Digressing a bit, but still on a positive theme, I have just received a phone call from Virgin. They are increasing my broadband from 20 to 60 meg next week and sending me a free Virgin Superhub, they are also putting me on one of their new collection packages improving my phone package and saving me a bit of money.

All things Virgin are looking up!