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

I would imagine ITV are looking to alternatives to Champions league football which disappears at the end of this season.

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

It's got to be more of a threat to BoxNation as Sky's PPVs are low risk for it whereas BoxNation is a one-product company dependent on ongoing monthly subscriptions. It's interesting to see ITV "back in the ring".

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

Couldn't agree more with you den

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

Kamal Ahmed ‏@bbckamal on Twitter

Breaking, exclusive: Virgin Media asks Ofcom to halt the multi-billion pound Premier League rights auction, saying process is damaging fans

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

Not a boxing fan myself but for those that are it`s great news.

---------- Post added at 18:43 ---------- Previous post was at 18:33 ----------

Interesting. Some how though I can`t see how they can stop it. At the end of the day if a broadcaster wants to pay silly money for football rights then surely they have the right to do so. They must also have a rough idea just how much fans are prepared to pay in subs to watch it too.
What gets me wondering though is why Virgin media are sticking their noses in. My thoughts are that when the current deal with BT Sport to bundle in their channels in the xl package ends they know or fear BT will want to be stand alone channels like Sky Sports. As we all know BT will have so much more to offer from next season.

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

More info here:

"Virgin Media’s chief corporate affairs officer Brigitte Trafford said: “The Premier League has pushed ahead with its early sale of TV rights despite Ofcom’s investigation. With 18 months until those deals begin, there is plenty of time for Ofcom to pause the auction process while it completes its inquiries."

“Failure to do so will leave fans, who already pay the most to see the least amount of football in Europe, facing yet another big rise in the cost of watching live football on TV.”


"An Ofcom spokesman said: “Virgin Media has today made an application for interim measures, which we must now review. We aim to reach a decision in a matter of days.”"

http://www.theguardian.com/media/201...live-tv-rights

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

MOTD Football highlights show to remain on BBC television.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/31037565

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

Yep it should be noted ITV did not put a bid in the beebs bid was £204 million

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

Well at least there are no adverts for viewers to plough their way through.

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

That's great news, I was really worried that ITV were going to steal it. After seeing their FA Cup highlights over the last few years I'd feared the worst.

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

At least if they had been on ITV we wouldn`t have to put up with Linekar`s poor presentation.

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

Well if it was a choice between Lineker and Chiles l know which one l would choose TG.:nono:

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

Adrian Chiles every time for me. Love his `bumbling` manner,unlike Lineker who sounds to posh for me.

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

Live rights for the 168 games could be announced next week

BT rumored to be in talks with Gary Lineker to present its Champions League coverage the deal if signed would also allow him to remain with the BBC

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

Nothing wrong with a "bumbling" manner per se, but the guy is a complete goon in my eyes. He started to believe the hype that surrounded him whilst he was with the BBC and has been pretty useless since the move to ITV. I like Lineker, who, unlike Chiles, he has played the game at the highest level and knows what he is talking about. Can't say I find him too posh though, yeah he is slightly better spoken than Chiles, but I don't think makes him posh. I also think he has more confidence than Chiles in what he is talking about, and as such can put his points across in a more intelligent, balanced and passionate way. I generally prefer the BBC coverage for that reason.

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

Well the beeb managed to ruin their fa cup highlights at the weekend by broadcasting the scoreboard from the Man City v Middlesbrough match, and with it the scores of all the matches they had yet to show (which was all of them apart from Chelsea v. Bradford). Let's face it, neither they or itv do football particularly well any more.

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

I guess it all comes down to preference really. I don`t think being an ex professional footballer necessarily makes you an expert though.

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

No, completely agree.

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

A bit like Chiles then!

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

Been reading a lot about the sale of Premiership rights this week, and the pending bidding process. Does anyone know if it's still the case that no one broadcaster can buy all the available rights? The reason I ask is the below press release from the European Commission dated 22nd March 2006, and links contained in the article, appear to suggest otherwise:

http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release....htm?locale=en

"The commitments offered by the FA Premier League therefore provide for more rights, including television, mobile and internet rights to be made available and ensure that the rights are sold in an open and competitive bidding process subject to scrutiny by an independent Trustee. The live television rights will be sold in six packages – both smaller and more balanced than previously - and no one buyer will be allowed to buy more than five. The commitments also enhance the scope for individual clubs to exploit rights that are not sold by FAPL or used by the purchaser."

"The European Commission has adopted a decision under EC Treaty competition rules that renders commitments from the FA Premier League concerning the sale of media rights to the Premier League football competition legally binding. The case concerned the agreement between the clubs participating in the English Premier League competition to sell media rights to that competition jointly through the FA Premier League. These commitments, which will remain in force until 30 June 2013, will increase the availability of media rights, and improve the prospects of competition in providing services to consumers."

Unless there has been a revision of these terms, or a new agreement, it appears the Premiership can now sell the rights without needing to make sure they don't all go to one broadcaster.

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

I don't recall saying he was an expert.

Perhaps ITV can save money at the European Championships by not hiring former international players who have played in, or won, the Euros. I am sure ITV will do fine with in-depth analysis from, lets say, Jack Whitehall, Stephen Fry and Alan Carr.:rolleyes: It is all about preference, and I would prefer to hear from someone who has played for Barca and also played in a world cup semi-final as opposed to some buffoon who has not played at a higher level than I have.

As much as I hate to say it, I find Jake Humphries better than Chiles. AFAIK, he has no real footballing experience either.

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

Worse than that - he's a Norwich fan.

The thing is the presenter doesn't have to be the expert - he has to anchor the show, which is not an easy job, whilst the pundits provide analysis. It's the level of punditry that is so poor. Some ex pros genuinely have no understanding of the game, and that's a concept that isn't to hard to understand when you equate it with an employee of a company who just does their job for ten years with no idea of what their colleagues do. They contribute in their own way, but they couldn't explain the business to you. You tell a forward to hassle opposition definitely defenders make certain runs in certain situations etc why would you expect him to have an in depth understanding of where a full back should position themselves? Further, why would you expect him to be able to explain certain things to you?

We need to get away from this idea that only ex pros can provide analysis - you'd soon get over the presenter if the analysis from the pundits was better.

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

Really?

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

Lol, yeah I forgot about that:)

I never said they needed to be an "expert". I just think an ex-footballer can join in the conversation and move it a better direction than someone who has never played the game and that makes for a better show. I could, in theory, anchor a show, read the script and then let the pundits talk. I would be way out of my depth, though, if they asked me what I thought the best course of action would be in a certain situation or if I chimed in with uneducated opinion. I would be as ridiculed as much as anyone else for not having the knowledge they have.

With regards the work colleagues, you are right. The cashiers at work have no idea how difficult working stock within a time limit can be, and they accept they have no idea what they are talking about if someone asks them a question they can't answer. They come and ask someone who knows what they are doing. How can Chiles or Humphries expect to be taken seriously if a legend of the game challenges his opinion or asks them a question they can not answer confidently on live TV. He will look an uninformed idiot. The pundits must surely take this into account with their answers, hence the reason some pundits do not come across as being very good. In my eyes, they frequently have to dumb down their answers to the anchors, they often argue amongst themselves though. Do you really think Chiles could hold his own in a serious debate (rather than the tepid family friendly rubbish ITV show) about the game in the company of, say, Hoddle, Keane and Viera? No he would be ridiculed the minute his tactical nous is exposed. Would an ex-football who has played the game the highest level be able to hold his own? I think so.

Forwards are quite often captains, so when that is the case I would fully expect them to see where defenders are going wrong and rollock them accordingly. Not only that, if I were a forward in training or in a match I would look at my defenders through the eyes of an opposition attacker. I would think where I would least like a defender to be on a pitch, and where I would like a defender to be so he is out of position and then inform my defender what he needs to be aware of from opposition attackers. I would also expect a defender to tell attackers which positions they do not want to be drawn into.

Seriously, who should be pundits if not ex-players? Fans? Celebs? Random people off the street? Reporters? Who? Are you really suggesting we have no former players giving analysis on the game or anchoring a football show?

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

No, there are some ex pros who are excellent pundits. What I'm saying is it doesn't necessarily follow that every ex pro will be good. Gary Neville is excellent, so is Danny Murphy, but Robbie Fowler is dreadful. Glenn Hoddle, not just a great player but also a very good coach, is always worth listening to, Alan Shearer had upped his game, but Robbie Savage is a clown.

What I said was that some ex pros don't understand the game, and I stand by that.

As far as the anchor goes I can't think of many ex pros who could have chaired a conversation for three hours live on tv whilst an England match was eventually called off, I think it's probably a much difficult job than you think, and what I've always liked about Chiles is that he's a football fan, like you and me, not a player (well, I never got near that level, anyway). Stood on the terraces as a kid and still goes now when he can. He's asking these ex pros the sort of questions we would ask, and as a result he's getting the sort of analysis we would want - it doesn't matter that he can't provide it himself.

As for who else could do it I reckon there are probably enough Gary Neville's out there to keep us going, but there are probably also some very knowledgeable, and articulate, sports journalists who would be worth listening to. One of the best members of the BBC's World Cup team was their South American football correspondent who's name I forget but who was based out there. No-one else on their team came close to him. Imo.

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

Couldn`t of put it better myself:clap:

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

The answer is no the maximum number of games available to one provider is 126

So if they stay with Sky and BT Sky could get 126 games and BT could get 42

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

There's no restrictment to do this now however this is what the premier league wants because it gains even more revenue.

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

I get the impression Savage was only hired to add a bit of controversy. But you are right, there are some duff ex-players out there, and the audition process the studios use, really must improve. I would still prefer to have a anchor or pundit who has played in big world cup/ European cup matches. How can a journalist possibly know what that experience is like?

I don't think I underestimate the job of an anchor. Chiles may have held it together for 3 hours before the world cup, but don't forget they had ad breaks, where others can feed him stuff to talk about, and also an ear piece so others could help him during the live broadcast. Most people can ask questions that are being fed to you if you run of out questions to ask yourself. Let's say Nicky Butt (a generally well respected footballer) was anchor and asking the questions, and a pundit gave a holding midfielder some stick which the anchor (Nicky Butt) disagreed with. Nicky Butt, who has played in that position at the highest level won just about everything an Englishman can expect to win, would be able to respond with a much better question or counter argument than you, me, a journalist, Adrian Chiles, Jake Humphries, Matt Smith, Richard Keys or Ben Shephard.

Let's not forget players were fans too and would have attended many games when children, I am sure many still attend games too. Their passion for the game is just as real as anyone else.

I fear we may have to agree to disagree on this point, I am happy to read your response, but I am happy to leave it there if you are.

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

There was a comment in the press this week. That BT have beaten Sky, to the main package.

If that's true, you can bet that someone will get cheaper TV for football

But when do the viewer know the results. I know it takes place over several days

ie The Main package, then three small ones

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

There's no 'main package' Arthur. Just 5 of 28 and 2 of 14 I think.

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

Sky Sports poised to snatch Open rights from BBC for £10m a year.

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/201...pen-rights-bbc

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

Weren't virgin media trying to block the sale? But its gone ahead? Ha ******* premier league doing what they want

Also no broadcaster can buy all the rights can they? It's not the premier leagues decision it was the European courts wasn't it?

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

The sale has not gone ahead yet.

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

Sky Sports ‏@SkySports · 1m1 minute ago
Sky Sports to exclusively broadcast The Open live from 2017 after signing five-year deal with R&A.

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

No surprise there Dave.

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

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

none at all Den lets see what happens with the footy now

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

l think it will be Sky who will win 5 packages and BT will win two but then again what do l know.:)

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

would be happy with that sky got best coverage by far

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

I can see:

4 - for Sky Sports
2 - for BT Sport
1 - for Eurosport (the Sunday night slot)

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

Golf has already lost lots of people following the game, due to the time taken to play the game in this modern era. I can only see its popularity diminishing further now that it is almost completely behind a pay wall, as has happened with cricket which used to be a big sport in my youth.

---------- Post added at 13:30 ---------- Previous post was at 13:27 ----------

+1

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

How can Eurosport afford a package that is going to cost them £500m which is ten times their current turnover?

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

l cannot see any packages being won by Eurosport MB.

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

I'm not so sure , I think BT may go in strong this time.
Eurosport , I'd be amazed if that happens.
Totally agree , I suppose part of the blame has to be levelled at the officials accepting these deals.

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

Well we shall see MM but you usually get it right most of the time.:)

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

Neither can I, in fact I would be shocked if they did.

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

Yes l quite agree big bear and its sad but sadly most sporting authorities have sold their soul to the biggest bidder without any thought to the wider implications of their decisions.

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

"Short term gain over long term pain"

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

If EPL give Eurosport an pack it may get more viewers to watch live games on Sky Sports or BT Sport or even go to their local EPL Team more often. When I watch some EPL games on Match of the day I can see that it not an sell out.

But we know the cost of both Sky and BT will go up.

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

I fail to see how giving Eurosport a pack can lead to more viewers watching sky/bt/local team please elaborate

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

I think it will be a 4:3 split for Sky/BT

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

That's exactly what I'd go for but I guess anything could happen.

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

I would love to see an split an other way - that will not happen so I am going with Paul on this one.

---------- Post added at 14:55 ---------- Previous post was at 14:53 ----------

Free ads for EPL to get more numbers coming to games (the "wee" teams).
Free ads to get viewers into pay for the Sports Channels (Not everyone has Sky Sports or got XL Package in).

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

Do tell us ?

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

4/3 to BT Sport.

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

I'm assuming you still believe BT Sport would be included free with XL once Champions League and a potential increase in EPL fixtures happened ?

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

I feel BT Sport on XL pack deal will be remove in August 2016.

I think Premier Sports or MUTV/LFC TV may move into the XL Pack (Or even launching that well known Sky Channel on Virgin Media) - With Virgin using the money save on BT Sport Channels to do so.

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

Now we begin the usual roller coaster guessing game of those Cable Forum stalwarts beginning in earnest of whether we get it on the XL pack or not.:Yes::no::spin::no::Yes:

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

There is a controlling package - it was package "D" in the last rights auction. This package allows the owner to decide when it wants to take its top picks. In the last round Sky won package "D". This meant that, although BT proudly proclaimed they had loads of top picks, Sky could decide on which weekends they would be able to use them. So if they wanted, Sky could direct BT to use a top pick on a weekend when the fixture list had thrown up nothing special, and keep their own top picks for the weekends when there were better fixtures.

Personally, having lost the Champions League I can't see Sky being prepared to see their Premier League offering reduced, but who knows. I would agree with Media Boy, though - I can't see BT Sport lasting free on Virgin past the current deal.

---------- Post added at 18:40 ---------- Previous post was at 18:39 ----------

Should have read this first before I joined in!

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

Interesting piece by the Financial Times in regards to BT's potential bidding or Premiership rights:

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/60a895d0-a...#axzz3QjC9RieH

"BT’s consumer arm gives away sports channels to subscribers yet needs to keep making a profit on fibre, to show that rivals can do the same. UBS estimated that BT’s current profit per fibre subscriber was £3 a month. Assuming BT retains its existing minority share of the rights at a 45 per cent increase, the margin would fall to just £1, UBS said. The broker’s base case was for Sky to retain a majority of the rights at a cost of £1.1bn a year."

Also interesting info in this piece if SKY fail to land the lions share:

http://www.proactiveinvestors.co.uk/...oup-17736.html

"Sky's share price performance has been weighed down by the prospect of a bidding war with BT, which has been flexing its muscles a lot of late, but UBS thinks BT could be constrained in the bidding. "We expect BT to be the main competitor to Sky in the auction, but believe it could be constrained in its bidding given the application of a 'margin squeeze' test by Ofcom that regulates BT's wholesale fibre offering and includes losses from BT Sport," the Swiss bank said. Should Sky lose the rights to broadcast the majority of the Premiership games earmarked for live broadcast, UBS reckons around 1.1mln subscribers would cancel their Sky Sports subscriptions, and half a million would quit Sky completely."

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

4 to BT and 3 to Sky perhaps?

I think we should watch BT very carefully; I wouldn't discount them getting more matches than Sky this time around. I think they are very determined to break Sky's dominance.

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

So far we have had many false heralding's from revered forum members who stated that BT would blow Sky out of the water but so far its more a case of men against boys methinks.

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

Doesnt really matter too much personally , the end result for those of us wanting to watch all games will be an increase in costs whoever wins what.

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

Normal service resumes.....

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ion-fails.html

Virgin Media bid to block Premier League auction fails
Ofcom will reject attempt to halt multibillion-pound battle between BT and Sky

The media watchdog Ofcom will reject an attempt by Virgin Media to block the Premier League’s multibillion-pound auction of live broadcasting rights, it is understood.

The regulator is expected to spurn an application by the cable operator to use its emergency powers to block the sale, in which BT and Sky are battling for footballing supremacy.

Virgin Media made the 11th-hour attempt to halt the auction last week. It called on Ofcom to use powers under the Competition Act to take the unprecedented action in order to protect consumers.

But sources said that the regulator will announce on Wednesday that it found no grounds to intervene. Under the law Ofcom could only block the auction if it found there would be “significant damage to a particular person or category of person” or harm to the public interest it it went ahead.
Virgin Media applied to block the auction as part of a campaign designed to make Premier League matches more widely available to watch live. It has called for rights to more games to sold and for at least some rights to be sold on a non-exclusive basis, so matches are shown by more than one broadcaster.

The cable operator, which is not itself bidding in the auction but does pay wholesale fees for Sky Sports and BT Sport, argued the current auction system causes inflation that harms consumers.

Its complaint against the Premier League is still under investigation by Ofcom, regardless of the expected decision not to call an urgent halt to the auction.

The sale is the second time BT and Sky have gone head to head over top-flight English football.

Analysts at UBS predicted this week that each side is likely to buy roughly the same proportion of matches as three years ago, with Sky the dominant broadcaster.

UBS analyst Polo Tang said: “The Premier League rights auction has been a major overhang on the Sky share price but potentially we believe the outcome could be more benign than people expect.”

Following the failure of Virgin Media’s blocking attempt the outcome of the auction is expected to be announced in mid-February.

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

Next week all will be revealed and personally l think things will stay as they are.

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

That's probably the most popular view. Don't count the chickens, though...:D

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

Trouble is that if BT gets more packages then Sky's obligation to wholesale its two sports channels to its competitors is likely to end. So the disadvantages of this scenario need to be weighed up against the advantages of more matches.

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

We need sky to win as many packages as possible. If they don't or bt gain an advantage it's potenially the death for televised football in this country.

Bt sport will start charging 20-25 quid a month if they get a lot of packages. Sky being greedy and wanting to maintain share price etc won't ever decrease their subscription costs. You'd be looking at 55+ quid per month just to watch football. A huge amount on top of monthly Sky, cable bills. The average person won't be able to afford it just like they can't afford to go to matches and very gradually football in this country may start dying a death

The greed of the premier league sees this as grab as much cash as possible opportunities. But after the end of it if they look down at their hands it may not be a handful of notes they're clutching but the blood of the ancient sport

I intentionally went to overhype and dramatise it with over the top languahe haha but I think the majority of it could frighteningly true

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

Hi all, newbie here

Having browsed this forum and in particular this topic I am lead to believe that beIN Sports have tabled a bid. The reason I know this is because my brother in law works over in Doha doing some production work for Al Jazeera and they've been told they are looking to expand into the UK.

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

Al Jazeera's looking to expand in the UK does not mean that they're suddenly going to splash out on expensive Premier League rights. Many other options means for UK expansion are available.

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

Lol, football will never die a death. The greedy money grabbing mercenaries who come to play football over here will just have to take a pay cut if the PL loses out on some money. TV rights will always be sold, it might just be for less than the PL want. The clubs will still be here, it will mean they just have less TV money, and as I say, players will have to take a pay cut or move on. It will never dies.

Football lasted a long time before the PL came along and will last a long time after. Football was much better for the fans (and perversely clubs were better off living within their means, rather than trying to spend big just for PL TV money) before the advent of the PL and Murdoch then throwing money at it.

Real football is not all about one league that serves its purpose and its purpose only (making money and catering to the whims the whims rich sugar daddy owners). It is about local clubs being run for not only profit, but for the benefit of the local community and treating loyal people like true fans, not milking them as if they are just customers.

How can anyone justify Rooney getting paid £300,000 a week, when Cambridge United's record signing cost £190,000 and the two teams we fielded against Man Utd cost us nothing as they were loanees, academy kids or free transfers. If Cambridge can survive like this, almost any lower league club can. The sooner the PL brand dies, and we go back to it all under the FA's purview the happier I will be.

There will always be big clubs with more money and the top talent for the little clubs to take players from on loan (long may it continue), but the want for PL money involved now is causing too much financial evil for too many clubs.

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

I think the packages will be much the same as they currently are,Sky having more games than BT. However if either Sky or BT try increasing the costs to viewers I think they`l find more and more people will cancel their subs. I know I would if there was a substantial increase,or if BT Sport was removed from the xl package on virgin.

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

Well it looks like Sky are the big winners again.

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

It may come to choosing between Sky and BT! If BT is removed from the XL package, which I fear it will in 2016. I would have to choose Sky as they have the rights for American Football for the next 5 years.

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

Possibly however Jeremy Darroch might be getting his excuses in early, or this is a bluff from SKY ahead of the bidding.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footba...k-bank-5109653

"Sky is not prepared to break the bank for the rights to top flight football, say insiders. Sky boss Jeremy Darroch yesterday suggested it was less reliant on the Premier League than before. He said: “We like the Premier League. But the whole point of the business is about broadening the offer.” That means a wider range of sports, including snatching golf’s Open Championships from the BBC, plus more of its own entertainment programmes."

SKY didn't want to break the bank for Champions League rights last year, and look what happened.

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

Well l hope that BT lose all of there packages. I hate that logo at the bottom of the screen.

It interrupts viewing

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

As a fan of many sports, I would be very happy if they saved a boat load of money by not wasting it on excessive PL rights. If they did not get the main PL rights and dropped their price by about £10, I would happily pay for SS.

I fear it is a massive pipe dream through.

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

I agree, if they were to lose rights I don't foresee them reducing the price but can see others raising theirs making the consumer the real losers here

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

Sadly friend I do think it is. Sky will just run excessive adverts about other sports they have to try and justify the same price

"More darts than ever before!"

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

Sadly it is Harry.

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

It's very hard to tell and we don't know how robust the "insiders" are. That's what makes it all the more interesting!

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

we all know prices only going one way and it never be down

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

Lol, wouldn't be great if Sky turn round and said

"because we show less PL football here is £15 off now for each month"

More likely is

"More range of sport and best matches from around Europe all for the same price"

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

Ditto , I also think Sky has the better all round sporting rights.

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

I`m only interested in football so if I had to choose between Sky sports and BT sports I`d go with which one offered the most football matches,asuming they were reasonably priced and top class matches.

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

Yes , Sky do have a much wider range of sports rights. I do not watch BT sport that much to be honest.

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

Premier League TV rights bidding leaves Sky and BT sweating it out.

http://www.theguardian.com/football/...bidding-sky-bt

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

Look out for others making a bid for the EPL, Apple anyone? :)

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

I doubt it'll happen, but if Discovery won rights for some matches; it would be weird watching the Prem on Eurosport.

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

It would, but wouldn't it be great for the football lover who can't afford SS or can't get BT broadband/VM.

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

Yep, but if it did happen; I presume Eurosport's monthly charge would increase.

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

I was not aware they charged a monthly fee. I certainly do not pay a stand alone fee for it.

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

So, Eurosport UK turns over £53m at the moment. A package of Premier League rights would cost them what...£500m. Who would pay the difference? The answer's in the mirror!

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

As lostlam pointed out in earlier posts, it would be Discovery who pay for it. I am sure they could hike up their advertising costs throughout Europe (over the period of the contract) to cover the cost of the initial outlay. It is very unlikely it will happen though.

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

That makes no commercial sense whatsoever. If Discovery could hike up their rates throughout Europe then they would do so anyway, regardless of the rights the UK arm has won, as that would make Discovery more profitable. Which is what business is all about.

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

Neither do I, but it isn't on all packages on VM and Sky. I'm sure it has a standalone fee should you want it by itself.

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

Basically Sky are greedy b@stards!

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

I meant they would hike up advertising charges during the football, and the football only. Not for them to just randomly hike up their advertizing prices during all their shows, advertizers would drop them like a tonne of bricks if they tried to push their luck with price hikes during the normal schedules. Do you seriously think Sky don't charge advertisers more during Super Sunder than they do during the European Tour Golf tournaments? That is where they can make their money back. I am not saying they will, it is just an option to a very unlikely scenario.

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

OK, we're both now agreed that hiking up advertising rates throughout Europe will not work.
If advertising alone could cover the cost of Premier League matches then ITV would be bidding for them! With a cost per match of £6.53m for the current 2013-2016 rights, ITV could not make the figures work for them in 2012. I can't see that this will change now especially as the cost per match will certainly rise. Sorry to be a damp squib, I don't see advertising as an option to cover Eurosport's costs if it won a package(s) of matches.

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