Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Taken from BT.com/sport

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Aww... why spoil the fun and ruin an established common practice within this thread...? ;):D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Yes those old trusty stalwarts will have to come up with something better if they are ever to break down the defences of the great mighty fortresses of all that is good in the world.:waving::waving:

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Jeez Louise, it's only TV channels, not anything important.....

ymmv.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

I didn't realise that. I reckon it's pretty odds on then that ESPN and ESPN hd will remain as part of xl for free on Virgin, but that we won't get Bt sport. It'll be interesting to see what else ends up on the ESPN channel in the new world.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

The BT website does specifically state that the FA Cup will be on ESPN.

It got me thinking about TV rights, and what BT have actually acquired. After rooting around in other forums, Twitter, Facebook and news pieces a fairly interesting picture is emerging.

There is a suggestion that any sports that BT have not purchased the rights for individually, that are currently held by ESPN, will remain on ESPN. For example the FA Cup contract doesn't expire until 2014 so the FA Cup will remain on ESPN. It would also partly explain why BT are having to keep the ESPN brand alive. The following link also seems to suggest that the Europa League, contracted to ESPN until 2015, will remain on ESPN:

http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/d...g-with-espn%3F

"We will have at least two live matches each match week. ITV have the first two picks. However, ESPN has multiple picks and have very often included great UK clubs. For instance this season: Newcastle, Chelsea and Liverpool. English teams also drop into the Europa League if they come third in their Champions League group, like Chelsea have done this year and Manchester clubs did last year."

So if there is any truth to existing contracted sports remaining on ESPN, what will be on BT Sports and what will hypothetically remain on ESPN? It's all down to the deals BT have snapped up outwith the take over of ESPN.

BT have bought these rights, which had expired, previously owned in full or in part by ESPN :

June 2012 - English Premiership
September 2012 - Premiership Rugby
October 2012 - Seria A (Italian football)
October 2012 - Ligue 1 (French football)
October 2012 - Brasileiro (Brazilian football)
October 2012 - MLS (American soccer)
May 2013 - UFC

ESPN still have the following deals in place:

FA Cup until 2014
Europa League until 2015
SPL (Scottish football) until 2017
Bundesliga (German football) until 2015

Another thing I've noticed is BT Sports keep on mentioning the same 3 American sports when people are asking what will happen to ESPN America. the 3 sports mentioned are College Basketball, College Football and NASCAR.

There are some interesting quotes here:

http://tv.espn.co.uk/gb/espl/espn-ne...n-next-season/

IN OTHER COUNTRIES

"Separate from the agreement with BT, ESPN is proposing that ESPN America may wind down in 2013. At this stage it is only a proposal and is subject to an appropriate consultation and review process."

This looks like ESPN America across the whole of Europe is about to bite the dust.

So in summary I think ESPN might actually stay in the XL package showing FA Cup, Europa League, SPL, Bundesliga, College Basketball, College Football and NASCAR.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Very interesting, thanks Chad. Perhaps the whole ESPN thing is causing the issue with BT and VM?

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Just seen the advert for BT Sport, that the sports channels are only free for 12 months.

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Possibly. I'm finding plenty of interesting stuff about BT and ESPN. Maybe virgin aren't lying about offering ESPN HD with the XL package from July onward! Lets see what happens however I'm actually beginning to believe ESPN might just stay in the XL package. If it does I'll be the first to admit I was wrong.

Anyways, here is more information regarding the future of ESPN America:

http://www.wbj.pl/article-62725-espn...is-summer.html

"British telecommunications firm BT Group, which took over the assets ESPN UK in February this year, has announced that it will withdraw the ESPN America and ESPN Classic channels from all European markets except the UK and Ireland. While the specific closure dates will vary from country to country based upon distribution agreements, it is expected that all of the stations will have stopped broadcasting by the end of July this year."

I thought BT had bought ESPN operations in the UK, but it looks like they've bought everything Europe wide!

People across Europe are not taking the news very well at all:

https://www.facebook.com/espnamerica...18146&filter=2

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

HD is yes for Sky platform. From what i saw channels are free for BT BB customers for as long as they keep there BT BB even after 12 months

---------- Post added at 19:16 ---------- Previous post was at 19:15 ----------

Thanks Chad. That shows to me that ESPN classic and America are staying on TV

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Might be a charge for Hd version (£3)

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

I too picked up on the line:

"has announced that it will withdraw the ESPN America and ESPN Classic channels from all European markets except the UK and Ireland."

If the article is correct, and BT have done a u-turn on closing ESPN America and ESPN Classic in the UK, this may suggest that BT might be willing to do a deal to keep ESPN branded channels in the XL package.

The plot thickens :D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

Don't let your imagination run too wild though.:D

Re: Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2013) Vol. 2.
 

I wonder if we will have to pay to have ESPN Classic and Amercia as well as pay for BT Sport to keep ESPN