What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

If ESPN pulls out of the UK in the summer Virgin will suddenly find themselves with a budget to play with.

What would people like to see Virgin invest the money into?

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

A very interesting Conundrum and at the end of the day after much consideration l would like to see it invested in more HD and SD channels.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Where is "distribute to shareholders"? :)

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

So they can afford to get Sky as well so that they don't miss any of the channels that VM don't have?

Just kidding Spiderplant :)

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

VM will probably get BT Sports whether or not ESPN stays or goes. I can't really see ESPN going, not yet anyway. They have secured deals to broadcast other European league fixtures next season or more than what they do now.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Three years or more? I also think ESPN will play the long game.....

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

They are further down my list as its vitally important to re-invest to keep your customers happy.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Remove ESPN from the XL pack when the Premier League season is over and lower the price accordingly.

BT Sports is made to be an advantage for BT Vision versus its competitors so it won't be offered to VM in any other form than a premium subscription channel.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

I agree BT will be at a premium price which I will choose not to pay....

I doubt ESPN will be removed from XL if it continues to run which I think it will.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

In the wake of the Setanta collapse Virgin were under tremendous pressure to continue to provide coverage of the Premier League for free on it's top tier. It doesn't appear that they'll be under the same sort of pressure this time around, which is interesting. I should have thought that far from freeing up a budget which Virgin can spend on new things, the scenario outlined by the op would actually give Virgin breathing space from what I understand was a pretty punishing deal. What I do know is that if ESPN withdraws, and Virgin do consider that they have some money to spend on new content then it should be sporting content.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

I think ESPN are already negotiating a way out of the UK. I received a questionnaire from them as I am a Forum member asking me questions about BT sports channel. Would I subscribe to a stand alone channel or would I prefer it as part of my current sub with VM and to many others about BT sports channel to list here.
I am convinced they are planning an exit strategy and this may involve them selling the entire UK operation to BT. This would give BT all ESPN current rights and a working entity.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

How does that leave ESPN America ?

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Not in a very good place, unless that is part of the deal.:( They asked me for my comments and I told them that ESPN used to be the place for American Sports fans, but with the loss of NHL and with them no longer wanting MNF for NFL, this is no longer the case.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

To put it bluntly up the creek without a paddle.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Thanks for the info
That would be a shame Den for us US Sports fans , I love my fix of College football.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Yes it will be bad news but some things are a changing in the TV landscape.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Maybe BT will take over America & Classic. The content would fill overnights and any other gaps in their schedule(s).

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

If they do how will I watch UFC? :( :( :( :( :(

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Lower bills !!!

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Well l would rather have the same bill but with more bang for my buck.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

If nothing else it shows that Virgin expect to get the channel and are open to the idea of it being a direct swap for ESPN. I must admit that I really like ESPN's football coverage, and I like mlb, so I'll be disappointed if Bt's channel signals a complete withdrawal from the UK. I'll be equally disappointed if the value of the xl pack is significantly diluted. I don't expect to continue to get free Premier League after Bt spent so much to acquire it. Free Premier League football on Virgin has been as a result of Setanta not making enough from it and ESPN picking up the pieces for pennies so its clearly unsustainable, but that doesn't mean we have to lose all top class sports coverage, and I for one expect Virgin to continue to offer a viable alternative to having to subscribe to premium channels.

---------- Post added at 16:41 ---------- Previous post was at 16:19 ----------

Sorry, just reread alwaysabear's post - who was the questionnaire from?

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

From ESPN Fan Forum.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Understood, sorry I thought it was from Virgin.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

agree Den as we all know prices never go down

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

I can't see ESPN America going anywhere, even if they close ESPN UK. It's too big a channel across Europe, Scandinavia and the Middle East. As we get the same version that Scandinavia gets I'd think it would stay around.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Id merge the large package with the xl

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

How would you see that working? Would xl subs go down or l subs go up, or would they meet in the middle.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

They'll probably invest it in a cooking channel....:D

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Hopefully meet in the middle, imo espn isnt a patch on what setanta used to be

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Tell me you're having a laugh! Ok you're entitled to your opinion, but imo Setanta was an absolute joke of a channel run by a bunch of amatuers....:td:

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Theres never football on, i remember we got monday night football

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

They could do a lot worse. Food Network gets more viewers than all the ESPN channels combined.

Everyone likes food. :)

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

I have just made it 17 all on the vote:)

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

So why ain't we getting any other food channels?.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

But isn't the difference between l and xl more than just ESPN? This suggestion might mean a welcome reduction in subs for xl customers but the increase for l customers would be pretty catastrophic, wouldn't it?

As for ESPN I think its inclusion for free on xl is amazing value. I don't think hd variants of channels we already have would be as good value.

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

As far as I am concerned its a damp squid ;)

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

Well l have heard of Mr Happy but you and Mr Grumpy would be a very apt alliance great man.;)

Re: What Virgin should do if ESPN pull out of the UK
 

I am quite happy with what is on offer,not seeing anything else I would like.
I could how ever create a long list of channels I never watch.
ESPN Group being but one. They (ESPN) are not going to go anytime soon this I accept.However if they did go, I would hope that we again are recompensed in the same way as when Sky 1 went on walkabout :dozey:. As this would make me very happy. A channel I pay for - (and lets not kid ourselves we pay for all channels however it is dressed up). that I never watch goes & to compensate, discount YES PLEASE;)