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

I wonder if BT did buy ESPN (which at this point seems likely), if they would have to honour the existing deals, like free on XL and on Sky Go. Anyone got a law degree?

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

not if VM can get the bt sports channel to replace it

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

There not buying ESPN just their content by the looks of it.
I'd be amazed if that was included free on any platform other than BT Vision , surely they've splashed all this cash to attract more Vision pay TV/Infinity customers however at this stage it's all guesswork.

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

Indeed that would be very nice.

---------- Post added at 13:48 ---------- Previous post was at 13:47 ----------

Well lets see MM what the future brings before we come to any quick conclusions.:)

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

I don’t think he is drawing a quick conclusion. He’s probably based his opinion on 4 months worth of press reports and press releases from BT, ever since they secured EPL rights.

Everything I’ve seen so far suggests BT will be using the channel to attract new customers. BT has also confirmed people will not have to enter into an expensive TV contract to get access to the channel i.e. an 18 months contract to Virgins XL package.

On a separate issue I was reading an article over the weekend that suggested BT share holders are incredibly worried about “reckless spending” to secure TV rights. It’s understood BT went into the EPL bidding to secure all or nothing. The intent of BT was to grab all of the packages SKY were bidding for. What they’ve ended up with is the middle ground that shareholders are claiming was never BT’s intention. BT is perceived to be making the most of an awkward situation. This matter is high on the agenda for BT’s AGM later this week.

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

BT will have to make an announcement if they are planning to takeover ESPN UKs operations, as they are publicly traded - it shouldn't happen out of the blue.

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

If BT don't takeover ESPN, they could just as easily buy all there infrastructure as they are there content.

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

so BT are not going to use ITVs equipment etc. and instead build an empire? Hope they know what their doing if they are doing the latter.

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

I know they signed deals for foreign football leagues for more than one year and Wiki states:

In May 2012, ESPN acquired the rights to broadcast the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A from Brazil,[54] followed by a deal in June to broadcast Ligue 1 from France.[55] In July, ESPN announced a renewed multi-season Bundesliga rights deal, lasting until the 2014-15 season, for up to four matches per week (all in high definition).[56] It will also screen action from the DFL-Supercup, as well as a highlights packages and video on-demand footage. In addition, agreements for the Eredivisie and Russian Premier League were also renewed

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

It would appear that Bt set out to be Sky Sports and ended up being ESPN, and its cost them a hell of a lot more than it should have done to get to that position. Like Muppetman said, we're in the realms of guess work at the minute, but I should imagine there is still plenty of scope for Virgin to get this new channel on good terms at this moment in time.

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

I just can't see BT sports being a roaring success. As you've stated Andy it looks like it's going to be ESPN with a new name.

People who will be interested in BT Sports would have probably had either Setanta Sports or ESPN previously. If BT try to price the channel higher than £10.00 per month, they'll just anger sports fans and will find it hard to attract customers.

Even if BT offer the channel for free on their own platform, and come up with competitive bundles, how many satisfied SKY and Virgin customers would actually join BT just to get a free sports channel? I think both SKY and Virgin customers would lose more than they gain by joining BT.

Spiderplant posted some really interesting results last week. In quarter 2 of 2007 Virgin had 3,396,600 TV customers. In July 2007 Virgin added Setanta Sports 1, Setanta Sports 2, Setanta Golf, Racing UK, Celtic TV, Rangers TV and a few months later Setanta Sports News. This was a ground breaking deal, never seen before in the UK, and was marketed aggressively by Virgin. So after 12 month how many new TV customers did Virgin attract with the added lure of free premium sports? Well according to figures provided by Spiderplant it was 179,900, much lower than I'd expected.

Setanta Sports peaked at 1.3 million subscribers over all platforms with a better portfolio of sport than ESPN ever achieved and what BT Sports will have from launch. I just can't see BT making a massive success of this opportunity. Virgin had more to offer in terms of TV content, bundles and packages when they agreed the unique deal with Setanta and pulled in a gross of 179,900 new customers. How can BT do better than this?

BT investors are already worried about how things are progressing. Maybe the investors are scratching their head too trying to understand when they will see a return. Basically BT, like ESPN before them, have 4 years to make this a success. There will come a point where investors demand money stops being thrown at content if uptake is slow.

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

thatllbeme made a very interesting spot the other day.

ESPN are showing Wladimir Klitschko Vs. Mariusz Wach live from Germany on Saturday the 10th November. My TiVo EPG shows the programme runs from 10pm to midnight.

This pretty much came out of the blue. Whilst ESPN show their flagship boxing show 'Friday Night Fights' from the States, Klitshcko Vs. Wach is the first time ESPN have broadcast a proper top level fight featuring a fighter at his peak. It's the kind of thing boxing fans were screaming for ESPN to do when Setanta collapsed.

I wonder if ESPN are trying out other sports to see if a potential future channel could exist without football.

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

ESPN have already got a model of their own in ESPN America , this channel has been around for many years in one form or another supplying quality events to American sports fans. I am sure with the right content it could succeed although there is stiff competition from British Eurosport who have most of the second tier sports signed like cycling and winter sports.

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

I'm not really a massive American sports fan but what would be the essential top 5 sports that ESPN America would need to cover for their channel to be a success? I know Premier Sports have the broadcast rights to some popular sports like the NFL and NASCAR, which seem to keep their subscribers happy.

Would it be something like:

1. American Football
2. Basketball
3. Baseball
4. Ice Hockey
5. MMA / Boxing

Alternatively what would be your dream American sports channel line-up? NFL, NBA, NHL, NASCAR, UFC etc.....

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

Simple NFL , NBA , NCAA (Football & Basketball) , MLB , NASCAR , NHL.

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

I've been reading some interesting posts on Facebook from Premier Sports subscribers. It seems many pay to watch just NHL or NASCAR. With the NHL in lockout, subscribers are getting a little restless about the lack of live hockey action. Also my understanding is the NASCAR season comes to an end in a couple of weeks. One person asked:

"With just 3 races to go i have 2 questions #1 will nascar sprint cup be back in 2013 #2 what has premier got to offer us nascar only viewers in the off season to keep us with Premier Sports in December/January"

Premier Sports replied:

"News on this soon Paul. Very soon."

The reply from Premier Sports would suggest they don't currently have a long term deal in place with NASCAR. Maybe a chance for ESPN to jump in for the rights? Also unless the NHL lockout ends soon, American sports fans subscribing to Premier Sports face a real lack of action this Winter. I wonder if Premier Sports can retain their current sports rights if subscribers leave in their droves?

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

Premier Sports has a major problem as you say some only sub for the NHL.
I cannot see the lockout ending any time soon the earliest it could start if there was an agreement tomorrow would be December.The winter classic has also been cancelled which is a high light of the season played on 1St Jan . Many of the NHL stars are now playing in the Russian League (KHL), now if ESPN were smart they would get the rights to it, as the NHL and players are far away from a deal and some players will never return from Europe as they are making a good living there.

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

How often is KHL and AHL on ESPN / ESPN America and what kind of level of hockey are we talking about? If NHL, KHL and AHL were English Premiership football clubs, who would they be? As stated earlier I'm not a big American sports fan but I'm interested in the future of ESPN and Premier Sports. I need to draw on analogies to help me understand.

Thanks for humouring me:)

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

I have seen a few AHL games not sure exactly when they are on probably overnight and replayed the next day.
The KHL is not on ESPN, its the Premier Ice Hockey league in Europe and has attracted a lot of NHL talent whilst there locked out .
NHL would be Utd ,City, Chelsea KHL Spurs,Arsnal and AHL Southampton, Reading or more likely a Championship team. IMO

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

Thanks for the info. I was sure ESPN had snapped up the rights to KHL so checked ahead on the TiVo EPG. Metallurg Mg v Avangard is on ESPN on the 14th November from 12:00pm through to 2:30pm. Not ideal if you're at work! The ESPN website also has Dynamo Moscow v Vityaz listed on the 20th November at 3:30pm.

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

Thanks I was completely unaware they had picked up the rights.:o: Will be ok to record, although I do prefer live sport. Two games in a month does look a bit mean to me, its unlikely to catch on with such little coverage.

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

BT deals further blow to ESPN with new rights deals

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/ne...hts-deals.html

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

I think ESPN have sold the rights on.

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

ESPN basically have nothing now.

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

Exactly.

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

BT do deal with Eurosport

http://www.cable.co.uk/news/bt-visio...ort-801485041/

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

"We think BT Vision is becoming the top value-for-money TV choice for sports fans,".

Thats it right there - the strategy laid bare. ESPN for free on xl has meant until now Virgin have been the value for money choice for sports fans. Bt attempted to take on Sky to be the premium choice, failed, and are now trying to take Virgin's place instead, and they have the content now to be able to do it. This comment is final confirmation that although the Bt sport channel will be available on the Virgin platform it will be on a subscription basis. Virgin now urgently need a response.

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

Does this mean the Eurosport channels won't be on VirginMedia unless we pay for them?

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

Totally agree 100%. Whatever version of ESPN is still on virgin in the summer won't be the same ESPN people joined up to the XL package for. Virgin need to do something big to fight back. Sadly however there doesn't appear to be many options. Premier Sports in XL? Boxnation in XL?

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

Two types of sport package I reckon. sports and sports premium.

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

What sports channels would feature in each package? What would Virgin offer to XL sports fans for free?

We had Setanta, then ESPN. Virgin will feel a lot of pressure from unhappy XL customers if ESPN stops broadcasting and no substitute is found. The loss of ESPN would probably be considered as a major change to the XL TV package. I'd imagine people tied into a long term TV deal with Virgin would have the right to cancel their TV deal free of charge. It happened when the SKY basic channels went back in 2007.

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

I don't have the foggiest. HD content?

I just feel this is the way its going. Whatever happens there's going to be an unhappy party.

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

BT have said in the past that they will also launch an HD Channel.

I can see BT and ESPN doing an deal for ESPN and ESPN HD to become BT Sports and BT Sports HD so that.

A) BT can get ESPN Channels numbers on Sky.
B) They pick up the rest of the sports on ESPN (SPL and Rangers games)
C) And ESPN will carry on broadcast in the UK and Ireland but only with ESPN America and ESPN Classic.

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

I think Classic will go too, BT have too much (live) sport for just the one channel and Classic would give them an extra channel on Sky & VM plus the rights to a ton of archive stuff for filler.

By the way does anyone know if Football First (I have no idea what the generic name is) rights been sold for next season yet?

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

Just seen that ESPN is putting out of Asia.

http://www.media247.co.uk/bizasia/ne...pn-star-sports

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

Truesports is the biggie in asia

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

BT may challenge High Court ruling on Sky Sports price hike

BT CEO Ian Livingstone says he is "minded to appeal" a decision to allow Sky to raise the prices it charges the telecoms giant for its premium sports channels.

Back in August, a High Court tribunal overturned an Ofcom ruling requiring BSkyB to sell the Sky Sports to its competitors like BT Vision at wholesale prices.

BT currently currently pays Sky the 'wholesale must offer' fee of £19.07 a month for every customer who subscribes to Sky Sports 1 and 2 using BT Vision.

The company believes that cost to be too high, considering it sells the channels onto customers at a lower price.

BT may also chase Sky Atlantic, which broadcasts shows like Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire, for its BT Vision user base, according to the report.

http://www.techradar.com/news/televi...e-hike-1112962

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

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if they gained access to Sky Atlantic.

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

And if that happens expect Virgin to follow as it would be foolish indeed not to get it if BT gets carriage for it.

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

But why aren't VM leading the way?

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

l agree as its better to lead from the front rather then lagging behind like a snail.

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

what do people expect VM to do about sky withholding the channels not a lot can be done sadly

---------- Post added at 13:49 ---------- Previous post was at 13:47 ----------

cant see sky stopping with holding it MM

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

But there are other channels not owned by Sky which Virgin should have.

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

yes totally agree Den it looking like I be offski when contact end January

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

But it looks as if BT are trying to do something about that, hence my comment.

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

understand that but cant see sky stopping with holding them would love to be proved wrong though

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

BT have something no other rival platform has been able to bring to the table and that's 38 EPL games for the next three years plus other sport , a great bargaining chip to start with.

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

i would be happy with that trade, if we could see all the games, for a reasonable fee

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

Virgin Media Is Interested in Carrying BT Group’s Sports Content

Virgin Media Inc. (VMED), the U.K.’s second largest pay-television company, is interested in carrying the sports programs that BT Group Plc (BT/A) has acquired this year as part of an expansion into television rights.

“It’ll be interesting how it will play out,” Virgin Media Chief Financial Officer Eamonn O’Hare said at a Morgan Stanley conference in Barcelona today. “Hopefully they will see value in the 4 million customers that we have, and see that as a route to market for their valuable content.”

O’Hare said he was open to talking to BT about carrying the shows. BT, the U.K.’s biggest fixed-line phone company, has acquired rights to broadcast Premier League soccer games and English rugby matches, challenging pay-TV providers such as British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc. (BSY) which also bid for the rights. BT has said it plans to release its BT Sport service by next summer and hasn’t given details about the format.

Phone and cable companies are increasingly offering a similar suite of services -- bundles of television, high-speed Internet and phone lines. Virgin Media, BSkyB and BT are using exclusive rights to shows and movies as well as video-on-demand services to differentiate themselves and to make extra money by leasing rights to competitors.

“We do think customers will want more fragmented, different-sourced content,” O’Hare said. “But we think they will definitely value a one-stop-shop.”

http://www.businessweek.com/news/201...sports-content

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

Well its quite clear that its Virgin intention to try to get BT sports on the XL TV pack but whether BT wants to do this is open to question.

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

Except that as soon as they acquired the content they immediately made clear their intention to make it available on the Sky platform.

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

Very true however they haven't disclosed under what terms , BT may sell the channel themselves like Setanta did on satellite or they may use Sky to sell the channel on the Sky platform like ESPN do , so plenty of things to be thrashed out I'm sure.

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

I should imagine the Premier League, and more importantly their sponsors, made it clear that the Bt rights must be made available to Sky. If it was that much of a bargaining chip then Bt wouldn't have to make public statements about appealing against Court approved wholesale prices for Sky Sports. What they do have is pots of money so it will be interesting to see what happens if they're really prepared to test Sky's resolve over Atlantic.

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

Trade BT Sports for Sky channels (and millions of possible customers) then withhold it from Virgin in order to slowly kill them off, its the perfect plan.

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

I guess time will tell , in my opinion it will be available on BT Vision , VM and Sky however BT still hold all the aces there's nothing stopping them keeping HD , premium features for their own platform that said I can't see them doing that if they go down the line of selling the channel as a standalone on cable and satellite as many wouldn't bother if it was SD only.

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

don't think they copy sky tricks MM as they only one that withholds channels

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

Dave their a business and as such want an edge over their competitors , they've bought into football to drive Infinity and Vision subs , didn't VM have Living as a platform exclusive at one point and also sign an exclusive deal for Film 4 meaning customers of any other platform couldn't watch it in HD I guess you were ok with that though eh :rolleyes:

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

VM had living HD as a exclusive yes till sky bought the channels living SD was on sky at time that's 1 channel MM tell me again how many channels sky withholds and VM didn't own film4 but yes they did have a exclusive deal for HD for a time surely it better to make channels available to many as possible no matter what platform as long as they paid for I very against the withholding of channels no matter who does it and it help stop the piracy of the withheld channels too

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

As usual a certain point of view from one so well trained.:)

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

All Virgin has at the moment is faster broadband for a high % of the country and the ability to record one channel extra, one of which will be mute by this time next year.

BT has exclusive sports, TalkTalk has very cheap TV & mobile and Sky has arguably the best TV setup in the world.

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

yes they seem to be resting on there laurels on tv side :mad::mad::mad:

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

talk talk is miles behind there broadband is crap for starters, customer service is terrible aswell

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

yes, never heard a good word about them. talk talk is like looking at a woman with beer glasses, you are more likely to regret it after you get it

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

What will be mute by this time next year? The ability to record one extra channel? What is happening with this? Are VM removing this or will others, like Sky, be bringing out new boxes with an extra tuner?

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

Premier Sports have signed a deal for 2 more years of exclusive coverage from the NASCAR Sprint Cup plus highlights of every NASCAR Camping World Truck Race on a Monday, and 5 live Truck races as voted for by Premier Sports viewers on Facebook.

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

Anyone interested in Scottish Premier League football in Gaelic? ;)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotlan...lands-20362974

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

BT Vision agrees Discovery channels deal

BT has agreed a distribution deal with Discovery Networks to bring a range of channels to its BT Vision platform.

The agreement will add the Discovery Channel, Animal Planet and Real Time to BT Vision, and it also includes a range of video on-demand every week.

This follows a similar deal between BT and Eurosport for channels and on-demand.

Discovery Channel broadcasts various documentaries and factual entertainment shows, including How We Invented The World, Gold Rush and Wheeler Dealers.

Programmes available on Animal Planet include Monster Bug Wars and Koala Hospitals; and Real Time viewers can enjoy shows such as Cake Boss and Auction Kings.

BT said the three new channels will be available to BT Vision viewers "shortly".

Marc Watson, chief executive BT Vision, said: "The new channels are a great addition to our lineup. We're really excited about the deal with Discovery Networks.

"It will offer BT Vision viewers some of the most well-known and popular factual programmes in the UK."

Discovery Networks UK & Ireland general manager Susanna Dinnage added: "We are delighted to have completed this deal which gives us the opportunity to share three of our key channels with BT Vision's customers.

"Discovery Channel is the most popular factual channel in pay-TV and we are delighted that it is now also available on BT Vision."

The Discovery deal follows a similar agreement between BT and Eurosport for the carriage of British Eurosport and British Eurosport 2 on BT Vision, along with a range of video on-demand content.

BT also recently secured channel deals for FX, National Geographic, National Geographic WILD and UKTV's Gold, Watch and Alibi, as it looks to expand its television offering.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/ne...nels-deal.html

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

Alas it seems BT are running in the 100 metres presently while the Virgin runner seems to have decided to run in the marathon but the trouble is he is still on the first mile paying his extra subs.

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

To be fair BT didn't get the full range of Discovery channels plus there is still no sign of HD.

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

It is more like Virgin is the towel boy, helping the runners. Perhaps an amateur, or a former pro, helping out :D

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

Very true. I think HD will be added in the future.

I'm impressed by how aggressive BT are being in securing TV deals. Can't be long now until they talk with SKY. The outcome of those talks will be interesting.

I've also noticed that BT only seem to be going after "popular channels". Quality over quantity. People have stated here before that they hardly ever watch all of the channels in their package. I've got XL and only watch maybe a 1/3 of the channels on offer. Maybe this cherry picking approach from BT will give them a really solid TV offering at lower prices than their competition because they don't have 50 or so niche channels to subsidise like The Africa Channel, PBS America, Euronews, The Community Channel etc.....

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

No need for HD channels to be added for BT/YouView, just adaptive bitrate streaming via a future software update. Once that's added the picture quality will increase when your bandwidth permits it.

Netflix is probably the best example of this in action.

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

BT confrims that BT Sports channels to broadcast on Astra (Sky).

Full story @ http://www.cableforum.co.uk/board/35...-post1440.html

As of November 20th BT Sports will only broadcast on BT Vision and Sky.

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

Only 2? Gives the impression Sky ain't getting HD.

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

Well Sky have played this game for many years so they cannot moan when some other company plays the same game back.

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

Todays media speculation says

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1761528

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

So they will keep on-demand and PPV exclusively for their own platform dishing out the Football and Rugby channels? I really hope HD is put out, standard vision is just not good enough!

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

BT and Sky war about to start???

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...&postcount=132

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

good! i hope it really kicks off and ends up on the news.

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

would be typical sky to put in on ss3 so we cant watch it in HD grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr rrr

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

A Poster on DS forum says the two purchased slots are SD so I wonder if it will be SD only channels on Sky ? They won't get a penny of my money if that's the case.

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

well MM sky with have no grounds to complain as they kings of withholding channels if that the case

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

The list for HD Channels to Sky is still open only the list for SD Channels is close.

-BT has bought their SD EPG Slots from an other broadcaster.

What broadcaster has sold their EPG?

A) Two ''wee'' broadcasters like Information TV and Bio +1
B) ESPN and ESPN Classic

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

Its inevitable as Sky when provoked resort to their predictable tactics of old and we all know what they are.

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

In my eyes BT have bought the content , its upto them what they do with it , I'm not complaining just simply stating they won't see a penny of my money with no HD.

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

Well if their SD channels get added to the XL pack l certainly won't grumble thats for sure.

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

That's what they're saying on DS forum so hopefully HD will be available , football in SD simply doesn't cut it.

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

so true there MM if only sky would let us have SS3+4 HD it crap having to watch champs league in SD

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

Somehow Dave l cannot see any chance of access to those HD channels anytime soon.

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

I find that Sky's SD pictures for sport are inferior to those of the BBC or ITV.
A case of trying to get their customers to upgrade to HD me thinks.:(

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

me either doubt we ever get them :mad::mad::mad:

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

The Premier League match on SS3 has been scheduled as such for a while, its not as if Sky has retaliated today. Still its interesting.

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

I always new that BT Spors would come to other platforms and that has been confirmed. Im still not sure that the SD slots are ESPN's slots but only time will tell. If BT with hold the HD channel then yes its a shame but i dont blame them as Sky cant really complain as they dont let other providers have there HD channels. IF its at a good price then i will get BT sports and get rid of ESPN. Also im hoping it will be on Sky Go and TV anywhere, that will be a good addition for everyone on all platforms

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

I just remembered that Sky issue the HD EPG slots, the broadcaster only has to get its own SD ones.

BT Sport HD on Sky afterall... probably.

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

[QUOTE=Jameseh;35499610]I just remembered that Sky issue the HD EPG slots, the broadcaster only has to get its own SD ones.

BT Sport HD on Sky afterall... probably.[/QUOTE]

Only time will tell

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

Sky have limited HD capacity at the minute anyway, until the new Astra comes online - the reason the NFL RedZone feed is in SD is purely because of this, they don't have the capacity to deliver it in HD (confirmed by Sky themselves, no less!)

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

good news or bad!!http://www.cable.co.uk/news/bt-bags-...els-801491508/

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

True I think, but it didn't used to be, sky sports SD was the best picture for sports.

Since HD came along its a different story surprise surprise.

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

Astra 2F has now arrived at 28.2E so capacity will not be an issue , obviously it has to go through testing.

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

I wonder.....I just wonder.....if BT would go nuclear with VM and deny them the BT Sports Channels. VMs traditional USP's of VOD and Catch-Up are more or less gone now, and BT has been busy signing up rights to linear Pay-TV channels which were previously restricted to VM. They've already begun targeting VM customers with YouView - they'll ramp that campaign up when the BT Sports Channels are launched.

OFCOM couldn't touch BT because they don't have the market share for EPL, that remains with Sky.

I guess it comes down to what in the long run would make more profit for BT - converting VM customers into BT ones, or selling the content to VM customers. I can't imagine BT allowing VM to sell BT Sports content cheaper on Cable then compared to BT Vision/YouView, in which case they may convert a few.