Quote:
Originally Posted by Big-Ted
But the history for this reads differently.
Setanta was added to XL at no extra charge for us.
Setanta went out of business, ESPN took over their content for most things.
ESPN continued where Setanta left off being part of the XL package still with no extra charge.
So how are we paying for it 
OK if they made it a pay channel it would free up some money but who knows what the deal was and how much ?
Might be just enough for one extra HD channel and the lost of an HD channel from XL....... |
Ok let me word it differently.
ESPN is a pay (premium) channel and that's the point. It is a premium channel if you don't have XL. It's a great offer if you want it, no doubt about that but you cannot possibly think it is free when it is a stand alone channel otherwise.
23 live and exclusive Barclays Premier League games, FA Cup, Scottish Premier League, Guinness Premiership and on and on. There is no way that content comes cheap. And as I said on another thread all that included proves just how good value XL is, but only if you want ESPN.
XL is fantastic value, it really is and I have never said otherwise but part of that sub pays for ESPN, otherwise why is ESPN upto £8 a month?
Another thought, I wonder what will happen if (as is highly likely) ESPN get more Premier League packages in the future, will it still be included in XL? Pure speculation on my behalf but when Setanta had two packages included in XL what happened, I don't need to tell you.
We'll see, don't think for one moment I am slagging off XL other than I feel it is inflexible, that's all.
I am happy for the current model to continue but I would very much welcome the choice of having an additional HD sub for basic HD channels, that's all as it seems it is the only way we can get them and I honestly think it would increase VM's appeal.
Just my opinion.