Will Espn invest in major Uk sports rights.

denphone · 07-05-2011, 12:19

Are Espn going to invest in major sports in the next year or two in the uk as currently they seem to be not bidding for uk rights that much as for example the football championship and several other sporting rights giving the impression that they do not want to take on Sky and just want to purchase cheap sports rights or even pull out in the next couple of years.

alwaysabear · 07-05-2011, 12:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Are Espn going to invest in major sports in the next year or two in the uk as currently they seem to be not bidding for uk rights that much as for example the football championship and several other sporting rights giving the impression that they do not want to take on Sky and just want to purchase cheap sports rights or even pull out in the next couple of years.

I can see your thinking , but I believe they will stay close to sky and take the scraps from the table. They will probably end up with two EPL packs, I cannot see them taking on Sky.

denphone · 07-05-2011, 12:30

Espn who are owned by the Disney corporation cerainly have the financial muscle to take on Sky.

muppetman11 · 07-05-2011, 12:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

I can see your thinking , but I believe they will stay close to sky and take the scraps from the table. They will probably end up with two EPL packs, I cannot see them taking on Sky.

They won't take Sky on for the foreseeable future , imagine how much your subs would be if those two corporate giants got locked in a bidding war. BSKYB's main market is the UK and ESPN's is the US and I don't see this changing anytime soon. I believe the split of 4 packs for Sky and 2 for ESPN fits both companies business model.

denphone · 07-05-2011, 12:34

one could not be certain your subs would rise as Espn could do deals with certain tv providers.

muppetman11 · 07-05-2011, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

one could not be certain your subs would rise as Espn could do deals with certain tv providers.

Trust me if ESPN outbid Sky subs would go up and it probably wouldn't be free on XL

alwaysabear · 07-05-2011, 12:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

They won't take Sky on for the foreseeable future , imagine how much your subs would be if those two corporate giants got locked in a bidding war. BSKYB's main market is the UK and ESPN's is the US and I don't see this changing anytime soon. I believe the split of 4 packs for Sky and 2 for ESPN fits both companies business model.

On a purely selfish note, I would love ESPN to take the NFL rights from Sky, then I could cancel Sky sports.

Although I think this is highly unlikely, as the NFL would want the product available in as many homes as possible.

denphone · 07-05-2011, 12:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Trust me if ESPN outbid Sky subs would go up and it probably wouldn't be free on XL

We do not know that will be the case as we can only surmise as to what may or may not happen.

muppetman11 · 07-05-2011, 12:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

On a purely selfish note, I would love ESPN to take the NFL rights from Sky, then I could cancel Sky sports.

Although I think this is highly unlikely, as the NFL would want the product available in as many homes as possible.

I can see more NFL heading to ESPN UK to be honest.

alwaysabear · 07-05-2011, 12:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I can see more NFL heading to ESPN UK to be honest.

Well that is just fine by me.

denphone · 07-05-2011, 12:48

Yes maybe.

07-05-2011, 12:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

On a purely selfish note, I would love ESPN to take the NFL rights from Sky, then I could cancel Sky sports.

Although I think this is highly unlikely, as the NFL would want the product available in as many homes as possible.

ESPN and Sky are on the same number of platforms, so number of homes shouldn't be an issue.

alwaysabear · 07-05-2011, 13:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

ESPN and Sky are on the same number of platforms, so number of homes shouldn't be an issue.

True, but more probably subscribe Sky Sports than ESPN.

denphone · 07-05-2011, 13:12

Yes that is right most definitely.

zantarous · 07-05-2011, 13:18

The football championship would be off little value to ESPN, people are not going subscribe solely for that and the cost V how many people would take out a sub for it was probably the sticking factor.

ESPN have invested heavily in setting up a new channel and two HD ones, a new financial year has just begun so I am sure they will go on more of a shopping spree soon.