Coming Soon to Virgin TV (2011) Vol. III. - Page 10

Lew · 08-07-2011, 19:32

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

They need more channels to begin with. American sports are often being broadcast on standard ESPN and not America so there is already an excess of content for one channel.

The reason that they show American sports on ESPN as well as ESPN America is firstly that not all ESPN viewers can receive ESPN America (DTT viewers, for example) and secondly that for sports such as the NFL and NBA they only have the rights for the UK and Ireland and the version of ESPN America that we get also goes to several other countries where they don't have the rights.

08-07-2011, 19:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lew

The reason that they show American sports on ESPN as well as ESPN America is firstly that not all ESPN viewers can receive ESPN America (DTT viewers, for example) and secondly that for sports such as the NFL and NBA they only have the rights for the UK and Ireland and the version of ESPN America that we get also goes to several other countries where they don't have the rights.

Then they should launch ESPN America Extra (HD) to avoid the licensing issues and also add much needed extra schedule space. Plus since only Sky Sports 1 & 2 are available on Freeview and BT, they have fans of pretty much every other sport (maybe except Rugby) left to satisfy, so launching all their channels on every platform would be a great decision in my opinion.

I'd love to see ESPN on Demand as well, they already have exclusivity on football highlights for mobile, so maybe it could happen.

08-07-2011, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

That would make sense however a lot of fanatical US sports fans who sub to VM wouldnt be to happy if all their HD sport dried up , at least now they can watch a fair bit on ESPN HD.

Very true time to get ESPN america HD on VM me thinks.

But to be fair ESPN perhaps need to launch another channel for uk/european content,its a bit bad when the cricket rights come up Sky seem to be the only bidders bidding against themselves no doubt!

Even if the BBC lets say were to bid the rights are well out of their reach,you might have thought ESPN might have shown some interest but they would perhaps need another sports channel first.

muppetman11 · 08-07-2011, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1960

Very true time to get ESPN america HD on VM me thinks.

But to be fair ESPN perhaps need to launch another channel for uk/european content,its a bit bad when the cricket rights come up Sky seem to be the only bidders bidding against themselves no doubt!

Even if the BBC lets say were to bid the rights are well out of their reach,you might have thought ESPN might have shown some interest but they would perhaps need another sports channel first.

I suppose they have to balance sport acquisitions against subscriber revenues. BSKYB get at least 20.00 per subscriber for their sports channels were as ESPN get 9.00 from Sky subscribers or 12.00 without sky sports and we don't know how much they make off VM per subscriber as this is integrated into XL.

08-07-2011, 20:21

ESPN could try and get F1 and MotoGP now that the BBC are cutting costs. Get the NASCAR from Premier Sports (or even buy them out and rebrand) and whatever ITV 4 shows plus the WRC they already have and they'd have a motorsport line up that Sky couldn't challenge.

08-07-2011, 20:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by muppetman11

I suppose they have to balance sport acquisitions against subscriber revenues. BSKYB get at least 20.00 per subscriber for their sports channels were as ESPN get 9.00 from Sky subscribers or 12.00 without sky sports and we don't know how much they make off VM per subscriber as this is integrated into XL.

Yes thats true and i had that also in the back of my mind as well as ESPNS public interviews, as the reason when the EPL come up for re-newal or other major sports Sky obviously will be in the box seat,as you say because of the revenues they generate in the uk ESPNS being much lower as they charge less and their sub base is far smaller.

Mind you if they really wanted to compete unlike setanta they have a wealthy owner disney and could take a serious hit for a few years whlist building up a uk sports portfolio,by adding a couple of channels and upping their subs slowly as they go,thereby giving sky a real run for their money sadly though this will not happen.

braysoj1 · 08-07-2011, 20:24

when is prem sport coming 2 vm

08-07-2011, 20:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by braysoj1

when is prem sport coming 2 vm

Once they can afford the EPG slot.

denphone · 08-07-2011, 20:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

ESPN could try and get F1 and MotoGP now that the BBC are cutting costs. Get the NASCAR from Premier Sports (or even buy them out and rebrand) and whatever ITV 4 shows plus the WRC they already have and they'd have a motorsport line up that Sky couldn't challenge.

Yes definitely F1 as the only other company that will probably bid for it would be Sky as ITV l believe would not pay the price that Ecclestone wants.

08-07-2011, 20:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Yes definitely F1 as the only other company that will probably bid for it would be Sky as ITV l believe would not pay the price that Ecclestone wants.

Bernie Ecclestone has stated in the past he wants a mass market for F1 that is why it is not already on Sky he prefers terrestrial tv for F1 ,i did hear that C4 were interested in F1 now the BBC are cutting costs.

denphone · 08-07-2011, 20:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1960

Bernie Ecclestone has stated in the past he wants a mass market for F1 that is why it is not already on Sky he prefers terrestrial tv for F1 ,i did hear that C4 were interested in F1 now the BBC are cutting costs.

l am not sure C4 can afford it though.

08-07-2011, 20:33

I've heard about C4 as well but I can't imagine them doing it. T4 has been on weekend morning for years and I doubt they're going to drop that group of cheap repeats for some of the most expensive sports rights especially when C4 aren't exactly known for sports at all except horse racing.

08-07-2011, 20:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

l am not sure C4 can afford it though.

When ITV lost interest in formula 1 Eccleston let the BBC have it for a comparitive snip,would not be surprised in that sport wether mass advertising revenues from it being available to a mass audience on FTA TV is worth more then selling to sky, Bernie Ecclestone is very much against selling to pay tv channels. If he was it would be on sky now as he would have sold the rights to sky instead of the BBC.

I am sure he would package it so C4 could afford it if they really wanted F1.

---------- Post added at 19:39 ---------- Previous post was at 19:34 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

I've heard about C4 as well but I can't imagine them doing it. T4 has been on weekend morning for years and I doubt they're going to drop that group of cheap repeats for some of the most expensive sports rights especially when C4 aren't exactly known for sports at all except horse racing.

C4 did make a good fist of cricket coverage a few years ago before sky hoovered up all the live rights exclusively,C4 could show F1 on more 4 i suppose its available on freeview and well as satellite and cable.

denphone · 08-07-2011, 20:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jameseh

I've heard about C4 as well but I can't imagine them doing it. T4 has been on weekend morning for years and I doubt they're going to drop that group of cheap repeats for some of the most expensive sports rights especially when C4 aren't exactly known for sports at all except horse racing.

Yes and they do not even pay for that because bookmakers did to start with and now Sheikh Mohammed now pays for it as far as l know with them advertising his brand.

---------- Post added at 19:42 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard1960

When ITV lost interest in formula 1 Eccleston let the BBC have it for a comparitive snip,would not be surprised in that sport wether mass advertising revenues from it being available to a mass audience on FTA TV is worth more then selling to sky, Bernie Ecclestone is very much against selling to pay tv channels. If he was it would be on sky now as he would have sold the rights to sky instead of the BBC.

I am sure he would package it so C4 could afford it if they really wanted F1.

---------- Post added at 19:39 ---------- Previous post was at 19:34 ----------

C4 did make a good fist of cricket coverage a few years ago before sky hoovered up all the live rights exclusively,C4 could show F1 on more 4 i suppose its available on freeview and well as satellite and cable.

Lets hope they do bid for F1.

08-07-2011, 20:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by denphone

Yes and they do not even pay for that because bookmakers did to start with and now Sheikh Mohammed now pays for it as far as l know with them advertising his brand.

---------- Post added at 19:42 ---------- Previous post was at 19:41 ----------

Lets hope they do bid for F1.

If F1 has to leave the BBC which i hope it does not,then C4 would be better for the majority then sky,so yes i hope they would bid as well.