General ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update) - Page 6

denphone · 13-06-2012, 18:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

Yeah, but for how much? I think people hoping for a ESPN/XL pack-style will be disappointed.

Well HD we shall see what the wind blows in as things have a habit of turning out much more differently then we imagine.

Superblade7 · 13-06-2012, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

Excellent point. ESPN weren't a platform and it was in their interests to make that XL deal with VM.

Once BT's rollout is complete and their linear TV service is up and running, I'm sure BT customers will get the football cheaper than VM customers. I'm going to enjoy 'free' football on XL while I can.

And I'm sure BT will remember how Sky reduced their profit margin on SS1 and SS2 by raising the retail price of those channels, within hours of BT announcing deals for those channels. Love to be a fly on the wall within the room for those BT-Sky talks.

You can guarantee the BT Sports channel will be available on as many platforms as possible as they will have paid a significant sum to obtain these two packs and will need to recoup their costs through subscriptions and advertising so will need it as widely available as they can. If they don't then their TV arm could easily do a Setanta and sink due to them paying out more than they are receiving.

It would also probably be worth BT agreeing a similar deal with VM as ESPN currently have as this would ensure that it will be available in many more homes with the XL TV package than it would ever get as a standalone on VM.

Emel · 13-06-2012, 18:39

It seems ESPN made a strong bid, they intend to continue to broadcast their other sports after 2013.

Will Virgin want them in the XL pack then, any more than they want Premier Sport. Either way Virgin will not be spending much on ESPN so should be able to spend more on other XL pack content be that BT football or something else.

HDFootyMan · 13-06-2012, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Superblade7

You can guarantee the BT Sports channel will be available on as many platforms as possible as they will have paid a significant sum to obtain these two packs and will need to recoup their costs through subscriptions and advertising so will need it as widely available as they can. If they don't then their TV arm could easily do a Setanta and sink due to them paying out more than they are receiving.

It would also probably be worth BT agreeing a similar deal with VM as ESPN currently have as this would ensure that it will be available in many more homes with the XL TV package than it would ever get as a standalone on VM.

But surely BT would make more money converting those VM customers to BT customers? ESPN had no such concerns. EPL footy is a great draw for Pay-TV customers (just ask Sky).

I can see triple-play bundles from BT with cheaper EPL Football (and faster fibre-optic broadband) as a key component.

chris9991 · 13-06-2012, 19:08

I can imagine that this could be BT's Sky Atlantic. Oh well I could do with watching less football on the telly

freakgirl · 13-06-2012, 19:16

From BBC website

"BT said it would launch a new football-focused channel to carry the games."

"It will offer new interactive features when supplied over BT's fibre network and we will look to distribute it on other platforms," the telecoms firm said.

Gavin-D · 13-06-2012, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakgirl

Not to happy about this, ESPN was probably one of the main reasons a lot of XL customers got XL, just as I was looking forward to watching the games on the new tivo in my bedroom as well.

So what will ESPN do, will they try and get rights to show Championship games and what will virgin do to try and persuade customers to stay on the xl package

ESPN can't bid for the Championship games as there tied down to Sky to at least 2015, Champions League is also tied down to 2015, I think the end is in sight for ESPN as all the UK football is tied down only leaves la liga but that won't get many subscriptions there again Sky are likely to extend the contract

colin25 · 13-06-2012, 19:21

Espn will have italian football..and scottish football

Excited?

**Maggy** · 13-06-2012, 19:22

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-18430036

Quote:

"It will offer new interactive features when supplied over BT's fibre network and we will look to distribute it on other platforms," the telecoms firm said.

OLD BOY · 13-06-2012, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by freakgirl

From BBC website

"BT said it would launch a new football-focused channel to carry the games."

"It will offer new interactive features when supplied over BT's fibre network and we will look to distribute it on other platforms," the telecoms firm said.

Yes, that's what I thought would happen. I can't see BT playing Sky's game of monopoly.

We'll get it in HD too, you'll see. (That's my prediction, no source at this stage).

colin25 · 13-06-2012, 19:26

Should we change title of thread

colin25 · 13-06-2012, 19:27

Suspect there will be a price...curious to see what it will be

OLD BOY · 13-06-2012, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by chris9991

I can imagine that this could be BT's Sky Atlantic. Oh well I could do with watching less football on the telly

It's BT, not Sky - stop worrying!

denphone · 13-06-2012, 19:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Yes, that's what I thought would happen. I can't see BT playing Sky's game of monopoly.

We'll get it in HD too, you'll see. (That's my prediction, no source at this stage).

And OB your prediction is likely to be spot on.

---------- Post added at 19:27 ---------- Previous post was at 19:26 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin25

Should we change title of thread

Well Colin thats another great idea from the Colin's world of idea's.

denphone · 13-06-2012, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin25

Suspect there will be a price...curious to see what it will be

A rich man like you should have no problem paying for it.