General : ESPN may lose EPL Football(Update)

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

My feelings are that Sky will end up ok , due in part to the fact they have channels which BT will probably be very keen to add to their platform and the small fact that Sky's platform has 10.5 million potential customers to BT's sport channel , only guessing though.

Do you know how many Sky customers actually take Sky Sports? As the viewing figures for Pl games seems to top out at at 2 million for the big games.

[Arthurgray50@blu]

My personnel view is that Sky won't have a problem with BT Vision, as there will be some agreement made.

I think the problem will be with ESPN and VM, ESPN will want EPL more desperately than VM, do to the fact that ESPN have got a settled platform now with football in the UK.

I think the major problem will be with VM, they will not want to pay the price for that one channel. Remember, we have a problem with Atlantic and Sky.

IF, BT Vision do a deal with BOTH ESPN and VM then that would be great, as l have said before BT do not have enough subs to cover the cost of the football.

They have jumped in just like Setanta.

[Telly_]

This is nothing like Setanta, Unless Setanta had a customer base of 10's of millions taking phoneline rental, phone calls, broadband packages that we didn't know about. Or unless Setanta secretly had a turnover of £Billions that no one knew about.


BT Have clearly stated they went for the EPL rights to give them some leverage towards getting Sky content on their own platform. If spending £700 million over 3 years not only gives them exclusive first pick EPL, Skysports 1-2HD, Skysports 3-4,Sky Atlantic on their own platform then its money very well spent.

I strongly suspect BT went in to get 3 packs and are not to pleased at only getting 2.

---------- Post added at 19:06 ---------- Previous post was at 19:04 ----------

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

Do you know how many Sky customers actually take Sky Sports? As the viewing figures for Pl games seems to top out at at 2 million for the big games.

I think 7 million Sky subscribers take Sky sports.

---------- Post added at 19:10 ---------- Previous post was at 19:06 ----------

Originally Posted by colin25

I need to see what the charge will be.

If similar to ESPN, i might go for it.

But to be honest, i am running out of hours to watch football (and tv shows i like)

So won't cry if i don't get them

I get a feeling BT's channel/games are going to be inclusive with Skysports pack. I just don't see any other way especially with BT wanting Sky's content. Also the wholesale price of Skysports will rise hurting VM if they want any EPL at all on their network.

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by Telly Bear

This is nothing like Setanta, Unless Setanta had a customer base of 10's of millions taking phoneline rental, phone calls, broadband packages that we didn't know about. Or unless Setanta secretly had a turnover of £Billions that no one knew about.


BT Have clearly stated they went for the EPL rights to give them some leverage towards getting Sky content on their own platform. If spending £700 million over 3 years not only gives them exclusive first pick EPL, Skysports 1-2HD, Skysports 3-4,Sky Atlantic on their own platform then its money very well spent.

I strongly suspect BT went in to get 3 packs and are not to pleased at only getting 2.

---------- Post added at 19:06 ---------- Previous post was at 19:04 ----------



I think 7 million Sky subscribers take Sky sports.

So nearly two thirds , I think on VM its about a million which is just over a quarter. So BT need to do a deal with Sky much more than they do VM.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

So nearly two thirds , I think on VM its about a million which is just over a quarter. So BT need to do a deal with Sky much more than they do VM.

Sorry AB but BT need to do deals with both Sky and Virgin because if they don't then their foray into this market is dead in the water before its even started.

[Telly_]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

So nearly two thirds , I think on VM its about a million which is just over a quarter. So BT need to do a deal with Sky much more than they do VM.

Yeah but how many of those actually wanted Skysports and how many just have it as part of Sky-world? I doubt it really matters but out of that 7 million I bet some never watch SS.

[colin25]

Originally Posted by denphone

Sorry AB but BT need to do deals with both Sky and Virgin because if they don't then their foray into this market is dead in the water before its even started.

Disagree with Virgin..agree with sky

BT need the right deal with Virgin..not any deal

[Telly_]

Originally Posted by denphone

Sorry AB but BT need to do deals with both Sky and Virgin because if they don't then their foray into this market is dead in the water before its even started.

Not if 2 million cable customers upsticks and move over to BT, Which after all is what BT want. They know they can't take on Sky (yet) but they also know Infinity is generally considered superior to VM but users want TV packaged with their phone and Broadband now.

I really do think this is going to put a squeeze on VM, thats not scaring mongering or hating.Its just BT want to be the number 2 player in this market and they seem to want it within the next 4-5 years.

[HDFootyMan]

Bear in mind that this will increase subscriptions to BT's broadband service, when bundled with a phone and TV service. They won't need to add that many viewers to their TV service to break even. They have 750,000 BT Vision customers. Sell more bundles and they may only need 820,000 (according to DS Forum speculation) to break even.

This is all about making their triple-play bundles more attractive. Many thought that Sky overpaid for EPL back in 92, look at them now.

[Telly_]

Originally Posted by HDFootyMan

Bear in mind that this will increase subscriptions to BT's broadband service, when bundled with a phone and TV service. They won't need to add that many viewers to their TV service to break even. They have 750,000 BT Vision customers. Sell more bundles and they may only need 820,000 (according to DS Forum speculation) to break even.

This is all about making their triple-play bundles more attractive. Many thought that Sky overpaid for EPL back in 92, look at them now.

That is a great point and at the time Sky had hardly any customers and most though it could never pay off.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Telly Bear

Not if 2 million cable customers upsticks and move over to BT, Which after all is what BT want. They know they can't take on Sky (yet) but they also know Infinity is generally considered superior to VM but users want TV packaged with their phone and Broadband now.

I really do think this is going to put a squeeze on VM, thats not scaring mongering or hating.

Well Sky have been putting all their might on Virgin for years but have made no dent in Virgins overall TV and Broadband numbers so if they can't make a dent in it then BT have no chance of making a dent in Virgins overall customer numbers and as for infinty being better then Virgins broadband well l think people are overexaggerating it totally.

[Telly_]

Originally Posted by denphone

Well Sky have been putting the squeeze on Virgin for years but have made no dent in Virgins overall TV and Broadband numbers so if they can't make a dent in it then BT have no chance of making a dent in Virgins overall customer numbers and as for infinty being better then Virgins broadband well l think people are overexaggerating it totally.

Yes Den we know, according to you everyone with crap VM broadband hates VM and is talking rubbish, everyone with good BT infinity is making it up and over exaggerating. Sky also have more TV customers in cabled areas than VM do.

[alwaysabear]

I think things will be interesting for customers in the future, there will be more choice which can only be good. You view will certainly be very interesting when it finally launches.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Telly Bear

Yes Den we know, according to you everyone with crap VM broadband hates VM and is talking rubbish, everyone with good BT infinity is making it up and over exaggerating. Sky also have more TV customers in cabled areas than VM do.

Wrong l am afraid because 99% of Virgin customers with broadband and other services are extremely happy with their speeds and service they are getting and as we always know the people who are unhappy with Virgins services are vastly overexaggerated in its numbers and most of then tend to frequent on forums to make their voice heard more.

[Telly_]

Originally Posted by denphone

Wrong l am afraid because 99% of Virgin customers with broadband and other services are extremely happy with their speeds and service they are getting and as we always know the people who are unhappy with Virgins services are vastly overexaggerated in its numbers and most of then tend to frequent on forums to make their voice heard more.

I would also say 99% of Sky tv and broadband customers are happy and 99% of BT Inifinty customers are happy, I'm sure you woulod agree?