General : ESPN, BT, Euro, Premier and Sky Sports news

[tvtimes]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

Because BT don't have full Sky Sports so there is no chance in hell of sports fans switching from Virgin TV to BT Vision, so leaving it off Virgin means they would miss out on 3 million possible subscriptions, something they can't afford.

How do you know for sure? If BT retail it properly and bundle it with their Infinity and phone why wouldn't people move? I am seriously considering moving if the price is right and I am not going to be the only one.

Why would BT invest over a billion pound in to this channel and then allow Virgin to give it away in their top pack which would cause Youview/btv to become a weaker service? That wouldn't make sense.

The whole point of doing this deal is strengthen their own triple play offering and BT have stated so themselves.

By the way BT CAN afford to do it. They make £2bn profit a year.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by passingbat

Yes Sky already have a solution to stop BT advertising on Sky sports channels; make the cost so prohibitively high that BT wouldn't pay it. That way they can say they will take BT advertising, but know it will never happen. That strategy worked to prevent any other provider from getting Atlantic. Someone at Sky must be asleep to have missed that trick

That's why I expect SKY to get their own way. Veterans of taking risky and controversial decisions to provide their subscribers with the best experience possible. SKY have almost 11 million customers who really don't care how they get their business done. SKY have shown before they are prepared to take make very unpopular decisions, which costs them advertising and wholesale revenue, if it suits their long term goal. Do BT have the balls to do the same thing? And what if anything can Virgin really do?

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Chad

I think the article I quoted have it wrong. Surely SKY must still have to wholesale SKY Sports 1 and 2.

I still think Virgin are still caught in the middle of the battle between SKY and BT. SKY are holding out from negotiating a new carriage with Virgin, for SKY Sports, until they see what deal BT and Virgin agree for the BT Sports channels. If BT Sports go into the XL package, and SKY can't agree a similar wholesale deal with BT, I can see the following happening:

1. SKY Sports 3 & 4 being withheld from Virgin and BT
2. SKY Sports 1 & 2 HD being withheld from Virgin
3. A sudden hike in the wholesale price for SKY Sports 1 & 2

SKY have already confirmed they do not rely on advertising revenue so SKY Sports 3 & 4 being withheld from Virgin would not be a big loss. Whilst there would be a dip in revenue coming in via Virgin due to witholding channels, SKY could easily make up the shortfall by attracting new customers with half price offers and being able to advertise they are the only platform in the UK to carry all SKY Sports channels and all BT Sports channels.

Not that you prefer the doomsday scenario, Chad!

Frankly, I don't see that happening. And as for Sky Sports 3 and 4 being withheld from Virgin, they may not mind losing a bit of advertising revenue, but don't forget that this is because they rely on subscriptions. They would certainly miss them!

If Sky were to try to withhold these channels from VM, OFCOM and, if necessary, the Competition Commission would have to step in to prevent more riots on the streets! I'm cutting out my Murdoch mask as I speak....

[Chad]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Not that you prefer the doomsday scenario, Chad!

It's only doomsday if you are not with the right TV provider come August

[Mad Max]

Where's Ben when you need him, would be interesting to see what he says!

Originally Posted by Chad

It's only doomsday if you are not with the right TV provider come August

If you don't watch football its no problem at all

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Top banana

If you don't watch football its no problem at all

Can't agree more. The impact of SKY potentially withholding some channels from BT and Virgin isn't going to effect everyone. Many BT, Virgin and SKY customers don't care at all for sports.

Originally Posted by Chad

Can't agree more. The impact of SKY potentially withholding some channels from BT and Virgin isn't going to effect everyone. Many BT, Virgin and SKY customers don't care at all for sports.

Eventually the whole sports bubble will pop. When the rights are next contested what are they going to bid then?

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Top banana

Eventually the whole sports bubble will pop. When the rights are next contested what are they going to bid then?

Again I agree. There will be a time when the consumer pushes back and refuses to pay. About 8 months ago I cancelled SKY Sports and SKY Movies. I had Boxnation, ESPN and whatever sport was live on free to air TV. I didn't find myself really missing what was on SKY Sports at all. I was more than happy watching Match of the Day and midweek Champions League highlights. The only reason I have SKY Sports and SKY Movies now is because I get them for half price.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by Top banana

If you don't watch football its no problem at all

This is true, although I do miss the Ashes, the odd England RFU international and the Ryder cup. All events happen so rarely though, it's just not worth paying the subs.

---------- Post added at 23:47 ---------- Previous post was at 23:41 ----------

Originally Posted by Top banana

Eventually the whole sports bubble will pop. When the rights are next contested what are they going to bid then?

Yup, the sooner the better in my eyes. Overpaid, prima donna footballers drive me insane. When/if the Sky money dries out over here, they will soon chase it else where. However, I think many football fans will continue to pay higher sums of money because it will still be cheaper than paying for tickets.

[BexTech]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

I bet you don't go to the cinema or buy DVDs either?

Yes, go to cinema.

No, don't buy DVDs, buy Blu-Ray discs.

Said I don't pay for Sky Sports, didn't say I don't pay for a sports subscription tho.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Chad

It's only doomsday if you are not with the right TV provider come August

We are preparing our legions to send forth to banish the master and his pesky little minions as l speak.

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by BexTech

Yes, go to cinema.

No, don't buy DVDs, buy Blu-Ray discs.

Said I don't pay for Sky Sports, didn't say I don't pay for a sports subscription tho.

I think I would find foreign commentary irritating, or can you get English language options?

[BexTech]

Originally Posted by andy_m

I think I would find foreign commentary irritating, or can you get English language options?

English Language still at the moment.

[denphone]

BT Vision sets out its plans for a new look to televised rugby union.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2013...ed-rugby-union

BT Vision ready to fight Sky for Heineken Cup

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/r...p-8574208.html