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

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

I tip DAZN as the other unnamed interested party.

A purchase by Viaplay or DAZN makes sense. The market is simply too crowded.

I suspect BeIN might merge with another broadcaster or be sold after the World Cup.

I think WBD may purchase all sports rights that Premier Sports have right now to full up a new BT Warner Bros Discovery Sports network.

I feel WBD may want Freesport as part of deal.

[ScottishSteve]

Originally Posted by Media Boy UK

I feel WBD may want Freesport as part of deal.

On what basis? They already have enough channels to fill up

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by ScottishSteve

On what basis? They already have enough channels to fill up

Sky have Sky Sports Mix.

WBD have just got a new slot on Freeview after the BT Sports and WBD deal was confirmed (Where Quest Red +1 is).

Maybe it just my head putting two and two together and making it five.


I can also see some of WBD channels merge in the coming years.

[Richardr]

WBD already own Eurosport - chances of them wanting yet more UK sports channels is nil.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by Richardr

WBD already own Eurosport - chances of them wanting yet more UK sports channels is nil.

Agreed except to add WBD will soon likely control BT Sport as well.

[Richardr]

Yes - that's what I meant - running BT Sport and Eurosport doesn't leave them short of sports channels, content, or anything connected.

[TimeLord2018]

Viaplay acquires Premier Sports and will receive Viaplay branding
https://www.viaplaygroup.com/news/ne...try-uk-2037710

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

Viaplay acquires Premier Sports and will receive Viaplay branding
https://www.viaplaygroup.com/news/ne...try-uk-2037710

Thanks for posting that.

Some key takes from it:

• Premier Sports valued at £30m on a cash and debt-free basis.
• Premier Sports has 222,000 paying subscribers and £26.4 million in 2021 revenues (Note: Profit/loss not stated)
• All Premier Sports platforms will receive Viaplay branding and will continue to be available through existing distribution partners.
• The content line-up available on the TV channels will, in due course, be expanded to include Viaplay's broader series and film offering.

[cheekyangus]

Originally Posted by 1andrew1

Thanks for posting that.
[*]The content line-up available on the TV channels will, in due course, be expanded to include Viaplay's broader series and film offering.

2nd that thanks.

With a mixed genre broadcast offering, will they need to/decide to move EPG category once implemented? Just thinking out loud.

[jfman]

I wonder how 222,000 paying subscribers compares to the UK and Ireland operations of fledgeling streamer DAZN. It's a shame they don't public the figures and only really hit the news when Len needs to dig into his oil money to bail them out.

[1andrew1]

Interestingly, I see that a sister channel to Premier Sports, Premier Sports Asia, was set up several years after Setanta Sports Asia was sold to, and closed by, Discovery. So Setanta of Ireland clings onto sports broadcasting with this service having sold the others off with most rebranded except Setanta Sports Eurasia.
https://www.premiersportsasia.com/

[ScottishSteve]

Broadcast is reporting that the CMA approves BT Sport and Eurosport UK joint venture.
The companies will complete the creation of the JV in the coming weeks

[TimeLord2018]

Link to press release
https://wbd.com/warner-bros-discover...ture%ef%bf%bc/

---------- Post added at 10:41 ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 ----------

Originally Posted by cheekyangus

2nd that thanks.

With a mixed genre broadcast offering, will they need to/decide to move EPG category once implemented? Just thinking out loud.

Depends what the channels are called they have channels called V Sport but also have ones called V Series and Film
https://www.viaplaygroup.com/brands/v-sport-series-film

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

Depends what the channels are called they have channels called V Sport but also have ones called V Series and Film
https://www.viaplaygroup.com/brands/v-sport-series-film

I wonder if this could finally see the Box Nation brand buried?

[cheekyangus]

Well the Sky Sport UHD channel now has launch date of 27th July on Sky. No info on VM getting it in this article.
https://rxtvinfo.com/2022/sky-sports...nch-in-uhd-hdr