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

[Taf]

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/ma...orts-Dazn.html

[jfman]

Excellent news for BT to be able to exit the difficult market while doing some venture capitalists out of a few billion quid in the process.

[Raider999]

If DAZN thought they could make a profit out of streaming Premier League football then surely they would have put in a bid for one of the packages available in the recent round.

With no realistic bids other than the Sky/BT (and minor from Prime) the Premier League extended the current encumbents.

What has changed - possibly DAZN see BT wanting out and hope to pick up the rights for a reduced amount.

Either way, they will retain the linear BT channels as I would assume for the contract specifies how the matches are delivered. Even if it doesn't, it would be extremely brave(rash) to bin the customer base by going to streaming only model.

It doesn't matter what OB thinks, linear sports channels are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by Raider999

If DAZN thought they could make a profit out of streaming Premier League football then surely they would have put in a bid for one of the packages available in the recent round.

With no realistic bids other than the Sky/BT (and minor from Prime) the Premier League extended the current encumbents.

What has changed - possibly DAZN see BT wanting out and hope to pick up the rights for a reduced amount.

I think the problem with their standalone offering is uncertainty in the future. Would they be in a position to make a profit over the lifespan of the rights and launch a bid in year 2 for years 4-6? Who knows - however I've frequently pointed to this as an issue for a genuine 'upstart'.

BT have their share of Premiership rights until the end of the 2024/5 season, and Champions League rights until 2023/4. So DAZN would be on a more solid footing going into both auctions with some kind of subscriber base behind them, an established brand name and (presumably) a presence on all major platforms.

Either way, they will retain the linear BT channels as I would assume for the contract specifies how the matches are delivered. Even if it doesn't, it would be extremely brave(rash) to bin the customer base by going to streaming only model.

It doesn't matter what OB thinks, linear sports channels are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

I can't foresee any rush to make major changes - however it's likely some are inevitable over time. This is essentially giving themselves a base from which to push into the next major rights auctions and cannibalising their own revenue from Virgin, Sky or BT at this point would be pointless.

BT Sport is presumably a loss leader for their broadband service - hence their decision to exit the market and focus on rolling out FTTP. The Virgin wholesale revenue has always been considered useful income from a subscriber base unlikely to pay top dollar for the standalone service.

Will a condition of selling BT Sport to DAZN include a long term agreement to wholesale (or at least partially subsidise) the service on that platform? Or will BT just exit the TV market altogether - essentially becoming a reseller for NOW TV and DAZN.

BT already have the standalone app for £25 on a range of platforms for those who can't work a TV remote so it'd be interesting to see how (if at all) pricing for that shifts over time.

[1andrew1]

Things to watch out for if the BT Sport acquisition by DAZN proceeds:

1. Pricing strategy. Firstly, with regard to DAZN's existing UK boxing rights currently offered for £8pm Would it include it in the current £25pm price, offer it as a bolt-on or increase the £25pm price? Secondly, would it continue to offer subsidised rates for BT broadband customers. I guess that would be factored into the BT Sport sale price.

2. ESPN. Would any rights licensed from them revert to ESPN? Would ESPN be keen to continue licensing the brand to a global competitor?

3. AMC. The low-profile AMC channel. I can see that going.

4. BT TV box. I can see this ending. Although less important now with the rise of streaming apps and smart TVs, I can see Sky being happy about BT TV ending and will encourage them to sign off on the deal.

5. Wholesale deals. Will Sky wholesale DAZN to its customers? Will BT continue to wholesale Sky Sports and to wholesale DAZN? I imagine yes to both in the short term and Sky will be keen to have a lever over DAZN.

[Raider999]

Apparently any deal by BT has to be agreed by Sky - who may or may not want some of the BT rights themselves (Champions League football Premiership Rugby?)

I'm not sure Sky would want to encourage an alternative method of delivery to the customer.

ESPN is a grey area - not sure if a lot of pro mint on ESPN is rights held by them or convenience of an extra channel for BT (ESPN often used for champions league football - rights are held by BT not ESPN)

[Media Boy UK]

2. ESPN. Would any rights licensed from them revert to ESPN? Would ESPN be keen to continue licensing the brand to a global competitor?

If DAZN do not buy the license rights or if Disney do not want to give DAZN the rights. Base on what Disney are doing right now with their TV Channels. I can see ESPN moving to Disney +

3. AMC. The low-profile AMC channel. I can see that going.

ViacomCBS part own their UK Network so maybe takeover will happen in 2022.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Raider999

It doesn't matter what OB thinks, linear sports channels are here to stay for the foreseeable future.

Just to be clear, what I have said is that we are likely to see bids from the streamers at the next auction. This has come a little earlier than I had envisaged!

I have not said that the football will be exclusively streamed. I have speculated that the linear TV channels will start to reduce (a process that has already begun) but will not cease altogether until about 2035.

DAZN is almost certainly going to want to broadcast conventionally as well to maximise their audience while the broadband rollout continues in the UK.

[jfman]

So DAZN are retreating to linear broadcasting because the business model isn’t there for a streaming only proposition. I’m not sure how you can define this as progress towards your vision, OB.

BT have a very good streaming app on many platforms already.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

So DAZN are retreating to linear broadcasting because the business model isn’t there for a streaming only proposition. I’m not sure how you can define this as progress towards your vision, OB.

BT have a very good streaming app on many platforms already.

DAZN is a streaming services, and the matches will indeed be streamed.

The linear channel(s) they are likely to add simply maximises their potential audience.

Although some may find comfort that conventional channels still find a home for content, this will surely diminish over time. Both systems will operate together for a while, but some content has already started to disappear.

[jfman]

“DAZN is a streaming service” - if they spend billions to buy BT Sport and the vast, vast majority of their content is consumed through linear channels does that actually hold true?

They’d be no different from Sky or BT currently do - operating across linear and streaming platforms as consumers desire.

“Simply maximises their potential audience” is an odd way to describe their primary distribution method.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

“DAZN is a streaming service” - if they spend billions to buy BT Sport and the vast, vast majority of their content is consumed through linear channels does that actually hold true?

They’d be no different from Sky or BT currently do - operating across linear and streaming platforms as consumers desire.

“Simply maximises their potential audience” is an odd way to describe their primary distribution method.

I think you are missing the point, jfman. I am not denying for one minute that during the transitional period, both streaming and conventional channels will exist side by side.

DAZN is basically a streaming service, and any conventional channels would be add-on.

The reverse is the case with Sky and BT.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I think you are missing the point, jfman. I am not denying for one minute that during the transitional period, both streaming and conventional channels will exist side by side.

DAZN is basically a streaming service, and any conventional channels would be add-one.

The reverse is the case with Sky and BT.

But they’re buying and retaining BT Sports operations presumably. Their rights and customer base.

In that instance linear isn’t an “add-on” it’s the core of the business model. “Basically a streaming service” is to deny reality in that instance.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

But they’re buying and retaining BT Sports operations presumably. Their rights and customer base.

In that instance linear isn’t an “add-on” it’s the core of the business model. “Basically a streaming service” is to deny reality in that instance.

No, it’s just abiding by contractual commitments. The business model is BT’s - DAZN is simply taking over those channels to minimise disruption to existing BT customers and to recognise that these customers are already subscribed on that basis. It is unlikely to stay like that for many years.

Of course the conventional linear side is an add-on as far as DAZN is concerned. Just look at their operations over the other countries where it operates. It is basically a streaming service.

Incidentally, Amazon doesn’t have conventional channels for its football coverage. That is the way it will all be eventually.

[telegramsam]

I would imagine people will only watch streamed football matches if they can watch it on their TV, through an app on their TV or through sky,virgin etc? I wouldn't and I guess nor others would sit watching 90 minutes of football on a laptop or phone? So for me football won't change in so far as I watch it on my TV.