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

[denphone]

Originally Posted by muppetman11

Live women's tennis deal signed by BT

http://www.btlife.bt.com/entertainme...d-by-bt-sport/

Yes indeed this was mentioned in the Guardian yesterday and its getting very interesting now as it builds up to the launch.

[Gavin-D]

BT is also looking to add more football It is believed BT is keen to also bid for Champions League and England matches and might even buy out the final years of ESPN’s FA Cup contract.

BT Vision adds MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon channels

BT has agreed a deal with Viacom International Media Networks to bring the MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon channels to BT Vision.

The telecoms giant has also signed a separate deal with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for hundreds of hours of live tennis for its new BT Sport operation.
Under the agreement with Viacom, BT Vision customers will now be able to watch the MTV UK channel, home of shows such as Geordie Shore, The Valleys, Jersey Shore and Teen Mom.

They can also enjoy Comedy Central, broadcaster of The Daily Show, South Park, 30 Rock and Friends; as well as Nickelodeon, the children's network that airs SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nick Jr is set to join BT Vision's lineup this year.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/ne...#ixzz2HgJQKEyA

[gus0898uk]

passingbat
Thanks very much for that info, sounds good to me, I will give em a call next week.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by mike_gain

This could add fuel to the flames of the rumour that ESPN are going to quit the UK come the summer:
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/...ttish-football

If they ditch their Scottish coverage then I can't see them carrying on past the summer.

I think those in charge of Scottish football have probably already been notified by ESPN of their intentions. I think the mad scramble in the past 5 weeks or so to try and restructure the game up here suggests ESPN plan to drop the SPL, and are likely to pull out of the UK TV market.

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by Gavin-D

BT is also looking to add more football It is believed BT is keen to also bid for Champions League and England matches and might even buy out the final years of ESPN’s FA Cup contract.

BT Vision adds MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon channels

BT has agreed a deal with Viacom International Media Networks to bring the MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon channels to BT Vision.

The telecoms giant has also signed a separate deal with the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) for hundreds of hours of live tennis for its new BT Sport operation.
Under the agreement with Viacom, BT Vision customers will now be able to watch the MTV UK channel, home of shows such as Geordie Shore, The Valleys, Jersey Shore and Teen Mom.

They can also enjoy Comedy Central, broadcaster of The Daily Show, South Park, 30 Rock and Friends; as well as Nickelodeon, the children's network that airs SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Nick Jr is set to join BT Vision's lineup this year.

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/ne...#ixzz2HgJQKEyA

I asked elsewhere if they're just getting Comedy Central, or the entire suite of Comedy Central channels for this very reason. The Daily Show is on Comedy Central Extra.

[alwaysabear]

Originally Posted by Chad

I think those in charge of Scottish football have probably already been notified by ESPN of their intentions. I think the mad scramble in the past 5 weeks or so to try and restructure the game up here suggests ESPN plan to drop the SPL, and are likely to pull out of the UK TV market.

There does seem to be some unusual haste to restructure the Scottish game, things like this usually take years to put in place.

[mike_gain]

Originally Posted by alwaysabear

There does seem to be some unusual haste to restructure the Scottish game, things like this usually take years to put in place.

This also seems to point to some sort of broadcasting change in the summer. Although to be fair to ESPN, what has been proposed by the powers that be would mean ESPN would need to send their entire punditry crew off on a course so they could make sense of the Scottish game. That's before they try and explain the whole thing to the guy/gal who does the league graphics.

Stewart Regan might as well state that they will also be trying out the "any man save" rule for the 2013-2014 season.

[Chad]

It looks like BT is going to buy BoxNation.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/g...g-8449350.html

I must admit I’m not surprised. When Simon Green, CEO of BoxNation, moved to BT a few months back I had concerns BT would try and outbid BoxNation for boxing rights. It was in the back of my mind they may try and buy the channel somewhere down the line.

I currently pay £10.00 per month for ESPN and £10.00 per month for BoxNation. If BT do purchase BoxNation, and ESPN pull out of the UK market, I’ll be signing up for BT Sports as long as it’s no more expensive than £20.00 per month.

Thanks to Muppetman for the link.

[Itshim]

Originally Posted by Chad

It looks like BT is going to buy BoxNation.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/g...g-8449350.html



I currently pay £10.00 per month for ESPN and £10.00 per month for BoxNation. If BT do purchase BoxNation, and ESPN pull out of the UK market, I’ll be signing up for BT Sports as long as it’s no more expensive than £20.00 per month.

Thanks to Muppetman for the link.

Wish Virgin had charged for ESPN instead of being in a package. Giving a reduction on the package instead .

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Chad

It looks like BT is going to buy BoxNation.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/g...g-8449350.html

I must admit I’m not surprised. When Simon Green, CEO of BoxNation, moved to BT a few months back I had concerns BT would try and outbid BoxNation for boxing rights. It was in the back of my mind they may try and buy the channel somewhere down the line.

I currently pay £10.00 per month for ESPN and £10.00 per month for BoxNation. If BT do purchase BoxNation, and ESPN pull out of the UK market, I’ll be signing up for BT Sports as long as it’s no more expensive than £20.00 per month.

Thanks to Muppetman for the link.

Thats very interesting indeed.

Wonder if they're now going for 3 dedicated channels.

[Media Boy UK]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

Wonder if they're now going for 3 dedicated channels.

Look to me like an good way for BT Sports to get into Virgin TV.

[Lostlam]

Have ESPN acquired the rights for the 2013 Copa Libertadores as they are showing a qualifying match next Thursday?

Thanks

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Lostlam

Have ESPN acquired the rights for the 2013 Copa Libertadores as they are showing a qualifying match next Thursday?

Thanks

Yes they do have the rights.

[Lostlam]

Originally Posted by denphone

Yes they do have the rights.

Thought so. Premier Sports must have got rid of it. Does this mean ESPN are thinking of staying around longer than May then?