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

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Raider999

Wow - has the worm turned? OB admitting that Streaming is expensive!

For sport it is, yes, because they are spread amongst too many providers. Consolidation may happen with time.

[bluecatt73]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

For sport it is, yes, because they are spread amongst too many providers. Consolidation may happen with time.

But this is the opposite of what's happening. Sports rights are increasingly fragmenting.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by bluecatt73

But this is the opposite of what's happening. Sports rights are increasingly fragmenting.

Yes and no. I suspect many of the newer players except Amazon will exit the market in five years.

Consolidation

• BT Sport and Eurosport UK are combining.
• Premier Sports acquired use of the Box Nation brand.

Fragmentation - new entrants

• Amazon
• DAZN
• Fite
• Viasport

Exits

• Eleven Sports
• ESPN
• Setanta
• ITV pay-per-view

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

For sport it is, yes, because they are spread amongst too many providers. Consolidation may happen with time.

I’m glad that you accept that ultimately the failure of many of these streamers in their own right - given the absence of viable business models - is desirable.

[TimeLord2018]

I noticed Premier Sports isn't available on either Sky Glass or Virgin Media stream.

[1andrew1]

Originally Posted by TimeLord2018

I noticed Premier Sports isn't available on either Sky Glass or Virgin Media stream.

Agreed.

I also see that sister channel FreeSports has made it to VM Stream but not to Sky Glass.

[Itshim]

Didn't really listen to radio story but it sounded as if the government is going to make a number of national team sports ,must be first offered to free to air broadcaster's .

[Richardr]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

Additionally, live streaming on them isn’t that good at the moment either.

Not sure that is necessarily the case. Assuming you are talking about the picture, on BT Sport Ultimate it is 4K and HDR streamed on both the Xbox and the Roku (and no doubt others), and looks better than any broadcast platform. On SkyQ and my LG TV the Amazon Prime football picture is as good as any broadcast platform.

[jfman]

On Now (with Boost) it’s 1080p50. Whereas broadcast Sky Sports HD is 1080i.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

I’m glad that you accept that ultimately the failure of many of these streamers in their own right - given the absence of viable business models - is desirable.

I do accept that this is the case for the sports streamers. However, for dramas, films, documentaries and basically all categories that are not sport-related, a good choice of streamers is a good thing.

Some people moan about not having enough to watch, yet they complain that there is too much choice, which I find curious, to say the least.

[jfman]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

I do accept that this is the case for the sports streamers. However, for dramas, films, documentaries and basically all categories that are not sport-related, a good choice of streamers is a good thing.

Some people moan about not having enough to watch, yet they complain that there is too much choice, which I find curious, to say the least.

There’s nothing curious about not wanting to be hit in the pocket to fund loss making operations propped up by venture capital or the hopes and dreams of Silicon Valley.

The longer they stay in the market they drive up content costs for consumers, businesses with viable business models and even the free to air market. There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, desirable about that.

[TimeLord2018]

Channel 4 wins rights to England's European Qualifiers and UEFA Nations League matches
https://www.channel4.com/press/news/...league-matches

[1701-e]

And sky sports subscribers await a price reduction lol

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by jfman

There’s nothing curious about not wanting to be hit in the pocket to fund loss making operations propped up by venture capital or the hopes and dreams of Silicon Valley.

The longer they stay in the market they drive up content costs for consumers, businesses with viable business models and even the free to air market. There’s nothing, absolutely nothing, desirable about that.

So you think that the non-sports streamers are costlier than Sky? I don’t buy that, although it’s true that if you subscribe to them all at the same time, that is more expensive.

As for sports, it is most certainly a problem that these are scattered over so many streamers, but I do expect there will be consolidation over time.

Incidentally, the inroads into football are showing no signs of abating.

https://www.mediamole.co.uk/entertai...ll_484573.html

[EXTRACT]

The agreement with UEFA will see Viaplay replace Sky Sports as the exclusive UK home of European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup 2026, Euro 2028 and the Nations League from 2024 to 2027, in addition to international friendlies.


Viaplay also gains the rights from Sky to all of those competitions involving other European national teams, apart from England but including the likes of France, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany and Spain.

[muppetman11]

Originally Posted by 1701-e

And sky sports subscribers await a price reduction lol

Why should you expect a reduction ?