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

[Doug P]

Wish they'd spell out their vision as to which platforms they want to be on and how much then I can say "too expensive" and move on...

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Doug P

Wish they'd spell out their vision as to which platforms they want to be on and how much then I can say "too expensive" and move on...

Yes you and many others Doug.

[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by Doug P

Wish they'd spell out their vision as to which platforms they want to be on and how much then I can say "too expensive" and move on...

BT has already made clear that it wants to be on all platforms. We will be getting some more details soon, I believe, but whether this will include price I'm not sure, given the uncertainties arising from the lack of agreement with Sky.

[tvtimes]

Originally Posted by OLD BOY

BT has already made clear that it wants to be on all platforms. We will be getting some more details soon, I believe, but whether this will include price I'm not sure, given the uncertainties arising from the lack of agreement with Sky.

Surely it is going to have to release pricing details really soon. Fingers crossed.

[denphone]

Originally Posted by tvtimes

Surely it is going to have to release pricing details really soon. Fingers crossed.

You would have thought as many people want to know pricing and package details now and not just before it goes on air.

[tvtimes]

So many of these emoticons are appropriate for the ongoing spat between Sky and BT

---------- Post added at 16:03 ---------- Previous post was at 16:01 ----------

Originally Posted by denphone

You would have thought as many people want to know pricing and package details now and not just before it goes on air.

Exactly, I agree completely. I want to know so I can make the appropriate action because it means moving providers for the best deal then I will move. But I don't want to move at short notice.

[denphone]

A deal between Sky and BT to share sports content looks unlikely.

http://www.uswitch.com/broadband/new...sport_content/

Rival broadcasters BT and Sky look unlikely to reach a deal over TV sports rights, it has been reported.

According to the Telegraph, the duo have been "locked in discussions" ahead of the launch of the BT Sport platform this summer, seeking a deal which would allow content to be shared.

From the 2013/14 season, BT will join Sky in airing live Premier League football - broadcasting 38 matches per year, compared to Sky's 116.

However, the parties are yet to agree a deal which would allow BT Sport customers to watch Sky Sports over their TV platform.

An industry source told the Telegraph that a deal to bring Sky content to BT Sport subscribers "looks very unlikely".

[Mobes]

Im confused. BT vision already has the right to Sky sports 1 & 2 ?! Am i being thick?

Originally Posted by Mobes

Im confused. BT vision already has the right to Sky sports 1 & 2 ?! Am i being thick?

2/6 and only in SD is pretty poor though, BT has a tool to negotiate with now so they're using it.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Mobes

Im confused. BT vision already has the right to Sky sports 1 & 2 ?! Am i being thick?

SKY and BT agreed the deal for SKY Sports 1 & 2 on the 28th June 2010. For what I can gather, it was a 3 year carriage deal.

[Mobes]

Ah. This will suck big time for BT if it doesn't happen! In some ways i hope it won't as it'll probably put VM in a better bargaining position for how much they pay

1&2 have to be offered though don't they?

[Chad]

Originally Posted by Jameseh

1&2 have to be offered though don't they?

http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/media/ne...s-pricing.html

"The ruling potentially means that Sky no longer has to provide Sky Sports 1 and 2 to platforms such as BT Vision and Top Up TV through an Ofcom-regulated price. The satellite broadcaster could also look to recoup its lost revenue from the price cut over the last two years."

"Sky could look to hike up its wholesale prices and make it no longer viable for BT to continue offering Sky Sports 1 and 2 to its customers."

"Sky can, however, refuse to supply if they are unhappy with the offer the platforms propose."

Both BT's and Virgins carriage deals with SKY for SKY Sports expire in the summer. SKY are reportedly hanging back from negotiating with Virgin until they see what deal is agreed between Virgin and BT for BT Sports. If SKY don't like what they see they will make it very difficult for BT and Virgin when negotiating a new carriadge deal for SKY Sports. Sounds very familiar to what has reportedly happened with SKY Atlantic so it looks like SKY will know exactly what they are doing.

There is a real possibility that SKY will be the only place to watch all SKY Sports and BT Sports channels. BT have already confirmed their channels will definitely be on the SKY platform in the summer, just not on a wholesale basis via SKY. So what is the risk for SKY by not having SKY Sports on Virgin and BT? Well at first a drop of viewing figures, a drop in revenue from advertisers and other TV platforms plus a hit in reputation. I suspect however SKY would quickly make up the shortfall. If SKY is the only place where you can get SKY Sports I'd imagine a significant jump in subscribers moving to SKY from other providers. Get these customers on TV, broadband and phone deals and within no time SKY are no longer making a loss.

[denphone]

Well if it goes down this road then then Sky can go and jump off a cliff as they will really commit the biggest own goal that has ever been seen.

[Chad]

Originally Posted by denphone

Well if it goes down this road then then Sky can go and jump off a cliff as they will really commit the biggest own goal that has ever been seen.

The thing is none of SKY's current customers would probably care one bit if the channels are withdrawn, by hook or by crook, from BT and Virgin. SKY wouldn't care too much either as it would give them the chance to add a significant numbers of new subscribers at record sign up rates.

I seriously think we are about to see a bit of history repeating. In February 2007 Virgin Media launched which some suggested would shake the British pay TV market and become serious competition to SKY. Within weeks all SKY basic channels were withdrawn from the Virgin platform. This is viewed by many as SKY trying to stick the boot into Virgin right at their birth.

Within the next few months it looks like Liberty Global will enter the UK pay TV market by taking over Virgin whilst BT are set to launch a brand new TV service including BT Sports. I can see SKY repeating their "put the boot in at birth" exercise to both BT and Liberty Global but this time with SKY Sports. Just like in 2007 with Virgin, the mudslinging between BT and SKY has started in the press already.