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

[thenry]

BT may have to do an Al Jazeera

HD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

http://www.en.aljazeerasport.tv/Schedule

its a shame the broadcasting rights over here rule out 2:45pm-5:15pm broadcasts of live footy. it would be nuts if that rule was killed off.

[Chad]

Looks like BT Sports and Boxnation are being linked again:

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/g...e-8919309.html

"It is also anticipated that next year BT will challenge Sky's boxing supremacy, linking up with Frank Warren's burgeoning BoxNation, whose ex-chief executive Simon Green is now BT's head of sport."

[Lostlam]

Originally Posted by thenry

BT may have to do an Al Jazeera

HD 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6

http://www.en.aljazeerasport.tv/Schedule

its a shame the broadcasting rights over here rule out 2:45pm-5:15pm broadcasts of live footy. it would be nuts if that rule was killed off.

I personally find this rule stupid, as there are several ways to watch matches taking place during that time fame.

I get the fact it is so people go to watch the matches, but the rule doesn't apply everywhere.

---------- Post added at 20:42 ---------- Previous post was at 20:41 ----------

I know it ain't a big deal, but I heard ITV and BBC are fighting for the CL/EL highlight rights. People could be content with that.

[andy_m]

The stupid thing is, allowing matches to be televised at 3pm would mean that both the tv companies and the clubs would be forced in to working harder for our business. I wouldn't mind, but it's not even as if it really makes a difference. My club are bottom of the Premier League, I should imagine the least attractive proposition to neutral fans in the entire division, and yet today, against Everton, we played out first 3pm home kick off of the season! Being able to watch a match on the tv at 3pm on a Saturday would have kept me away from precisely one match so far this year.

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by andy_m

The stupid thing is, allowing matches to be televised at 3pm would mean that both the tv companies and the clubs would be forced in to working harder for our business. I wouldn't mind, but it's not even as if it really makes a difference. My club are bottom of the Premier League, I should imagine the least attractive proposition to neutral fans in the entire division, and yet today, against Everton, we played out first 3pm home kick off of the season! Being able to watch a match on the tv at 3pm on a Saturday would have kept me away from precisely one match so far this year.

I think it is designed to help those clubs in the lower leagues. If a reasonably loyal fan of Bristol Rovers, who watches many home games and who supports Liverpool as their "second team" had a choice of watching Bristol Rovers v York City while it is very cold and raining or Liverpool V Everton at 3 P.M on Sky or B.T, I think many people would stay in the comfort of their home and watch Liverpool v Everton.

This scenario would ruin many lower league teams.

[johnathome]

Apparently Sky/ITV bid £720m for the CL/UEFA rights

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ue-rights.html

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by johnathome

Apparently Sky/ITV bid £720m for the CL/UEFA rights

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/n...ue-rights.html

LOL, they nearly doubled their bid and still have the nerve to chastise BT for spending what they did.

The irony being Sky would have put their prices up again anyway.

Perhaps all other businesses should stop bidding and just let Sky do what they want and charge what they want. It is bound to be better to let Sky have a monopoly.

[johnathome]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

LOL, they nearly doubled their bid and still have the nerve to chastise BT for spending what they did.

The irony being Sky would have put their prices up again anyway.

Perhaps all other businesses should stop bidding and just let Sky do what they want and charge what they want. It is bound to be better to let Sky have a monopoly.

Whats interesting in that link it says they went back to Sky to see if they wanted to up their bid, they did that in some other rights as well.

It seems like these bodies are trying to shaft BT?

[andy_m]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

I think it is designed to help those clubs in the lower leagues. If a reasonably loyal fan of Bristol Rovers, who watches many home games and who supports Liverpool as their "second team" had a choice of watching Bristol Rovers v York City while it is very cold and raining or Liverpool V Everton at 3 P.M on Sky or B.T, I think many people would stay in the comfort of their home and watch Liverpool v Everton.

This scenario would ruin many lower league teams.

I understand the purpose of the rule but the opinion that it's based on dates back to the 60's, and was disputed by the European Court of Justice in 2011. In addition only Austria, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Georgia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia bother to block broadcasting hours.

I guess you'd have to ask fans in, for example, Germany if their game is suffering as a result...

[Lostlam]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

I think it is designed to help those clubs in the lower leagues. If a reasonably loyal fan of Bristol Rovers, who watches many home games and who supports Liverpool as their "second team" had a choice of watching Bristol Rovers v York City while it is very cold and raining or Liverpool V Everton at 3 P.M on Sky or B.T, I think many people would stay in the comfort of their home and watch Liverpool v Everton.

This scenario would ruin many lower league teams.

I get what you are saying, but for most people 3pm kick offs can be watch regardless. It would be better business for broadcasters, but probably not for the clubs. I am sure this rule won't be around much longer, as it has already been disputed recently.

[Mad Max]

Originally Posted by denphone

And for all we know there could be a clause in the current contract that allows for this.

and for all we know Atlantic will be here on Monday!

[harry_hitch]

Originally Posted by andy_m

I understand the purpose of the rule but the opinion that it's based on dates back to the 60's, and was disputed by the European Court of Justice in 2011. In addition only Austria, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Georgia, Montenegro and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia bother to block broadcasting hours.

I guess you'd have to ask fans in, for example, Germany if their game is suffering as a result...

Germany is a very different set-up altogether though. It is successful on many different levels. I get the impression from the German league (and from various sources I have read regarding it's current state) is that it is broadly designed not to have foreign owners, put the fans first and to improve the national team first and foremost.

I do not know if the better earning clubs pay lower clubs money from their revenue or if lower clubs get compensation from TV companies for lack of fans at the grounds. I happy to be informed of the current deal regarding lower league clubs. If they survive on their own, I will be very surprised.

Over here people are told the PL is the best league in the world, it should have the best players in the world and people should pay through the nose for the privilege.

How well are the Spanish, Greek, Turkish, Swiss, Russian, Irish, Croatian, Ukranian, Polish, Danish leagues doing though? Other than Barca or RM the most of the successful players from these leagues all play abroad (with deals for players costing many millions for clubs that have to sell to survive) and not in national leagues.

As for the ECJ, well, that is just sticking it's nose in places where it does not belong. Is it really an injustice if a glory supporter in Devon can't watch Man Utd at 3 P.M?

[spankysmagicpian]

Originally Posted by spankysmagicpian

Oh jeez, that's all we need....If I don't, someone else will. Ahem.

Rumour: BT Sport 3 to Launch on VirginMedia by Summer 2016. (Not been confirmed by insiders yet)

Stop Press : Channel confirmed as 'coming soon' as no one has heard a dicky bird about it and no official confirmation has been forthcoming so it must be happening ...errrr init.

[colin25]

Originally Posted by harry_hitch

LOL, they nearly doubled their bid and still have the nerve to chastise BT for spending what they did.

The irony being Sky would have put their prices up again anyway.

Perhaps all other businesses should stop bidding and just let Sky do what they want and charge what they want. It is bound to be better to let Sky have a monopoly.

lol..I get the feeling you are anti-sky.

[Chad]

Does anyone know what the next big set of sporting rights are that will be up for grabs? Football and non-football?