Sky Sports News

fulhamfanincork

First off, sorry if wrong forum and sorry if already posted.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/jun/17/bskyb-sky-sports-news-freeview

BSkyB is to pull Sky Sports News from Freeview in a bid to drive subscription revenues, ending eight years of free-to-air broadcasting of the channel.

The satellite broadcaster, which launched Sky Sports News on Freeview in 2002 alongside Sky News and Sky Travel, is to replace the channel with a one-hour timeshifted Sky 3+1 service later this year. Sky 3 replaced Sky Travel in 2005.

The move marks a *significant shift in BSkyB's attitude to the benefits of using the reach of the free-to-air service as a marketing channel to attract subscribers to its pay-TV service. Despite the Sky Sports News service benefiting from ad revenues on the Freeview platform it is thought that BSkyB has decided that over the long term there is more advantage to be had from taking it completely subscription only.

It is understood that the investment, which is not likely to include large numbers of staff hirings, will include new facilities and equipment such as outside broadcast trucks and a commitment to cover a wider range of sports. When the service becomes pay-only it will be available on Sky, Virgin Media and Talk Talk TV.

"As part of a subscription service, customers can look forward to expanded coverage and the launch of Europe's first HD sports news service," said the Sky Sports managing director, Barney Francis.

BskyB will pick up a fourth slot on Freeview when it takes over the Virgin 1 channel, assuming regulatory clearance is given to its £160m takeover of Virgin Media Television's channels. BSkyB did not buy the licence to continue to operate the Virgin 1 name.

Last month BSkyB moved to streamline its Sky News sports operation to share more output with the Sky Sports News operation.


BSkyB is to pull Sky Sports News from Freeview in a bid to drive subscription revenues, ending eight years of free-to-air broadcasting of the channel.

The satellite broadcaster, which launched Sky Sports News on Freeview in 2002 alongside Sky News and Sky Travel, is to replace the channel with a one-hour timeshifted Sky 3+1 service later this year. Sky 3 replaced Sky Travel in 2005.

The move marks a *significant shift in BSkyB's attitude to the benefits of using the reach of the free-to-air service as a marketing channel to attract subscribers to its pay-TV service. Despite the Sky Sports News service benefiting from ad revenues on the Freeview platform it is thought that BSkyB has decided that over the long term there is more advantage to be had from taking it completely subscription only.

It is understood that the investment, which is not likely to include large numbers of staff hirings, will include new facilities and equipment such as outside broadcast trucks and a commitment to cover a wider range of sports. When the service becomes pay-only it will be available on Sky, Virgin Media and Talk Talk TV.

"As part of a subscription service, customers can look forward to expanded coverage and the launch of Europe's first HD sports news service," said the Sky Sports managing director, Barney Francis.

BskyB will pick up a fourth slot on Freeview when it takes over the Virgin 1 channel, assuming regulatory clearance is given to its £160m takeover of Virgin Media Television's channels. BSkyB did not buy the licence to continue to operate the Virgin 1 name.

Last month BSkyB moved to streamline its Sky News sports operation to share more output with the Sky Sports News operation.


It's a crap channel and I won't be subscribing.

Minstrel27

fulhamfanincork wrote: »

It's a crap channel and I won't be subscribing.

Unless you are a Freeview (Digital Terrestrial) viewer in the UK this change will not affect you in any way. Sky Sports News has always been a subscription channel on satellite and cable (in the UK and Ireland).

fulhamfanincork

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Unless you are a Freeview (Digital Terrestrial) viewer in the UK this change will not affect you in any way. Sky Sports News has always been a subscription channel on satellite and cable (in the UK and Ireland).

Cool, thanks.

Digifriendly

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Unless you are a Freeview (Digital Terrestrial) viewer in the UK this change will not affect you in any way. Sky Sports News has always been a subscription channel on satellite and cable (in the UK and Ireland).

Often wondered why it was subscription on satellite but free on UK DTT. Don't forget though that this will affect those along eastern seaboard of ROI who are outside the UK but can pick up Freeview from Wales and those in ROI who can pick it up from NI.

Minstrel27

Digifriendly wrote: »

Often wondered why it was subscription on satellite but free on UK DTT. Don't forget though that this will affect those along eastern seaboard of ROI who are outside the UK but can pick up Freeview from Wales and those in ROI who can pick it up from NI.

Yes. Anyone with UK DTT

icdg

Moved to Terrestrial. And as for anyone who dislikes Sky Sports News, three words for you: Gilette Soccer Saturday!

Digifriendly

Digifriendly wrote: »

Often wondered why it was subscription on satellite but free on UK DTT. Don't forget though that this will affect those along eastern seaboard of ROI who are outside the UK but can pick up Freeview from Wales and those in ROI who can pick it up from NI.

It won't affect anyone who get welsh freeview as they cannot get the ch45 mux as it's co channel with RTE at Mt Leinster.
Nothing much was ever on that mux anyhow.
Dave is, but davejavu covers that and it is on ch49.

Elmo

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Unless you are a Freeview (Digital Terrestrial) viewer in the UK this change will not affect you in any way. Sky Sports News has always been a subscription channel on satellite and cable (in the UK and Ireland).

Not if sky choose to move it to their sports subscription package.

Sky 3+1 :eek: replaces it

Minstrel27

Elmo wrote: »

Not if sky choose to move it to their sports subscription package.

They already have It is available with either Sky Sports or News & Events

Elmo

Minstrel27 wrote: »

They already have It is available with either Sky Sports or News & Events

I mean:-

They could take it off the News & Events Package or basic cable on UPC.