Where to register a complaint about block Europa League coverage?

patrickincork

I'm sure this has been done before, but does anyone know to whom i register a complaint about this.
I already pay 30 euros for Sky Sports, on top of the minimum 22 euro. ESPN is an extra 12 euros a month, however i'm fuming every time i see Europa League coverage is blocked as Setanta have the Irish rights.
With all the talk about competition, its funny how the consumer ends up being fleeced!

Surely i'm not the only one extremely frustrated by this!

Rant over, sorry!

mike65

Rights are divvided up and paid for, in the paid Irish market Setanta paid for them as did TV3/3e for the free market. In the UK Channel 5 and ITV paid for them. SKY Ireland and ESPN cannot have everything even if you happen to think they should - when you are interested in a particular game.

snaps

Ah here we go again, i completely agree about ESPN, if they are not showing Europa league then it should be cheaper.

Sky show everything that RTE/TV3 show like Champions league/Internationals and they don't block their screenings. Its all one sided to be honest and it also makes me sick.

The sooner these rights get sorted the better, its UK/Ireland when it suits, Uk when it suits and then Ireland when it suits.

Uefa/EPL/FA/Fifa need to nip this in the bud, but then why should they as its all money orientated in Soccer now, not the sport that counts.

Kristopherus

Get UPC - its on both channels with them:):)

snaps

Oh dear they must be using the UK feed!!!!

snaps

just as a matter of interest has anyone tried tuning in the UK version of ESPN in their sky box to the other channels, I remember when i had sky the UK vesion of sky sports was viewable in this method?

Kristopherus

snaps wrote: »

just as a matter of interest has anyone tried tuning in the UK version of ESPN in their sky box to the other channels, I remember when i had sky the UK vesion of sky sports was viewable in this method?

I said bye bye to Sky yesterday. Stuck in a Freesat from Sky card on the box this morning. No complaint from the (ex) Sky+ box. I now have Thessalonika V Athletico, followed by Seville v Paris St.G. on Itv 4. Pool v Steau on Five & Setanta and Salsburg v City followed by PSV v Sampdoria on ESPN. Happy days.:):):) And that useless git Jo has just scored a second for City:rolleyes:

_Kaiser_

As I've said before, competition ISN'T always best for the customer!

In the old days you paid Sky for Sky Sports and got all the football that was on. Then they experimented with Premiership Plus (with mixed/failed results) but it was still preferable to the current mess of Sky/ESPN/Setanta!

Even on Sky now, the football is split between Sports 1 and 2, meaning you need a sub to both whereas previously it was all on 1.

I would genuinely pay for a Pay-Per-View "Premiership Package" that for say the current €40ish, gave you access to all the matches, regardless of channel.
I think the takeup of such a package would generate more revenue than the current mess - but I also know it's extremely unlkely to ever happen!

mike65

The 8 pm Setanta game is on ITV4

Minstrel27

snaps wrote: »

just as a matter of interest has anyone tried tuning in the UK version of ESPN in their sky box to the other channels

Sadly there is opnly one version of ESPN for domestic viewers. Has anybody asked ESPN if they are aware of UPC showing the games via ESPN?

It was a situation that used to annoy me. Irish viewers should have a reduction in their subscriptions but unsurprisingly all emails sent to them were ignored. I am glad to be rid of ESPN now.

snaps

i could be wrong, but the cable industry in this country isnt regulated? Also any clown can set up a cable company with no licence??

Al Jazzera show everything tonight and last night!!

Minstrel27

snaps wrote: »

i could be wrong, but the cable industry in this country isnt regulated? Also any clown can set up a cable company with no licence??

Al Jazzera show everything tonight and last night!!

Cable is certainly regulated in this country. Sky isn't. Al Jazeera is fantastic for the European football.

amiable

Kaiser2000 wrote: »

As I've said before, competition ISN'T always best for the customer!

In the old days you paid Sky for Sky Sports and got all the football that was on. Then they experimented with Premiership Plus (with mixed/failed results) but it was still preferable to the current mess of Sky/ESPN/Setanta!

Even on Sky now, the football is split between Sports 1 and 2, meaning you need a sub to both whereas previously it was all on 1.

I would genuinely pay for a Pay-Per-View "Premiership Package" that for say the current €40ish, gave you access to all the matches, regardless of channel.
I think the takeup of such a package would generate more revenue than the current mess - but I also know it's extremely unlkely to ever happen!

I think Premiership Plus was a rushed rescue package put together by Sky because NTL ithink it was fell thru and couldn't do the coverage they signed up to. I'm open to correction here

STB

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Cable is certainly regulated in this country. Sky isn't. Al Jazeera is fantastic for the European football.

Its not actually.

Minstrel27

Cable companies can do as they please here with no repurcussions for their actions?

channelsurfer2

yes its interesting that its blocked on sky. must be a satellite only issue. same as glee is blocked on channel 4 for sky ireland viewers. It must have been an espn decision to block it as they arent blocking their italian football etc that setanta show at the same time.

Pete2k

Im sure I remember reading somewhere that anyone in Ireland with ESPN can still use Sky Player to watch the Europa league on ESPN. Haven't tested it myself so can't confirm but if you have a decent broadband speed and a tv out on a laptop it would certainly be better than paying rip off merchants Setanta.

Minstrel27

ESPN want viewers opinions on what they should do with their channel. Unsurprisingly they haven't bothered to include Ireland on their list of countries.

http://www.espnfanforum.co.uk/

STB

Minstrel27 wrote: »

Cable companies can do as they please here with no repurcussions for their actions?

The consumers association is your only avenue.

Comreg used to regulate but no longer do. It changed about 3 years ago.

They are not a broadcaster. Content of individual stations is looked at by the country licensed in under the audio visual media services directive (formerly the TVWF directive).

Minstrel27

This country is a joke.

amiable

Minstrel27 wrote: »

This country is a joke.

Om so many levels

yknaa

Pete2k wrote: »

Im sure I remember reading somewhere that anyone in Ireland with ESPN can still use Sky Player to watch the Europa league on ESPN. Haven't tested it myself so can't confirm but if you have a decent broadband speed and a tv out on a laptop it would certainly be better than paying rip off merchants Setanta.

Off topic I reckon but I can't agree with Setanta being a rip off. Currrently I am getting the station for €7.50 a month after paying a fiver a month since Jan 2010. One year's sub is less than my monthly Sky/ESPN bill.

ftakeith

yknaa wrote: »

Off topic I reckon but I can't agree with Setanta being a rip off. Currrently I am getting the station for €7.50 a month after paying a fiver a month since Jan 2010. One year's sub is less than my monthly Sky/ESPN bill.

it is a rip off

no live magners rugby

you are only paying for 3pm kick offs

try to cancel your account it will be a nightmare

most of what is on setanta is fta on satellite/dtt etc

denis1501

yknaa wrote: »

Off topic I reckon but I can't agree with Setanta being a rip off. Currrently I am getting the station for €7.50 a month after paying a fiver a month since Jan 2010. One year's sub is less than my monthly Sky/ESPN bill.

You're paying a discounted price! The actual REAL price is a rip off!

snaps

Yes, but i keep saying it......Why can sky show the same champions league games as RTE/TV3 etc show? Surely the Sky sports channels should be blocked as RTE etc have the Ireland rights? Very unfair on RTE.

snaps

denis1501 wrote: »

You're paying a discounted price! The actual REAL price is a rip off!

Foreign subs are the only way forward to be out of that mess. 100 odd euros a month to watch a selection of sport with sky/ESPN/Setanta or 500-700e a year to watch nearly all soccer & sport that is available..........I know what i'd choose.

To be honest there is no reason why an Irish broadcaster couldnt do what say TV2 Norway/Viasat sport/Abu Dubai tv do and show near enough all EPL matches as we are not included in UK screening rights.

Minstrel27

snaps wrote: »

Yes, but i keep saying it......Why can sky show the same champions league games as RTE/TV3 etc show? Surely the Sky sports channels should be blocked as RTE etc have the Ireland rights? Very unfair on RTE.

This was discussed before. Sky are listed as rights holders for the Champions League in Ireland. This is on UEFA's own website.

Their rights obviously entitle them to mirror their coverage in the UK over here. Otherwise they wouldn't be showing the same games as Irish channels

blueser

Minstrel27 wrote: »

This country is a joke.

''And breaking news here; reports are coming in that a bear was spotted defecating in the woods earlier today. More on this story when we get it. Now we return you to our scheduled programming...''.

channelsurfer2

reply from ESPN.....

Dear Mr XXXXXXX

Thanks for your query with regards to UEFA Europa League coverage in Ireland.

Unfortunately another sports channel has the Europa League coverage for the ROI so we cannot show it and that’s why the channel gets scrambled then. We understand the frustration, but it is a problem that cannot be solved at this time.

We are happy to tell you though that we are showing the FA Cup next season too in the ROI, so you can follow your team the whole way to Wembley!

Kind regards,

ESPN

Minstrel27

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

reply from ESPN.....

Dear Mr XXXXXXX

Thanks for your query with regards to UEFA Europa League coverage in Ireland.

Unfortunately another sports channel has the Europa League coverage for the ROI so we cannot show it and that’s why the channel gets scrambled then. We understand the frustration, but it is a problem that cannot be solved at this time.

We are happy to tell you though that we are showing the FA Cup next season too in the ROI, so you can follow your team the whole way to Wembley!

Kind regards,

ESPN

Reply asking when will they implement the reduction in subscription prices due to the lack Europa League and also how can ESPN show Europa League games via UPC.

icdg

Minstrel27 wrote: »

This was discussed before. Sky are listed as rights holders for the Champions League in Ireland. This is on UEFA's own website.

Their rights obviously entitle them to mirror their coverage in the UK over here. Otherwise they wouldn't be showing the same games as Irish channels

Sky clear everything they buy for ROI. They've been involved in the Irish market so long (and make much advertising euros from here) that it is in their best interests to do so.

To be honest there is no reason why an Irish broadcaster couldnt do what say TV2 Norway/Viasat sport/Abu Dubai tv do and show near enough all EPL matches as we are not included in UK screening rights.

In theory. In fact all the Irish packages for the FA Premier League, are, completely coincidentaly (of course), identical to the UK packages, game for game, aside from an extra package of one Saturday 3pm game each week. And of course it is also a complete coincidence that since the day the Premier League starting selling the ROI rights seperately, that whichever UK broadcaster has held the UK rights for any particular package has been, quite remarkably, also successful in obtaining the ROI rights for that particular package. All completely coincidental, of course (!).

I don't buy it. do you? It doesn't matter. For its own reasons, the FA Premier League has decreed that only one 3pm game each week may be screened live in the Republic of Ireland. An Irish broadcaster cannot simply decide to, on its own accord, infringe the League's copyright and broadcast other matches. This would of course lead to the League's lawyers issuing proceedings against the said broadcaster...

channelsurfer2

Further reply from ESPN....... at least they are honest and dont pawn ya off with the speil that sky do ... must mean UPC are taking a UK feed....


Hi XXXXXXXXXX

I can confirm that Europa League games are scrambled via UPC, ESPN through any format in ROI scrambles the Europa League.

Also with regards to the price then it will not be reduced, as all marketing materials in ROI contain no mention of the Europa League, so we sell the channel without it.

Thanks

ESPN






thanks for that.

However, I note that the europa league games are NOT scrambled via UPC so why are they scrambled via SKY if that is the case. Also I trust you will be reducing the subscription price to reflect this non-availability.

Regards
XXXXXX

alanashe

You should send ESPN this link....it clearly shows them advertising the Europa League for ROI customers!

http://www.sportsfile.com/more-images/PR0910062/5000/

channelsurfer2

think I will leave it at that....some people saying that If i reply any further it may actually make espn realise its not blocked on upc....