Sky win rights to 2015 August internationals

icdg

Sunday Business Post reporting today that Sky has won the exclusive rights to the 2015 August internationals. Not sure why the two home games were not tied up with the Autumn International rights but there you go. I'd expected the England game to be on Sky alright as part of their deal with the RFU.

AFAIK the IRFU have only sold exclusive rights within the Republic to an Ireland home game to Sky once before, the 2011 August international v England where apparently it was a condition of England agreeing to play the match.

RogerThis

icdg wrote: »

Sunday Business Post reporting today that Sky has won the exclusive rights to the 2015 August internationals. Not sure why the two home games were not tied up with the Autumn International rights but there you go. I'd expected the England game to be on Sky alright as part of their deal with the RFU.

AFAIK the IRFU have only sold exclusive rights within the Republic to an Ireland home game to Sky once before, the 2011 August international v England where apparently it was a condition of England agreeing to play the match.

I don't think there are AI's in a world cup year.

CIARAN_BOYLE

RogerThis wrote: »

I don't think there are AI's in a world cup year.

by august internationals he means world cup warm ups as opposed to autumn internationals (which are held in November).

icdg

No, there are internationals in August as a warm up for the World Cup instead - this year against Wales (A), Wales (H), Scotland (H) and England (A), these are the games I'm referring to. What I meant by the reference is why they aren't sold with the Autumn internationals as a package (ie the rights would be for "all Ireland home games except the Six Nations between 20xx and 20xx")

CatFromHue

These games would be more friendlies than test matches so that could be a reason. Ireland and the opposition will be fielding teams in a couple of these games that will be well below full strength.

I genuinely believe interest in the pro12 is down this year because of the lack of rte coverage combined with the provinces not performing brilliantly.

The continuing trend is bad for the sport.

vienne86

Deleted User wrote: »

I genuinely believe interest in the pro12 is down this year because of the lack of rte coverage combined with the provinces not performing brilliantly.

The continuing trend is bad for the sport.

I know a few people who are Leinster STH's and who don't have sky sports. I would be worried about their continuing support given that they miss quite a few Leinster away games (and some home games they can't get to). There is no way they will get Sky sports because they have little interest in other sports.

jacothelad

vienne86 wrote: »

I know a few people who are Leinster STH's and who don't have sky sports. I would be worried about their continuing support given that they miss quite a few Leinster away games (and some home games they can't get to). There is no way they will get Sky sports because they have little interest in other sports.

I have Sky Sports but I now have zero interest in other sports and I think this is because, in the case of cricket, the loss of FTA coverage. I was very involved and at one time I was a VP of a senior cricket team. I just couldn't stand the Sky coverage.I lost interest in football when there were often no British or Irish players involved and the national team / teams got crappier as a result. BUT....Sky sports is really cheap so I don't get the drama about paying 60 pence a day or whatever it is.

jacothelad

jacothelad wrote: »

I have Sky Sports but I now have zero interest in other sports and I think this is because, in the case of cricket, the loss of FTA coverage. I was very involved and at one time I was a VP of a senior cricket team. I just couldn't stand the Sky coverage.I lost interest in football when there were often no British or Irish players involved and the national team / teams got crappier as a result. BUT....Sky sports is really cheap so I don't get the drama about paying 60 pence a day or whatever it is.

Last time I looked at it the cost was 30+ per month. For me it's not the cost, but very much the cost value. Truth be told, I probably would have gotten sky sports this year only they've lost the ERC games. If they had pro12 and ERC I would have VERY reluctantly and with great frustration gotten sky sports just to watch the rugby.

jacothelad

Deleted User wrote: »

Last time I looked at it the cost was 30+ per month. For me it's not the cost, but very much the cost value. Truth be told, I probably would have gotten sky sports this year only they've lost the ERC games. If they had pro12 and ERC I would have VERY reluctantly and with great frustration gotten sky sports just to watch the rugby.

They do have Pro12 and ERC? games....just not all of them.

bilston

Nice wee opportunity for the IRFU to test the waters while making a quick buck in the process. No brainer IMO, outside rugby fans nobody will care much about rugby in August anyway so I can't see there being a big uproar.

lertsnim

jacothelad wrote: »

Sky sports is really cheap so I don't get the drama about paying 60 pence a day or whatever it is.

Really cheap? That's after you pay for the minimum basic package (which you must have before you can get Sky Sports). €60 or €70 odd a month mightn't be much for you but for many that would be a struggle

thomond2006

I really hope we see a rugby gamepass in a few years. I would be willing to pay a monthly subscription for that as opposed to giving Sky Sports money where the majority goes to the EPL. I hope we see the ERCC and the domestic competitions explore options like this.

- Pro12
- Aviva Premiership
- Top14
- ERCC
- Deferred Six Nations / Autumn internationals

Retain some free to air club matches, maybe one Pro12 match a weekend for example.

€15-€20 a month on PC/Smart TV/consoles/mobile devices with an on demand library archive of old matches. Sorted.

UnitedWeStand

This isn't a big deal. As long as RTE keeps the 6N it won't hurt the sport.

Digifriendly

According to this link - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11196170/England-games-to-remain-on-Sky-Sports-after-RFU-awards-30m-deal.html - these (at least England's matches) were wrapped up in October.

dregin

I'd have no problem paying for Sky Sports only for the fact that the vast majority of my money would be going straight to lining footballers' pockets.

icdg

No the England home game was to be expected, Sky have been the RFU's favoured TV partners for a long time now. The WRU and IRFU was more the unexpected bits..