New Season: Setanta - BT Sports or Sky Sports

dk1979

I am sure some of you are faced with the same dilemma around now. Which Sports package to subscribe to for the new football season.

I'm undecided, but if choosing SKY, need to subscribe before the 16th July when their current half price for 6 months offer expires. (€18 per month)

I know Setanta now have the Champions League rights, but RTE and TV 3 still showing a game each per week (presumably one will show a Man U game each week if they progress past the qualifier).

Sky probably have the better Premiership games and are also showing Football League.

Experience of Setanta Premiership games last year was that they didn't show great games.

Has anyone any thoughts on this, what are you going for?

ftakeith

dk1979 wrote: »

I am sure some of you are faced with the same dilemma around now. Which Sports package to subscribe to for the new football season.

I'm undecided, but if choosing SKY, need to subscribe before the 16th July when their current half price for 6 months offer expires. (€18 per month)

I know Setanta now have the Champions League rights, but RTE and TV 3 still showing a game each per week (presumably one will show a Man U game each week if they progress past the qualifier).

Sky probably have the better Premiership games and are also showing Football League.

Experience of Setanta Premiership games last year was that they didn't show great games.

Has anyone any thoughts on this, what are you going for?

Sky have a half price deal for the next 6 months until 16/7/15
I subscribed yesterday, then I will downgrade in dec 2015 or might get another sky sports or downgrade to the sky sports 1 only package

I will get the setanta pack for a year in sep 2015

irishfeen

Its basically this

SKY - €36 p/m

Premier League Live (116)
Football League Live (112)
La Liga (100+) *Rights up for Auction from 2015*
Copa del Rey, Coppa Italia, Eredivisie, MLS Live
Welsh, Scottish, Irish, N.Irish Qualifiers Live
Scottish Premier League Live (30+ games)
English, Welsh, Scottish, Irish, French, Italian Rugby Autumn Internationals Live
Champions Cup Rugby Live (35 Games)
Pro 12 (30 games)
Top 14 (55)
The Rugby Championship Live
Cricket live (test matches, one day internationals, overseas and ODI etc)
US Open and ATP World tour Tennis Live
The Open, Masters, US Open, Ryder Cup, PGA Golf etc. Live
Formula 1 Live (19)
PDC World Darts Championship/Premier League Darts Live
NFL Regular Season Live
GAA Championship Live (20)


V


Setanta/BT - €21.99 p/m or €18.75 p/m (with 12 month contract)

Champions League Live (all)
Europa League Live (all exclusive)
Premier League Live (71 Games - 38 BT and 33 Setanta)
Premier League Highlights (Sat & Sun evenings before the BBC)
F.A. Cup Live (25 Games)
Irish International Friendlies Live
UFC Live (30+)
Champions Cup Rugby Live (35 Games)
Formula 1 Live (19)
Moto GP Live (18)
Aviva Premiership Rugby Live (69 games)
Bundesliga, Serie A, Ligue 1 Live
The Masters & The Open Golf Live
GAA National League Live (17 games)
Scottish Premier League Live (30 games)
League of Ireland Live
NASCAR Live (36)
NBA, NFL, NHL, Wimbledon, Copa America, Community Shield, World Rally Championship Live

I think sky is now way overpriced if you don't like Cricket and Golf ... I would very much lean to Setanta/BT now - seems much better value for money.

Halloween Jack

Absolutely crazy money these days, exposes the bull**** of splitting rights into packages, encouraging competition being better for consumers.....

lertsnim

Don't forget the cost of the entertainment package before you get Sky Sports. I'd choose BT/Setanta every day of the week.

irishfeen

lertsnim wrote: »

Don't forget the cost of the entertainment package before you get Sky Sports. I'd choose BT/Setanta every day of the week.

Yeah so in fact its actually about €36 + (€25?)?

Very expensive for Sky Sports now.. the massive money they have paid for new PL rights will make it almost certain that we wont be seeing any reduction - if anything it might go the other way.

mikeym

Its a hard decision if your big into the Premier League.

If I had to pick between the Two I would pick Sky because the big Premier League matches are on Sky. And Bt were scraping the barrel for good matches near the end of last season.

irishfeen

mikeym wrote: »

Its a hard decision if your big into the Premier League.

If I had to pick between the Two I would pick Sky because the big Premier League matches are on Sky. And Bt were scraping the barrel for good matches near the end of last season.

The thing is at times throughout the season (if you follow United, Pool, Arsenal etc.) where sky can't show matches and they will probably be on BT/Setanta. Its a matter in keeping an eye on the fixtures really and lets not forget sky will broadcast some truly dreadful matches too.

webpal

BT has mlb also

ftakeith

football only subscribers:

get the 'sky sports 1 only' pack

and the setanta pack

you save 33% by not getting the full sky sports channels

irishfeen

ftakeith wrote: »

football only subscribers:

get the 'sky sports 1 only' pack

and the setanta pack

you save 33% by not getting the full sky sports channels

That's fine as long as you are getting sky sports just for the big PL games.. Most other stuff GAA, Rugby, La Liga etc are not on SS1.

ftakeith

irishfeen wrote: »

That's fine as long as you are getting sky sports just for the big PL games.. Most other stuff GAA, Rugby, La Liga etc are not on SS1.

SS1 only package that includes SS5

most of the GAA's All ire decent live games are on rte2

BT Sport's shows half of the european live club games, and TG4 shows live pro 12 live games

dk1979

Would it be relatively safe to assume that for each gameweek either RTE or TV3 will probably broadcast the Man Utd Champions league game, if they qualify. I would guess that given their level of support in Ireland, this would be their first choice game each week? or do they have to mix it up showing all English teams?

irishfeen

dk1979 wrote: »

Would it be relatively safe to assume that for each gameweek either RTE or TV3 will probably broadcast the Man Utd Champions league game, if they qualify. I would guess that given their level of support in Ireland, this would be their first choice game each week? or do they have to mix it up showing all English teams?

Yeah depending on how it falls United/Arsenal would probably be the first picks for RTÉ and TV3.... Of course that's assuming United make the group stages.

lertsnim

irishfeen wrote: »

Yeah depending on how it falls United/Arsenal would probably be the first picks for RTÉ and TV3.... Of course that's assuming United make the group stages.

Arsenal wont be a top pick for either.

irishfeen

Who else then City/Chelsea? ... Arsenal have more of a following then them 2 combined in Ireland I would imagine.

lertsnim

Last season Arsenal barely got a look in and it is the same every year.

irishfeen

lertsnim wrote: »

Last season Arsenal barely got a look in and it is the same every year.

It will depend on a few factors,

1. Whether United qualify for the group stages.

And

2. Whether United/Arsenal are paired to play on the same game night. If United and Arsenal play at same time United will be shown probably 90% of the time.

If the are kept apart we could very well see United on TV3 (Tue) and Arsenal on RTÉ (Wen) and vice versa unless City or Chelsea are up against the Big Boys.

lertsnim

irishfeen wrote: »

It will depend on a few factors,

1. Whether United qualify for the group stages.

And

2. Whether United/Arsenal are paired to play on the same game night. If United and Arsenal play at same time United will be shown probably 90% of the time.

If the are kept apart we could very well see United on TV3 (Tue) and Arsenal on RTÉ (Wen) and vice versa unless City or Chelsea are up against the Big Boys.

United didn't qualify last year

irishfeen

lertsnim wrote: »

United didn't qualify last year

Well I was talking about next season... Liverpool played on the same night as Arsenal during the group stages last year so as you would expect RTÉ/TV3 picked them first pick.

Generally on RTÉ/TV3 it goes in the order of,

United - Liverpool - Arsenal - Other English Teams - Spanish Teams

RichRooskey

Hi all,

Just wanted some information on sky sports and BT sports. I want to get football on eircom TV. If i had my way I would just pay for skysports 1 and get BT sports on top of that but I am unable to do that and not willing to pay for both.

BT have the rights to all the European games so will that mean that sky and UTV wont be showing them anymore?. Is BT sport better than sky sports now as they have over 70 of the premiership games. I support man united and I dont want to miss the big games that will prob be on skysports but I also dont want to miss the European games that will be on BT sports.

I just dont know what to do, haha. Life was alot easier when BT was now around.

lertsnim

From last week

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057458978

dublinman1990

RichRooskey wrote: »

Hi all,

Just wanted some information on sky sports and BT sports. I want to get football on eircom TV. If i had my way I would just pay for skysports 1 and get BT sports on top of that but I am unable to do that and not willing to pay for both.

BT have the rights to all the European games so will that mean that sky and UTV wont be showing them anymore?. Is BT sport better than sky sports now as they have over 70 of the premiership games. I support man united and I dont want to miss the big games that will prob be on skysports but I also dont want to miss the European games that will be on BT sports.

I just dont know what to do, haha. Life was alot easier when BT was now around.

Not exactly.

UTVNI/ITV have highlights of the CL from next season so if you miss a game on BT; you will have a chance to see highlights normally after the ITV News at 10.

BT Sport has all of the live games of the CL & the EL from next season.

icdg

Merged and moved to Broadcasting

For those interested in UEFA club football, do remember that although BT/Setanta now have the UEFA Europa League exclusively, one Tuesday and one Wednesday tie will still be shown each match night on TV3 and RTE respectively and the final will be on RTE.

Tugboats

Neither at full price both at half price is the answer

Digifriendly

dublinman1990 wrote: »

Not exactly.

UTVNI/ITV have highlights of the CL from next season so if you miss a game on BT; you will have a chance to see highlights normally after the ITV News at 10.

BT Sport has all of the live games of the CL & the EL from next season.

I presume UTV Ireland will not have the ITV highlights as they did not show the live CL games this past season?

icdg

Nope. RTE and TV3 have the rights to show highlights shows after their live games.

Polar101

Normally I only get Sky Sports, but last season I had both Sky Sports and BT.

This year it looks like La Liga isn't on Sky, at least not yet? Does anyone know when the TV rights are decided?

lertsnim

Digifriendly wrote: »

I presume UTV Ireland will not have the ITV highlights as they did not show the live CL games this past season?

Two completely separate channels

irishfeen

Polar101 wrote: »

Normally I only get Sky Sports, but last season I had both Sky Sports and BT.

This year it looks like La Liga isn't on Sky, at least not yet? Does anyone know when the TV rights are decided?

As far as I know it hasn't been decided yet but reports in the English media a few weeks ago said Sky were on the verge of retaining the rights.

JONJO THE MISER

Im big into my American sports, i would watch 12 hours straight of NCAA and NFL on a Sat and Sun, used to stream the NCAA and go to the pub to watch NFL.
I could spend 100 per sunday on drink to watch it in a overcrowded pub with people in the way.
This year going to susbscribe to both sky for the NFL and BT for NCAA, its well worth it for me, i will be spending 102 per month on sky and BT instead of 400 in the pub for a sunday.

Tugboats

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Im big into my American sports, i would watch 12 hours straight of NCAA and NFL on a Sat and Sun, used to stream the NCAA and go to the pub to watch NFL.
I could spend 100 per sunday on drink to watch it in a overcrowded pub with people in the way.
This year going to susbscribe to both sky for the NFL and BT for NCAA, its well worth it for me, i will be spending 102 per month on sky and BT instead of 400 in the pub for a sunday.

No sure whats worse 400quid pm month on drink or 102 for sports on tv! Who the hell is quoting you 102 per month for it?

B17G

Tugboats wrote: »

No sure whats worse 400quid pm month on drink or 102 for sports on tv! Who the hell is quoting you 102 per month for it?

Full price subscription? 65 pm for Sky Sports. Another 15 for the HD and then 22 for BT/Setanta?

irishfeen

Reports over the weekend that La Liga rights have gone to a second round of bidding ... Nobody knows who's bidding but it's thought Sky and BT are heavily involved.

icdg

Realistically it wouldn't be anyone else, nobody else is going to build a sports channel on the back of these rights (and interest in games not involving Real Madrid or FC Barcelona is minimal).

I wonder though if BT were to get the rights whether Sunday night coverage of either the French or Italian league would be under threat, though having four channels now probably helps (though the NBA also plays on Sunday nights during its season).

ftakeith

B17G wrote: »

Full price subscription? 65 pm for Sky Sports. Another 15 for the HD and then 22 for BT/Setanta?

18euros per month for SS WITH sky for the next 6months
than 'SS1 ONLY' package with ss5 or sky might give me a better deal aftetr 6 months

setanta pack is 225 for the year or 18euros per month or get 1-2 extra different sky customers to split the costs for 10eros per month for a year

irishfeen

icdg wrote: »

Realistically it wouldn't be anyone else, nobody else is going to build a sports channel on the back of these rights (and interest in games not involving Real Madrid or FC Barcelona is minimal).

I wonder though if BT were to get the rights whether Sunday night coverage of either the French or Italian league would be under threat, though having four channels now probably helps (though the NBA also plays on Sunday nights during its season).

Eurosport could go for pan-European rights maybe but your probably right - if BT win them you would have to say Sky Sports schedule is looking very light for probably the first time ever... I don't think they could realistically fill 5 channels.

Tugboats

ftakeith wrote: »

18euros per month for SS WITH sky for the next 6months
than 'SS1 ONLY' package with ss5 or sky might give me a better deal aftetr 6 months

setanta pack is 225 for the year or 18euros per month or get 1-2 extra different sky customers to split the costs for 10eros per month for a year

Setanta are desperate for customers. I rejected 225 and the offer of 199. I told them why would i pay that for a year when im paying 9.99 per month. They told me 9.99 pm may not last for ever and their final offer was 155 for the year. It pays to call them

Tugboats

EDIT: double post

Chris_Bradley

irishfeen wrote: »

Reports over the weekend that La Liga rights have gone to a second round of bidding ... Nobody knows who's bidding but it's thought Sky and BT are heavily involved.

BT applying pressure I'd say Irishfeen.

Chris_Bradley

JONJO THE MISER wrote: »

Im big into my American sports, i would watch 12 hours straight of NCAA and NFL on a Sat and Sun, used to stream the NCAA and go to the pub to watch NFL.
I could spend 100 per sunday on drink to watch it in a overcrowded pub with people in the way.
This year going to susbscribe to both sky for the NFL and BT for NCAA, its well worth it for me, i will be spending 102 per month on sky and BT instead of 400 in the pub for a sunday.

Get yourself an Apple TV3 and you would save some serious money.

mikeym

If theres a bidding war for La Liga rights surely that means in the future it will drive up subscriptions on Sky/Bt?

irishfeen

Apparently La Liga have moved the big Barca and Real games away from 3-5pm to 5.15pm (or after) to accommodate British viewers from the TV Blackout. Its safe to say UK rights must have significant pull with the LFP.

Chris_Bradley

irishfeen wrote: »

Apparently La Liga have moved the big Barca and Real games away from 3-5pm to 5.15pm (or after) to accommodate British viewers from the TV Blackout. Its safe to say UK rights must have significant pull with the LFP.

It's serious money coming out of the UK for that league, They must be loving having two monsters going at it for the next set of rights.

Must be said that the 3pm to 5.15pm football blackout on UK TV is a tad draconian now.

lertsnim

Especially as it affects viewers in Ireland and Wales, neither of which have such a stupid rule.

OldRio

lertsnim wrote: »

Especially as it affects viewers in Ireland and Wales, neither of which have such a stupid rule.

To be fair. Association Football is not all about the 'big' clubs. The real fans in England go and see their local team ply their trade in the lower divisions of the Football League.

That fan base will be squeezed even further if its a choice between Liverpool v Man U on Sky or a trip to see your local club play when both matches kick off at 3.00pm on a Saturday.

lertsnim

That's nonsense these days with every game available online.

OldRio

lertsnim wrote: »

That's nonsense these days with every game available online.

Firstly not every game is online. Secondly not everyone wants to watch games via illegal services.
The ban of 3.00pm kick offs on a Saturday is there for good reason. Just because it does not suit some viewers in this country is of no importance to the Football Authority's in England.

lertsnim

OldRio wrote: »

Firstly not every game is online. Secondly not everyone wants to watch games via illegal services.
The ban of 3.00pm kick offs on a Saturday is there for good reason. Just because it does not suit some viewers in this country is of no importance to the Football Authority's in England.

Yes every game is online, legal or illegal doesn't matter as the option is there.

The real supporters you referenced to previously will still attend their teams matches.

Please don't start putting words into my mouth as not once did I suggest the FA in England should care about viewers in this country.

Chris_Bradley

OldRio wrote: »

Firstly not every game is online. Secondly not everyone wants to watch games via illegal services.
The ban of 3.00pm kick offs on a Saturday is there for good reason. Just because it does not suit some viewers in this country is of no importance to the Football Authority's in England.

Think you're well off the beaten track there in what the guy was on about.

icdg

Look, this is off topic for this thread - if we want to talk about the 3pm ban (and purely from a broadcasting point of view)it really deserves its own thread.