European Champions Cup - New Rights news for UK & Ireland Thread

dublinman1990

I read a few articles today which say that ERC director Vincent Galliard wants more coverage of ERC matches, through the means of a seperate FTA TV deal, which would go to an Irish FTA broadcaster from 2019 - 2020 onwards.

The reason for this is for increasing exposure to Irish teams which could enable them to become more successful in the tournament.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/more-free-to-air-coverage-in-ireland-is-where-we-would-start-champions-cup-chief-35107978.html

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/champions-cup-chief-wants-irish-provinces-to-challenge-424412.html

I know that Irish highlights for the ERC previously had gone to TG4. Would that be the same again this time around or TV3 could nab rights to the tournament for the first time. RTE probably can't do it again because they are going through various cutbacks with their current deficit at the moment.

He also said that he is considering to put back the tournament on a single Pay TV broadcaster in the UK when the current deal expires three years from now.

Who would you think could grab the rights for this new deal if you made the choice of which being better BT or Sky?

Steve

Hopefully not TG4, watching rugby in irish makes me feel like a hypocrite, let alone embarrased.

bilston

dublinman1990 wrote: »

I read a few articles today which say that ERC director Vincent Galliard wants more coverage of ERC matches, through the means of a seperate FTA TV deal, which would go to an Irish FTA broadcaster from 2019 - 2020 onwards.

The reason for this is for increasing exposure to Irish teams which could enable them to become more successful in the tournament.

http://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/champions-cup/more-free-to-air-coverage-in-ireland-is-where-we-would-start-champions-cup-chief-35107978.html

http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/rugby/champions-cup-chief-wants-irish-provinces-to-challenge-424412.html

I know that Irish highlights for the ERC previously had gone to TG4. Would that be the same again this time around or TV3 could nab rights to the tournament for the first time. RTE probably can't do it again because they are going through various cutbacks with their current deficit at the moment.

He also said that he is considering to put back the tournament on a single Pay TV broadcaster in the UK when the current deal expires three years from now.

Who would you think could grab the rights for this new deal if you made the choice of which being better BT or Sky?

It may not just be BT and Sky in the market. If it just comes down to money then it probably depends how much Sky want the rights.

Personally I prefer Sky's coverage as BT are so Anglo centric.

errlloyd

I think Sky have become less anglo centric because they have the pro12 rights, so they big us up as a way of selling the pro12 to English viewers. I imagine the same is true of BT.

IBF would know more, but I recall recently that bt were disappointed with their returns from rugby generally. Whether that is premiership or European I don't know.

vienne86

bilston wrote: »

It may not just be BT and Sky in the market. If it just comes down to money then it probably depends how much Sky want the rights.

Personally I prefer Sky's coverage as BT are so Anglo centric.

BT does my head in. I was watching Aviva Premiership highlights the other night and there were results and promos rolling beside and below the picture.....including a promo for Leinster v Castres on SUNDAY!

I suppose they feel they have to do things differently to Sky, but the folksy style, with guys on stools, and trying to make you feel they are in a pub just doesn't suit my viewing.

Winters

This topic was actually discussed here if you missed it; http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057652852

I also hate BT.

DGRulz

BT has Austin Healey, 'Nuff said.

molloyjh

DGRulz wrote: »

BT has Austin Healey, 'Nuff said.

This!

LeinsterDub

dublinman1990 wrote: »

The reason for this is for increasing exposure to Irish teams which could enable them to become more successful in the tournament.

Couple of games on the tele for free! Well that's truly nullified the British and French millionaires!

Digifriendly

TV3 needs to go HD on Saorview while TG 4 needs to do the same and to have English commentary via red button as S4C has.

Synode

Digifriendly wrote: »

TV3 needs to go HD on Saorview while TG 4 needs to do the same and to have English commentary via red button as S4C has.

Why would an Irish language station give subtitles. It's not as if the English speaking channels give Irish subtitles

vienne86

Synode wrote: »

Why would an Irish language station give subtitles. It's not as if the English speaking channels give Irish subtitles

I suppose because the Welsh language station gives English commentary on the red button.

Synode

Synode wrote: »

Why would an Irish language station give subtitles. It's not as if the English speaking channels give Irish subtitles

Because this isn't a schoolyard and it might be the best way for them to get additional viewers or convince the EPC they should get broadcasting rights?

Halle Rough Registration

Halle Rough Registration wrote: »

Because this isn't a schoolyard and it might be the best way for them to get additional viewers or convince the EPC they should get broadcasting rights?

I know a few people involved with TG4. The philosophy is strictly the promotion of the language with a secondary emphasis on Irish culture and sport. I don't see them putting subtitles on anything in English and truth be told, I'm glad they continue to support Rugby when the national broadcaster has thrown the towel in.

Cookiemunster

Who said anything about subtitles? Digifriendly clearly said that they should give an English language commentary option via the red button as S4C do. They're two completely different things.

Deleted User wrote: »

I know a few people involved with TG4. The philosophy is strictly the promotion of the language with a secondary emphasis on Irish culture and sport. I don't see them putting subtitles on anything in English and truth be told, I'm glad they continue to support Rugby when the national broadcaster has thrown the towel in.

Yet they show plenty of English language content and subtitle loads of programmes into English

Cookiemunster

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Who said anything about subtitles? Digifriendly clearly said that they should give an English language commentary option via the red button as S4C do. They're two completely different things.



Yet they show plenty of English language content and subtitle loads of programmes into English

I only watch Tg4 for the rugby so I've no idea, but that was the answer I was given when I asked them specifically why they don't do English commentary or subtitles.

As for subtitles v digifriendly, again I've no idea what digifriendly is but I was responding to other people who used the expression subtitles.

techdiver

I would love if they went with a single provider (preferably Sky as I watch more content there than BT).

As someone who doesn't watch soccer etc, it a PITA, to have to purchase 2 sports subscriptions to watch Rugby! BT Sport is the worst thing to happen to sports broadcasting since... well since Sky!

irishbucsfan

techdiver wrote: »

I would love if they went with a single provider (preferably Sky as I watch more content there than BT).

As someone who doesn't watch soccer etc, it a PITA, to have to purchase 2 sports subscriptions to watch Rugby! BT Sport is the worst thing to happen to sports broadcasting since... well since Sky!

I'd be 99% sure they'll go with either only one broadcaster or else at least only one paid broadcaster.

techdiver

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I'd be 99% sure they'll go with either only one broadcaster or else at least only one paid broadcaster.

Hopefully. The last deal was a kick in the teeth to rugby fans.

Cookiemunster

Deleted User wrote: »

As for subtitles v digifriendly, again I've no idea what digifriendly is but I was responding to other people who used the expression subtitles.

Digifriendly is a poster. The one who brought up the idea of English language comms.

Winters

Before BT Sports and BeIn Sports came along all anyone needed was a Sky Sports/Canal+ subscription to watch both domestic and European rugby.

If European Rugby do resolve the dual broadcaster issue from 2019, we as viewers may still have the issue of having different broadcasters for domestic, European and International rugby. In France as it stands Canel+ shows Top14 and BeIn shows European rugby. From what ive read BeIn arent happy with the take up as Top14 subscribers have been reluctant to purchase a second subscription only for European rugby and also the increase in subscribers and sponsors expected by Canal+ hasn't matched the inflated increase they paid for the last TV deal.

it will be interesting to see if the RFU continue with Sky or switch to BT because as it stands you also need two broadcasters in the UK to watch your domestic, European and International teams. The RFU Sky agreement runs to 2019/2020 (edited)

In theory we may continue to require two subscriptions to watch domestic and European rugby post 2019.

icdg

It was announced at the time that the TV rights agreement was through to 2017-18, so I'm not sure where the 2019 thing comes in unless an extension was signed along the way.

Either way, we're looking at maybe a year or longer before these rights are awarded. Hopefully the mood signals are correct and it will be a single pay-TV tender, and the situation which allowed the split rights to emerge was a one off never to be replicated (or at least not until 2022, when the concorde agreement runs out).

It would be great if a FTA rights package was awarded in Ireland, though I'd caution that such a package is hardly likely to have any more than one (or two max) games.

If anyone thinks we have it bad incidentally consider this: aside from the Six Nations and the RWC, there is no free to air live rugby union involving any English based side (country or club) on UK terrestrial television.

vienne86

icdg wrote: »

If anyone thinks we have it bad incidentally consider this: aside from the Six Nations and the RWC, there is no free to air live rugby union involving any English based side (country or club) on UK terrestrial television.

That's awful for fans, it really is.

The TV deal that really gets up my nose is the IRFU deal for the Ireland autumn internationals which has FTA coverage in the Republic of Ireland and not in Northern Ireland. It doesn't affect me as I live in Dublin (and happen to have Sky Sports as well), but it is a huge injustice to Ireland fans in Northern Ireland......of which there are many.

bilston

vienne86 wrote: »

icdg wrote: »

If anyone thinks we have it bad incidentally consider this: aside from the Six Nations and the RWC, there is no free to air live rugby union involving any English based side (country or club) on UK terrestrial television.

That's awful for fans, it really is.

The TV deal that really gets up my nose is the IRFU deal for the Ireland autumn internationals which has FTA coverage in the Republic of Ireland and not in Northern Ireland. It doesn't affect me as I live in Dublin (and happen to have Sky Sports as well), but it is a huge injustice to Ireland fans in Northern Ireland......of which there are many.

The IRFU have not got nearly enough stick for that.

Cookiemunster

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Digifriendly is a poster. The one who brought up the idea of English language comms.

I'm entirely guilty of skim reading your posts...!

Hagz

I just watched Austin Healy perform pure imagination in a top hat with a cane. What is BT's target market exactly?....

kooga

Don't forget fr2 and fr4 who show a game each from the Euro rugby

bilston

Hagz wrote: »

I just watched Austin Healy perform pure imagination in a top hat with a cane. What is BT's target market exactly?....

That was horrendous.

icdg

bilston wrote: »

The IRFU have not got nearly enough stick for that.

With RTE's rugby coverage after the coming Six Nations reduced to the Autumn Internationals (and the AIL playoffs) I would not be surprised if the next deal for the AIs is an exclusive Sky deal in both ROI and NI.

Clegg

Montpellier just threw the game away against Northampton. Missed touch with one minute to go then immediately give a pen away in front of the posts.

Digifriendly

vienne86 wrote: »

That's awful for fans, it really is.

The TV deal that really gets up my nose is the IRFU deal for the Ireland autumn internationals which has FTA coverage in the Republic of Ireland and not in Northern Ireland. It doesn't affect me as I live in Dublin (and happen to have Sky Sports as well), but it is a huge injustice to Ireland fans in Northern Ireland......of which there are many.

Just to make clear RTE's coverage of Ireland's AI's is available 'in the clear' and is not geo-blocked here in NI either via RTE2 on Sky (subscription) or FTA on RTE2 via Freeview (NIMM) and it is also available via Saorview.