Autumn Internationals may be with Amazon Prime!

Digifriendly

Wales Online reporting that Amazon Prime are interested in live rights to proposed Autumn International tournament.
See https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/wales-rugby-games-move-free-18886500

Free to air would obviously be the most ideal scenario but I'd way prefer something like this over a TV package like Eir, bt or sky. TV needs to move on from cable package services ASAP.

CatFromHue

I've Netflix and NowTV, I ain't getting another streaming package. If anything I'm thinking of dropping NowTV.

Digifriendly

Reasonably cheap for viewers compared to Sky or BT subscriptions but those with no or slow broadband will lose out.

Akrasia

Digifriendly wrote: »

Reasonably cheap for viewers compared to Sky or BT subscriptions but those with no or slow broadband will lose out.

At least you can get prime on a 1 month package rather than being tied into a 12 month contract

It’s also available for free for 12 months if you’re on Eir broadband

bilston

Think of the free Amazon deliveries just in time for Christmas...win win

ScrubsfanChris

Already have Prime so this is a nice surprise

Do RTE still have rights to Irelands autumn international home games?

icdg

In principle RTE still have a deal with the IRFU to broadcast their Autumn Internationals (Guinness Series) until 2021. My understanding is that this mooted Eight Nations (still not confirmed) basically replaces the Autumn internationals though, so I’m not sure what happens to that deal if the mooted tournament becomes a reality.

Worth noting - this article only states that a particular broadcaster is “interested” in broadcasting a tournament that at present doesn’t even officially exist.

Cookiemunster

Are we sure that this will apply to Ireland? Amazon have rights to PL games in the UK, but Premier Sports have those games in Ireland. Ireland and the UK are different TV markets.

icdg

We can’t be sure about anything. There is no deal. There is no tournament yet for there to be a deal.

Sometimes deals are done on a U.K. & Ireland basis. Sometimes there are separate U.K. & Ireland deals. Often the pay TV side is U.K. & Ireland and the terrestrial deals are separate. The Amazon PL deal was a shocker in that it was the first time a U.K. pay tv broadcaster did not also get ROI mirror rights to the same games - we don’t know if that was because they didn’t bid or because Premier Sports saw an opportunity and outbid them. Amazon does hold ROI rights for other sports - tennis and NFL.

Zzippy

Fine if you live somewhere with good broadband. A huge amount of people don't have good enough BB to stream the Angelus.

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/RuaidhriOC/status/1304043082850205697?s=19

amadangomor

Zzippy wrote: »

Fine if you live somewhere with good broadband. A huge amount of people don't have good enough BB to stream the Angelus.

No matter how good your broadband is, Live RTE player is a waste of time, complete rubbish.

amadangomor

Burkie1203 wrote: »

https://twitter.com/RuaidhriOC/status/1304043082850205697?s=19

Staggered times means we can watch all games , wohoo!!

Leinstertomas

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/international/ireland-s-november-clash-with-england-set-to-be-shown-on-amazon-prime-1.4351606
Irish Times reporting that the 3 home games will be on RTE/Channel 4 but England game will be exclusive to amazon prime

Digifriendly

amadangomor wrote: »

No matter how good your broadband is, Live RTE player is a waste of time, complete rubbish.

Then watch RTE on Saorview or Saorsat or Sky or watch C4 coverage on Freesat. Plenty of alternatives.

PTH2009

So will the final of this Autumn cup be 1st Grp A vs 1st Grp B ?

Seems pointless if theres no actual 'winner' of this.

The Lost Sheep

PTH2009 wrote: »

So will the final of this Autumn cup be 1st Grp A vs 1st Grp B ?

Seems pointless if theres no actual 'winner' of this.

Yes and its providing games to replace the November Games. Not pointless at all as unions can sell the games regardless to TV companies.

Burkie1203

https://twitter.com/simonrug/status/1304158756339679235?s=19

sioda

If they broadcast this in ultra HD on prime it would be amazing.

PTH2009

PTH2009 wrote: »

So will the final of this Autumn cup be 1st Grp A vs 1st Grp B ?

Seems pointless if theres no actual 'winner' of this.

Is the winner of that game not the winner? Seems similar to the u20's world cup

Redgirl82

Happy day if on Prime. Have both Netflix and Prime but at this stage Netflix is starting to look tired compared to Prime

icdg

RTE certainly seem to be of the view that they will be televising Ireland’s home games at any rate:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0910/1164420-ireland-to-kick-off-autumn-nations-cup-as-georgia-join/

Cookiemunster

icdg wrote: »

RTE certainly seem to be of the view that they will be televising Ireland’s home games at any rate:

https://www.rte.ie/sport/rugby/2020/0910/1164420-ireland-to-kick-off-autumn-nations-cup-as-georgia-join/

The IRFU see the three homes games as this years Guinness Series, so the TV contracts with RTE and Channel 4 are already in place.

bilston

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The IRFU see the three homes games as this years Guinness Series, so the TV contracts with RTE and Channel 4 are already in place.

It probably depends on who is running the competition?

Is it the Six Nations? In which case surely they would argue the rights are theirs to sell, not the IRFUs, or any individual union's.

Cookiemunster

bilston wrote: »

It probably depends on who is running the competition?

Is it the Six Nations? In which case surely they would argue the rights are theirs to sell, not the IRFUs, or any individual union's.

It's in the IRFUs official press release.

Ireland’s home games in the tournament will be played as the Guinness Series 2020.

irishbucsfan

Is there any other rugby on in November?

Would rugby fans not only need Amazon Prime for that month? Seems extremely reasonable pricing compared to most other deals you’ve needed to get in the past?

irelandrover

As long as it is on all european amazon primes and not only .co.uk then ill be happy.

arsebiscuits1

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Is there any other rugby on in November?

Would rugby fans not only need Amazon Prime for that month? Seems extremely reasonable pricing compared to most other deals you’ve needed to get in the past?

This is why I'm on board with it.

I pay for Prime already. But a cancel any time online subscription service is exactly what I wanted in a non FTA model.

The only other ones available at the moment are not available in Ireland

evil_seed

Mods change the thread title to WILL.

This better not be go blocked like that shambles wen they did some premier league games

irishbucsfan

irishbucsfan wrote: »

Is there any other rugby on in November?

Would rugby fans not only need Amazon Prime for that month? Seems extremely reasonable pricing compared to most other deals you’ve needed to get in the past?

This could be a huge turning point for me. I don't pay to watch any rugby at present. I've been using dodgy streams all my life. I even recently got rid of standard sky box as I wasn't using it enough. I can't even watch free to air right now. I'm not willing to pay for a year's subscription for various channels and boxes when all I want is rugby and only rugby. Hopefully the streaming service works and isn't choppy. Spotify managed to crack the music industry for me. It was suddenly more convenient and better than pirating music. I'm very interested to see if amazon can do the same.

Cookiemunster

https://twitter.com/Murray_Kinsella/status/1304350521269121024

Zzippy

I get the rationale for selling broadcast rights to Prime, and I would have no problem paying a subscription for it. But there needs to be a TV alternative too - far too many fans will be disenfranchised because they simply don't have good enough broadband to stream matches. Ours isn't too bad, although at times it can be awful. Our neighbours across the road can barely watch a youtube video without buffering, using the same provider. Fibre is simply not coming here any time soon, we're too far from the exchange to get decent speeds through the copper wire, and the wireless BB is not reliable enough. Outside of the major urban centres this is a big problem for hundreds of thousands of people.

arsebiscuits1

Deleted User wrote: »

This could be a huge turning point for me. I don't pay to watch any rugby at present. I've been using dodgy streams all my life. I even recently got rid of standard sky box as I wasn't using it enough. I can't even watch free to air right now. I'm not willing to pay for a year's subscription for various channels and boxes when all I want is rugby and only rugby. Hopefully the streaming service works and isn't choppy. Spotify managed to crack the music industry for me. It was suddenly more convenient and better than pirating music. I'm very interested to see if amazon can do the same.

This exactly. I nearly pulled the plug and moved to Eir when they had all the rugby and there was a reasonably good deal for the first year (glad I didn't in hindsight!)

But the amount of ****e they try to pedal to make the money you're paying seem worth it is borderline patronising.

"Catch up with the latest NASCAR!"

"See what's happening on day 2 of the Maldives Golf Open"

"Welcome to ESPN 8 the Ocho"

I just want rugby. Let me pay for something that just let's me watch rugby!

Cookiemunster

Zzippy wrote: »

I get the rationale for selling broadcast rights to Prime, and I would have no problem paying a subscription for it. But there needs to be a TV alternative too - far too many fans will be disenfranchised because they simply don't have good enough broadband to stream matches. Ours isn't too bad, although at times it can be awful. Our neighbours across the road can barely watch a youtube video without buffering, using the same provider. Fibre is simply not coming here any time soon, we're too far from the exchange to get decent speeds through the copper wire, and the wireless BB is not reliable enough. Outside of the major urban centres this is a big problem for hundreds of thousands of people.

It lucky then that all three home games are on RTE and all 3 Ireland pool games are on Channel 4.

Zzippy

Cookiemunster wrote: »

It lucky then that all three home games are on RTE and all 3 Ireland pool games are on Channel 4.

Yes, lucky this time, because of a pre-existing deal with those broadcasters. What happens the next time broadcast rights are up for auction? I'm not saying games should be free to air. I'm saying games should be on a TV channel so that people can actually watch them. For a huge number of people, that simply is not possible through streaming-only platforms, regardless of cost.

Leinstertomas

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2020/09/11/tv-rights-confirmed-for-autumn-nations-cup/?fbclid=IwAR07DvvIj-vuNcIQZg5rPlcTfYamoIIVXgSqhpmit6-lI2pgOjHdEPoWf-A
So all Ireland games will be on RTE and Channel 4. Prime will have every match apart from our opening game against Wales and game against Georgia

thomond2006

Leinstertomas wrote: »

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2020/09/11/tv-rights-confirmed-for-autumn-nations-cup/?fbclid=IwAR07DvvIj-vuNcIQZg5rPlcTfYamoIIVXgSqhpmit6-lI2pgOjHdEPoWf-A
So all Ireland games will be on RTE and Channel 4. Prime will have every match apart from our opening game against Wales and game against Georgia

Win-win all round.

Everyone gets to see the Ireland games and the others are available at a small enough cost.

If Amazon charged something like 2 euro per game and you could pick whichever you wanted. I'd be all over that. They'd make loads of money off me.

icdg

Here’s the announcement.

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2020/09/11/tv-rights-confirmed-for-autumn-nations-cup/

Not clear that Prime Video’s coverage will be available in Ireland at all. It specially states “Prime Video in the U.K.” That may be the reason why the England v Ireland game will be available to RTE and Channel 4 - it wouldn’t have formed part of the pre-existing deal. Presumably there’s is an arrangement for Amazon to sub license this game back to the IRFU rights holders in order to ensure there is coverage of this game available to Irish viewers.

lertsnim

icdg wrote: »

Here’s the announcement.

https://www.irishrugby.ie/2020/09/11/tv-rights-confirmed-for-autumn-nations-cup/

Not clear that Prime Video’s coverage will be available in Ireland at all. It specially states “Prime Video in the U.K.” That may be the reason why the England v Ireland game will be available to RTE and Channel 4 - it wouldn’t have formed part of the pre-existing deal. Presumably there’s is an arrangement for Amazon to sub license this game back to the IRFU rights holders in order to ensure there is coverage of this game available to Irish viewers.

Eir or Virgin here so if not Prime Video

errlloyd

I have some student deal on Amazon so prime costs me like a fiver a month. Always top quality stream, works with loads of devices. What a win.

bilston

Zzippy wrote: »

I get the rationale for selling broadcast rights to Prime, and I would have no problem paying a subscription for it. But there needs to be a TV alternative too - far too many fans will be disenfranchised because they simply don't have good enough broadband to stream matches. Ours isn't too bad, although at times it can be awful. Our neighbours across the road can barely watch a youtube video without buffering, using the same provider. Fibre is simply not coming here any time soon, we're too far from the exchange to get decent speeds through the copper wire, and the wireless BB is not reliable enough. Outside of the major urban centres this is a big problem for hundreds of thousands of people.

You'll need to stay of MBs too as Amazon Prime broadcast some Premier League matches last season and while the coverage was pretty good, there was a bit of a lag.

I've thought for a while that this is the way forward. If 10 million people round the world signed up to a Rugby Netflix and paid a tenner a month you'd make €1.2bn a year in TV rights.

It would be interesting to know the total annual TV income for all professional rugby tournaments in the world. Would it be more than €1bn?

Is 10 million realistic? If you add together UK, Ireland, France, rest of Europe, NZ, SA, Australia etc. It might be optimistic I suppose.

Tommybojangles

Definitely looks like just prime UK, so we're still waiting to see how we can watch the other games as far as I can see? Beyond sick of trying to figure out how to watch everything. I'd happily pay 30 a month for bilston's idea above but never going to happen unfortunately.


*Edit if it's Eir I won't be posting for a while as I will Fu(k my laptop at the wall

arsebiscuits1

Deleted User wrote: »

If Amazon charged something like 2 euro per game and you could pick whichever you wanted. I'd be all over that. They'd make loads of money off me.

Me and the lads spoke about this over a few pints during simpler times.

What would we be willing to pay per view?

We mused about a sliding scale depending on the game with domestic league games coming in at 2 euro each with knock outs being 5 etc etc etc.

amadangomor

Digifriendly wrote: »

Then watch RTE on Saorview or Saorsat or Sky or watch C4 coverage on Freesat. Plenty of alternatives.

Don't have an aerial, for some reason was removed from my house before I bought it.

Besides the point anyway, they have invested loads into RTE player and it is not fit for purpose. I can get a free stream that works perfectly and it's probably run by some fella from his bedroom.

ArmaniJeanss

Cookiemunster wrote: »

The IRFU see the three homes games as this years Guinness Series, so the TV contracts with RTE and Channel 4 are already in place.

I wonder is that why Ireland ended up in a comparatively tougher group? Maybe RTE/C4 were willing to allow these games be seen as a direct replacement for the big Southern hemisphere opposition. And not look for any compensation.

Whereas if we'd be in France's position, home games against Fiji and one of Scotland/Italy in the group stage may have been considered inferior.

DGRulz

ArmaniJeanss wrote: »

I wonder is that why Ireland ended up in a comparatively tougher group? Maybe RTE/C4 were willing to allow these games be seen as a direct replacement for the big Southern hemisphere opposition. And not look for any compensation.

Whereas if we'd be in France's position, home games against Fiji and one of Scotland/Italy in the group stage may have been considered inferior.

Think that's more to do with the fact we're already playing France and Italy a few weeks before this tournement begins.

Digifriendly

I may be totally wrong here but fact that RTE/Ch4 have live rights to Ireland games suggests that Amazon Prime deal may be UK only.

DGRulz

https://twitter.com/IrishRugby/status/1304352004731547648?s=20

The Lost Sheep

Welsh games going to be free to air on S4C