Changes to Sky Sports

awec · 27-06-2017 4:57pm #1

This is interesting: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2017/jun/27/sky-sports-channels-prices-football-golf-cricket

Basically Sky are getting rid of SS1, 2, 3 and 4 and replacing them with channels specific to a sport. Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports F1 etc that you will be able to subscribe to individually.

Rugby will be on "Sky Sports Arena", which seems to be the mop-up channel for sports that don't deserve their own dedicated one.

Good news if you only care about certain sports.

I don't get how they are going to make the rugby channel attractive though. They don't have the AP so it isn't going to appeal to English fans, they have only some euro games (I guess they'll get them all back) and only partial pro12 rights. They have some AIs too and SH rugby (which can't bring in much dosh anyway).

connemara man · 27-06-2017 4:58pm

Will Barnes be gone?????.....

thomond2006 · 27-06-2017 5:03pm

It makes sense. Currently if you are just interested in rugby then you have a massive cost where 99% of your subscription is going to football.

awec · 27-06-2017 5:04pm

thomond2006 wrote: »

It makes sense. Currently if you are just interested in rugby then you have a massive cost where 99% of your subscription is going to football.

Yep, but at the same time how much of sky's rugby coverage is currently funded by people who subscribe purely for football?

ongarite · 27-06-2017 5:06pm

Wasn't there a rumour recently too that BT will have exclusive rights to the HC in 2018/19?
With no no AP and HC for Sky I could see them seriously wind back on their rugby coverage.

budhabob · 27-06-2017 5:08pm

This kind of arrangement is ideal for me. Only really interested in Rugby, and would happily pay a smaller fee to access that soley - the issue now will be what provider will have the majority of games.

razorblunt · 27-06-2017 5:08pm

I think Sky will lose rugby altogether in another few seasons, no harm either.

awec · 27-06-2017 5:09pm

razorblunt wrote: »

I think Sky will lose rugby altogether in another few seasons, no harm either.

I think if BT becomes the main rugby provider it'll be a disaster.

vienne86 · 27-06-2017 5:13pm

awec wrote: »

I think if BT becomes the main rugby provider it'll be a disaster.

Agree completely. I hate the BT folksy presentations. Some of the commentary on Sky is pretty awful, but I find their analysis very good.

awec · 27-06-2017 5:17pm

vienne86 wrote: »

Agree completely. I hate the BT folksy presentations. Some of the commentary on Sky is pretty awful, but I find their analysis very good.

Not only that but BT is not as accessible as Sky Sports.

I doubt BT would have any interest in showing the Pro12 too.

icdg · 27-06-2017 5:32pm

Rumours of this have been floating about for a few months at least, so it seems it will come to fruition.

This isn't just a rebrand or a reallocation of content between channels. It signals a fundamental change in how Sky Sports is marketed and priced. For football, cricket, golf, and F1 fans, you'll now have the opportunity to take a (cheaper) subscription to only your favoured sport or sports.

To me the flip side is for the non-favourered sports - like both rugby codes, but also tennis, GAA, boxing, and NFL among others- this sends a major signal that they won't be as valued or won't be targeted for rights, in the new environment where they'll be sharing Sky Sports Arena and (basic tier) Sky Sports Mix. There have been already rumours that Sky won't be chasing the Pro12 again when this four year contract expires. The European Cup, we are told, is as good as gone to BT.

awec · 27-06-2017 5:35pm

Without the AP, without the HEC and without the Pro12 Sky basically only have the summer tests, the autumn internationals and the super rugby games.

So why would anyone bother subscribing to that?

If they don't take the Pro12 I wonder will we see more free to air stations come back on board. The coverage of teams other than Ulster is pretty rubbish, to be blunt. Ulster are probably the best covered team in European rugby.

aloooof · 27-06-2017 5:37pm

I wonder would we ever see a purely subscription-based streaming service like UFC Fight Pass or the like where you can subscribe per competition, say? I'd certainly pay for it, but I think it's not likely in the near future.

bmwguy · 27-06-2017 8:13pm

How much would 1 channel be? I presume there will be a cost increase to subscribe to them all compared to the current subscription.

That said I would subscribe to a rugby channel for a tenner a month or so.

Quin_Dub · 27-06-2017 8:28pm

bmwguy wrote: »

How much would 1 channel be? I presume there will be a cost increase to subscribe to them all compared to the current subscription.

That said I would subscribe to a rugby channel for a tenner a month or so.

Article says

Broadcaster to launch themed channels for football, golf and cricket, with cheapest package costing £18 a month

I'd assume that that's the price for "Sky Sports Arena" , so we're probably looking at ~€25+ for a single channel here.

So , still FAR too much if you're a single sport person.

What might be interesting though is if they change the pricing model for NowTV as that might make more sense to dip in and out of for games that are of interest..

Currently they charge €10 for a day pass for Sky Sports or €15 for a week, but if a single channel cost say €7/€8 for a week(end) it might be worth a look.

razorblunt · 27-06-2017 9:07pm

awec wrote: »

I think if BT becomes the main rugby provider it'll be a disaster.

I agree to an extent, I hate the faux banter between Healey and Kay in particular especially during games, but I do like the rugby show.
But Sky have Barnes and Morris and co.

I'd love proper Pro 12 coverage in particular.

johnnyryan89 · 27-06-2017 9:26pm

Quin_Dub wrote: »

Currently they charge €10 for a day pass for Sky Sports or €15 for a week, but if a single channel cost say €7/€8 for a week(end) it might be worth a look.

For them prices let's hope BT gets overall rights for Champions Cup games. Think it's 25 quid (I've it free with Eir broadband) a month and you get football, rugby, boxing, MMA, GAA league games, motor racing and American sports over 7 channels.

JJ59 · 27-06-2017 9:27pm

Sky greatly overpaid for the last Premier League rights and have been in trouble ever since. Their future now depends on retaining their position as the main home for the P.L. Without that they have no future. The question now is will BT move in for the kill and try and win that battle.

Erik Shin · 27-06-2017 9:28pm

razorblunt wrote: »

I think Sky will lose rugby altogether in another few seasons, no harm either.

Be careful what you wish for

johnnyryan89 · 27-06-2017 9:43pm

JJ59 wrote: »

Sky greatly overpaid for the last Premier League rights and have been in trouble ever since. Their future now depends on retaining their position as the main home for the P.L. Without that they have no future. The question now is will BT move in for the kill and try and win that battle.

Can't see BT trying to out bid Sky for Premier League rights, they've already got better football coverage than Sky imo with Champions League, some Premier League games, FA Cup and the other top leagues around Europe like Serie A, Bundesliga and French League. BT will bid alright to jack the price up but if they were smart they'd target La Liga for the El Classico games.

aloooof · 28-06-2017 9:24am

razorblunt wrote: »

I agree to an extent, I hate the faux banter between Healey and Kay in particular especially during games, but I do like the rugby show.
But Sky have Barnes and Morris and co.

I'd love proper Pro 12 coverage in particular.

Proper Pro 12 coverage, and I think they're crying out for a proper highlights show on a Sunday evening, say.

Former Former · 28-06-2017 9:34am

"Proper Pro12 coverage" = no more games on free to air channels.

We are absolutely spoiled by the coverage of the Pro12, I can't believe anyone would want it to change.

Maybe if it meant a massive cash injection for the league, but otherwise, as fans we are infinitely better off with what we have.

molloyjh · 28-06-2017 10:09am

I know people really don't like Barnes, but I don't have that much of an issue with him personally. Sure you don't get much insight from him, but then not everyone who watches the game does so with the same level of knowledge of the game as a lot of people here. There are a lot of more casual fans that need to be accommodated as well. I'd take Barnes over Healey any day of the week. #BTBants

The thought that all European games will be on BT really upsets me. I hate them. I find their coverage cringey in the extreme. If Sky are all but pulling the plug on their rugby coverage then that's probably bad news. Ulster are okay as they basically have a dedicated channel for Pro12. But unless another broadcaster gets involved then the other 3 provinces are going to lose out.

ThisRegard · 28-06-2017 10:34am

thomond2006 wrote: »

It makes sense. Currently if you are just interested in rugby then you have a massive cost where 99% of your subscription is going to football.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see that they'll have. I don't subscribe due to having no interest in any other sport across the Sky Sports platform, so no point in paying for what's relatively a short amount of hours over the span of the year.

Skyfloater · 28-06-2017 10:46am

Former Former wrote: »

"Proper Pro12 coverage" = no more games on free to air channels.

We are absolutely spoiled by the coverage of the Pro12, I can't believe anyone would want it to change.

Maybe if it meant a massive cash injection for the league, but otherwise, as fans we are infinitely better off with what we have.

Proper Pro12 coverage for me would simply be speaking in a language that I can understand!

The real mccoy 91 · 28-06-2017 10:47am

Will it work out more expensive if for example you wanted football rugby and golf channels?

28-06-2017 10:49am

molloyjh wrote: »

I know people really don't like Barnes, but I don't have that much of an issue with him personally. Sure you don't get much insight from him, but then not everyone who watches the game does so with the same level of knowledge of the game as a lot of people here. There are a lot of more casual fans that need to be accommodated as well. I'd take Barnes over Healey any day of the week. #BTBants

Same here, never had any huge issue with him.

The TV3 commentators for the RWC were absolutely objectionable, and I'm guessing will be for their 6N coverage. Healy is dreadful, or any BT commentators when an English team is playing (and I accept they are catering to their market). Barnes is harmless white noise.

CoDy1 · 28-06-2017 10:49am

After losing the 6n, i'm guessing RTE will outbid TG4 for the terrestrial rights next year (2018/19).

Dravokivich · 28-06-2017 11:37am

Am I the only one who only listens to commentators to catch names I'm unfamiliar with?

Such as that Yann Madigan chap a couple of seasons ago.

dregin · 28-06-2017 11:45am

I know the Irish language is a big issue for a lot of people, but I really like the TG4 pundits. It would be excellent if RTE were to keep them on, were they to win the rights.

razorblunt · 28-06-2017 11:49am

Skyfloater wrote: »

Proper Pro12 coverage for me would simply be speaking in a language that I can understand!

Former Former wrote: »

"Proper Pro12 coverage" = no more games on free to air channels.

We are absolutely spoiled by the coverage of the Pro12, I can't believe anyone would want it to change.

Maybe if it meant a massive cash injection for the league, but otherwise, as fans we are infinitely better off with what we have.

I'd actually hope it's just given wider access to the stations that already cover it. I'd much rather watch an Irish province play in Wales and Scotland with decent coverage. Not just the drearily partisan commentator Alba use and anyone they can grab off the injured Edinburgh player list who can barely string two words together.

I'd also just like to see any game played in Italy!

davo2001 · 28-06-2017 11:53am

Still not going to pay for Sky Sports

Tigerandahalf · 28-06-2017 11:54am

dregin wrote: »

I know the Irish language is a big issue for a lot of people, but I really like the TG4 pundits. It would be excellent if RTE were to keep them on, were they to win the rights.

TG4 pundits are pretty poor especially that guy Broderick who is very partisan to Munster and Irish teams and criticises correct refereeing calls.

He is also hoarse half the time and shouts out the commentary.

I think he is a teacher in Munchins so maybe that explains the hoarseness!

Their coverage is the bare minimum and it isn't in HD.

Former Former · 28-06-2017 11:59am

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

TG4 pundits are pretty poor especially that guy Broderick who is very partisan to Munster and Irish teams and criticises correct refereeing calls.

He is also hoarse half the time and shouts out the commentary.

I think he is a teacher in Munchins so maybe that explains the hoarseness!

Their coverage is the bare minimum and it isn't in HD.

Their coverage is far better than RTE's ever was and it absolutely is in HD.

Tigerandahalf · 28-06-2017 12:06pm

Former Former wrote: »

Their coverage is far better than RTE's ever was and it absolutely is in HD.

Not on free to air only on Sky.

johnnyryan89 · 28-06-2017 12:09pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

TG4 pundits are pretty poor especially that guy Broderick who is very partisan to Munster and Irish teams and criticises correct refereeing calls.

He is also hoarse half the time and shouts out the commentary.

I think he is a teacher in Munchins so maybe that explains the hoarseness!

Their coverage is the bare minimum and it isn't in HD.

Only for Máire Treasa rugby on tg4 would be unbearable. He was a teacher in Munchins but is retired now, would have taught and coached a few of the lads during his time which would explain his bias but seeing as I know f@ck all Irish he doesn't bother me.

connemara man · 28-06-2017 12:34pm

johnnyryan89 wrote: »

Only for Máire Treasa rugby on tg4 would be unbearable. He was a teacher in Munchins but is retired now, would have taught and coached a few of the lads during his time which would explain his bias but seeing as I know f@ck all Irish he doesn't bother me.

He bothers me a lot. The main commentator is grand but he is tg4 Barnes for me. Everything that happens on the pitch is either the worst thing or best thing ever so much hyperbole.

Maire Treasa is very good. I think Loughney is joining the panel for next year so that should be good.

Is a pro 12 match of the day style show too much to ask for. I want to see the other teams with a small bit of analysis so I can get a greater sense of the league.

aloooof · 28-06-2017 12:36pm

connemara man wrote: »

He bothers me a lot. The main commentator is grand but he is tg4 Barnes for me. Everything that happens on the pitch is either the worst thing or best thing ever so much hyperbole.

Maire Treasa is very good. I think Loughney is joining the panel for next year so that should be good.

Is a pro 12 match of the day style show too much to ask for. I want to see the other teams with a small bit of analysis so I can get a greater sense of the league.

Marcus Horan on the sidelines I'm still not sure about either. But ya, absolutely agree, some kind of highlights show with analysis would be great.

Former Former · 28-06-2017 12:37pm

Tigerandahalf wrote: »

Not on free to air only on Sky.

And on Virgin, just not Saorview.

But realistically, if we want all matches shown free to air, in HD and in English, we're not going to get that.

Like I said, we are incredibly well served under the current system. We must get 90% of the provinces games live and the vast majority are free to air. The Aviva and Top 14 teams don't get anything like that and what they do get is paid for.

I hope nothing changes, you all should be doing likewise.

I don't really think there's any demand for a highlights and analysis show either tbh, but as I understand it Eir Sports have the rights for that.

Guy:Incognito · 28-06-2017 12:50pm

I can only seeing this work out worse for me. From a sport pov . Money wise I'll probably be better off because I might end up cancelling.

I watch rugby and football mainly. But because they are on the channels I have grown my interest in other sports. I'll watch the big golf tournaments, Inc staying up late if the ones in the US are shaping up for a decent finish.I'll watch the superbowl and the odd match here and there if I'm free when they're on. I'm a casual follower of f1. I'll watch some boxing, small bit of basketball or cricket .

I even stretch to watching the odd bit of league

Whatll happen if it's split out is I'll stop seeing any of the sports that I wouldn't pay specifically for. I'll find it hard to pay seperately for what amounts to a channel to watch what will amount to a couple of live matches a week on the football and whatever small amount of rugby sky still have . The channel will be filler for the rest of the week to be ignored.

I have my own match on a Saturday kicking off anywhere between 12 and 3, then I play 5 a side football at half 4. The young lad plays on Sunday , which I think will be 11, 12 or 1 kick offs , which I coach. So I'm going to miss a good chunk of the matches anyway.

Quin_Dub · 28-06-2017 1:04pm

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

I can only seeing this work out worse for me. From a sport pov . Money wise I'll probably be better off because I might end up cancelling.

I was rigby and football mainly. But because they are on the channels I have grown my interest in other sports. I'll watch the big golf tournaments, Inc staying up late if the ones in the US are shaping up for a decent finish.I'll watch the superbowl and the odd match here and there if I'm free when they're on. I'm a casual follower of f1. I'll watch some boxing, small bit of basketball or cricket .

I even stretch to watching the odd bit of league

Whatll happen if it's split out is I'll stop seeing any of the sports that I wouldn't pay specifically for. I'll find it hard to pay seperately for what amounts to a channel to watch what will amount to a couple of live matches a week on the football and whatever small amount of rugby sky still have . The channel will be filler for the rest of the week to be ignored.

I have my own match on a Saturday kicking off anywhere between 12 and 3, then I play 5 a side football at half 4. The young lad plays on Sunday , which I think will be 11, 12 or 1 kick offs , which I coach. So I'm going to miss a good chunk of the matches anyway.

I'd generally agree..

If you're not "sports mad" or a big Soccer fan it's very hard to justify the costs of subscriptions.

I'm only interested in Rugby and because I'm actively involved in the game as a coach/ref , I don't actually get to watch a huge amount of it..

I might get to watch 1 game a week (and most of those would be free-view Pro12 any way) , maybe a few more on a big European Cup week-end , but that's about it..

Extremely hard to justify paying a recurring subscription for that at pretty much any price if I'm honest..

I'm interested to see what they do with the streaming service in this new set-up as I could see myself paying a few quid here and there to cover ERC week-ends if they brought the prices down (quite a bit) from current levels.

ScrubsfanChris · 28-06-2017 1:54pm

Former Former wrote: »

I don't really think there's any demand for a highlights and analysis show either tbh, but as I understand it Eir Sports have the rights for that.

If your team happen to be playing Welsh opposition that week then Scrum V will have highlights. Sh*t out of luck otherwise. The official Pro12 YouTube is beyond awful.

Whats EirSports highlights show like?

Tigerandahalf · 28-06-2017 6:10pm

The monthly sports pass has 50% off at the moment...down to €25 p/m. It would need to stay at that. Add €20 for BT and you are now upto €50 p/m to get all sports. Plus need good broadband.

No way to get the BT channels without subscribing to eir?

bilston · 28-06-2017 8:37pm

I'm snookered because I watch Rugby, Football, Cricket, Tennis and Golf so I'll need every channel bar the F1.

As for the future of the Pro 12 I'm just concerned Eir Sports (or whoever they use in the UK) pick up the live rights because then I'll need 3 subs to watch all the rugby!

awec · 28-06-2017 8:37pm

Eir Sports is pretty much BT in the UK.

Zzippy · 28-06-2017 8:59pm

Former Former wrote: »

"Proper Pro12 coverage" = no more games on free to air channels.

We are absolutely spoiled by the coverage of the Pro12, I can't believe anyone would want it to change.

Maybe if it meant a massive cash injection for the league, but otherwise, as fans we are infinitely better off with what we have.

If it meant a big cash injection, a highlights show and I could just order that channel for a reasonable cost I'd be happy with Sky. No interest in soccer and no interest in paying for Prem players obscene salaries..

Erik Shin · 28-06-2017 9:04pm

bilston wrote: »

I'm snookered because I watch Rugby, Football, Cricket, Tennis and Golf so I'll need every channel bar the F1.

As for the future of the Pro 12 I'm just concerned Eir Sports (or whoever they use in the UK) pick up the live rights because then I'll need 3 subs to watch all the rugby!

Funnily enough...snooker is free to air

bilston · 29-06-2017 4:28pm

awec wrote: »

Eir Sports is pretty much BT in the UK.

They used Premier Sports for the summer tour.

Dravokivich · 29-06-2017 4:33pm

awec wrote: »

Eir Sports is pretty much BT in the UK.

Not really. Eir bought out and re-branded Setanta who were controlling BT Subscriptions in Ireland.

I don't think it includes the business Setanta had in the UK.

icdg · 29-06-2017 5:18pm

The first business Setanta had in the UK, under their own name, went spectacularly bust in 2009.

Their second business, a far more limited affair, is still around and is known as Premier Sports. It operates completely separately to BT Sport in the U.K., but is still integrated with Eir Sport in that Premier Sports and Eir Sport 2 are more or less the same channel, sharing about 90% of content. (Eir Sport 2 doesn't show (most of) Premier Sports' GAA, and Premier Sports doesn't show (most of) Eir Sport 2's football).

Ironically though it doesn't use the Setanta name, Premier Sports is one of the last Sports TV businesses still owned by the Setanta founders. Most of the rest are long sold off or closed down.

OldRio · 11-07-2017 3:32pm

Sky have started to advertise their prices for these products.
£18 for one channel.
£22 for two.
£26 for three.
Or all Sky Sports channels for £27.50.

Of course to get these 'bargains' you must also pay for the basic package, another £22 per month.
The information comes from Skys site in the UK. Nothing on the Irish site at the moment.
IMHO far far to expensive.
Looks like I'll be using my Kodi for a while yet

Changes to Sky Sports

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