Premiership Rugby out of Heineken Cup?

channelsurfer2 wrote: »

looks like my prediction is gathering momentum re Sky and BT sharing any new deal(if there is one).

http://www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/heineken-cup-preview-perhaps-timing-is-right-for-clermont-s-final-fling-1.1554404


Yet whether the issues of financial distribution, qualification and the overseeing body can be resolved, there remains one enormous stumbling block, namely the conflicting television deals which the ERC and Premiership Rugby have signed with Sky and BT, rivals in a huge broadband war in mainland Britain.

Hammer out
Rumours have gathered momentum that attempts are being made to hammer out a deal involving both Sky and BT, but Sky must feel hugely embittered by Premiership Rugby after years of ploughing millions into the English club game and selling its product, never mind the prospect of sleeping with the enemy.

It's probably the only solution IMO but it will be interesting to see if it actually happened how that would affect viewing and the cost of viewing.

bilston wrote: »

It's probably the only solution IMO but it will be interesting to see if it actually happened how that would affect viewing and the cost of viewing.

I would hope that whoever broadcasts in each country will have exclusive rights for those countries, so you'd just need the one subscription.

bilston wrote: »

It's probably the only solution IMO but it will be interesting to see if it actually happened how that would affect viewing and the cost of viewing.

You could have the situation where say Munster are away to an English club on BT on Friday night, then Leinster at home to someone else on Sky on the Saturday or vice versa. That would be worst case scenario as two subscriptions would be necessary.

Hard to see how sharing the coverage will work, given how the exclusivity of coverage is the central USP of sports subscription TV. Yes, they can alternate exclusive coverage of individual matches, but that still significantly dilutes their marketing pitch. Sky is no longer 'the only home of Heineken Cup rugby', but the only live broadcaster of individual games.

Plus, I'm sure both Sky and BT know customers will be mightily pissed off if they have to pay two separate subscriptions to view HEC rugby now. HEC rugby is the main reason I pay for Sky Sports, and if I still end up missing half the games I'd be very tempted just to chuck it and go to the pub.

Larbre34 wrote: »

Be a good time for Minister Rabbitte to nip in and get Irish european games back on the FTA while BT and Sky get busy squabbling over what or what doesnt in fact exist......

Can he do that for something that doesn't exist?:)

jacothelad wrote: »

Yes they'll just have to go out and buy a Saorview box...... The point is that no Irish fan on the island of Ireland should have to pay while the rest get it FTA. It's not a difficult principle to understand.

Most will already probably have Saorview via Freeview HD box; Freeview HD PVR or Freeview HD TV. However I take your point about those in NI facing difficulty who cannot receive RTE from across the border. Partial answer would be not to geo block the rugby internationals on the local RTE mini-muxes from transmitters in the north.

jacothelad wrote: »

Yes they'll just have to go out and buy a Saorview box...... The point is that no Irish fan on the island of Ireland should have to pay while the rest get it FTA. It's not a difficult principle to understand.

Do people in the North pay Irish TV licenses? FTA isn't exactly what it says on the tin. Although I do thin the IRFU should have made a deal with Sky in which the 32 counties weren't included

rudiger2.0 wrote: »

Do people in the North pay Irish TV licenses? FTA isn't exactly what it says on the tin. Although I do thin the IRFU should have made a deal with Sky in which the 32 counties weren't included

No, we pay the BBC TV license so I can certainly accept the argument that why should we able to watch RTE for free when people in the South have to pay for the privilege, but then of couorse the opposite is true when it comes to the BBC so for me it was always a convenient compromise!

Anyway I wonder whether Sky will make much mention of the HEC dispute this weekend? I'm sure they'll be delighted to have a bit of top class domestic rugby back on their channels tonight with Sale against Blanco's boys which should be a nice wee appetiser for the weekend. But an appetiser is all it is, I don't think many people would go out of their way to pay a subscription to watch the likes of Sale and Biarritz play each other every week and in an Anglo/French Cup you would get a lot of these sorts of games.

Article in the Midi Olympique speculating that Guinness is talking to delegates from Engish and French clubs in relation to sponsorship of the RCC.

Can't link it, but if you're on Twitter, Bernard Jackman posted up a pic of the article.

It would be very interesting, but it's Midi Olympique so I'll believe it when I see it!

No chance seen as Guinness won't even be allowed advertise their sponsorship in France under advertising laws there.

At least with Heineken there was 5 other countries to advertise in. Seen as no Celtic team looks likely to be in it, not likely IMO or if it is shag all money compared to Heineken

The Times had an article today, based on 'inside sources' talking about how, despite the public posturing, there are active negotiations going on behind the scenes, with regular phone calls between all parties, including RFU and PRL. The expectation of the Times is that agreement will be reached on money and qualifying. Broadcasting arrangement are the key sticking point, but the article implies that BT and Sky will work together. Which isn't great news for the fan, tbh, as 2 subscriptions will be needed, unless you are British BT broadband customer (which I am, thankfully)

Grandpa Hassan wrote: »

The Times had an article today, based on 'inside sources' talking about how, despite the public posturing, there are active negotiations going on behind the scenes, with regular phone calls between all parties, including RFU and PRL. The expectation of the Times is that agreement will be reached on money and qualifying. Broadcasting arrangement are the key sticking point, but the article implies that BT and Sky will work together. Which isn't great news for the fan, tbh, as 2 subscriptions will be needed, unless you are British BT broadband customer (which I am, thankfully)

I seem to have both on my NTL/UPC account?

irishbucsfan wrote: »

I don't see why the deal won't just be Sky get the rights to broadcast the competition in its entirety in Ireland while BT broadcast in mainland UK. Might even be NI for BT as well I guess.

Sky would get feck all of the cut then?