UEFA Champions League 21-24: FTA on RTE&VMTV, LiveScore other matches

Delta2113 · 31-05-2021 8:51pm

Dodge wrote: »

There’s also no guarantee that even if it is a new platform, they’ve a big budget

As the rumour was that Virgin didn’t even bid for the rights

- Virgin Media Sports did bid for them. Would have been perfect again for them as they don't carry BT Sport but they lost out this time.

Dindane · 31-05-2021 10:54pm

Delta2113 wrote: »

- Virgin Media Sports did bid for them. Would have been perfect again for them as they don't carry BT Sport but they lost out this time.

Yes, and they were outbid.

People are going to be quite shocked by the result.

dulpit · 31-05-2021 11:59pm

Dindane wrote: »

Yes, and they were outbid.

People are going to be quite shocked by the result.

Sounds like you might know who it is?

icdg · 01-06-2021 12:22am

Shocking would be Eleven Sports winning it, I guess. Their first outing here wasn’t exactly a success, they lasted what, five months. They do have the rights in Portugal so not a complete outside mind you but they’d have to overcome the mess they made of La Liga only a couple of years ago. And people would just watch on BT.

Spn744 · 01-06-2021 2:15am

Could YouTube or Facebook maybe snap it up, seen this done in a few Asian countries, who knows at this stage though!

icdg · 01-06-2021 7:46am

Your guess is as good as mine at this stage. Would be nice for anyone contemplating changing tv providers this summer to know though. It’s usual for Ireland to be one of the last deals to be done in Europe but I can’t recall it dragging into June before.

batistuta9 · 01-06-2021 9:00am

If they're brand new to Ireland I'll have a guess at Nordic entertainment group.

They could even takeover vmtv & have a tv3 here as well, that seems to be their channel in Scandinavia.

Recently announced expanding into Holland with f1, darts & bundesliga.

We’ll launch Viaplay in at least 10 new markets by the end of 2023, including Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and the US in 2021 and the Netherlands in Q1 2022.

dublinman1990 · 01-06-2021 3:41pm

These so-called new entrants buying up these rights to these games for the Irish market IMO need to be seen to have a credible plan under UFEA's eyes to be make an interest for this bid unless they make clear statements of intent to not enter it.

What I mean is that if it was stated in principle that these so-called "new entrants" had a successful intent to buy the rights to these matches with them already based in the UK & lreland after a certain amount of time; you would know where to look next when these games are going to the new bidder i.e. Premier Sports or Vodafone.

But if another new entrant with no actual presence in this country comes in & buys these rights along with other sports rights; well it does become a very big mess doesn't it. It makes an Eleven Sports mark 2 situation become very clear so to speak.

Delta2113 · 02-06-2021 9:07am

Livescore won the rights - nobody predicted that - wow.

Dodge · 02-06-2021 9:07am

Livescore have announced they have rights to all Champions League games in Ireland for next season

They currently show Seria A amongst others

Delta2113 · 02-06-2021 9:07am

Dodge wrote: »

Livescore have announced they have rights to all Champions League games in Ireland for next season

They currently show Seria A amongst others

Snap - LOL

lertsnim · 02-06-2021 9:08am

Do Livescore cast to TVs or is there an app suitable for TVs?

Delta2113 · 02-06-2021 9:15am

lertsnim wrote: »

Do Livescore cast to TVs or is there an app suitable for TVs?

They say you can cast to Tv.

Delta2113 · 02-06-2021 9:18am

What's the legal definition off free-to-air because that's what they are claiming.

Hope they do a deal with Virgin.

Dodge · 02-06-2021 9:27am

Delta2113 wrote: »

What's the legal definition off free-to-air because that's what they are claiming.

Hope they do a deal with Virgin.

I’m not sure there is a legal definition of free to air but they don’t charge for the app

Dodge · 02-06-2021 9:33am

BTW someone else will be announced soon by my maths

They’ve said they have exclusive rights to all but 33 games

RTE have rights to 16 Tuesday games plus final

So someone will have 16 Wednesday games (and maybe final)

Delta2113 · 02-06-2021 9:43am

https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/champions-league/livescore-to-stream-all-champions-league-matches-for-free-in-ireland-1.4581939

'That leaves the 16 Wednesday night matches still up for grabs but, as of yet, there has been no announcement as to which broadcaster will show those in Ireland.'

odyssey06 · 02-06-2021 9:56am

LiveScore will be the exclusive free-to-air broadcaster of 104 UCL fixtures per season in Ireland.
The remaining 33 ties, including the UEFA Champions League final, will also be live-streamed on a non-exclusive basis.
The landmark deal ensures football fans in Ireland will be able to watch every single UCL fixture on a fully free-to-air platform, via the LiveScore app for iOS and Android.
Users will be able to watch the matches on their mobile or tablet devices, with the further option to ‘cast’ the action to their TV screens.

https://www.livescore.com/en/news/livescore-to-stream-every-champions-league-game-in-ireland-for-free-2021052614281953595/

carlos · 02-06-2021 9:56am

Any idea of what the stream quality will be like?

Can't handle the judder on 25fps streams for soccer on a big screen, hopefully will be 50fps 1080p

They better have some good geoblocking tech otherwise servers will get overwhelmed with VPN/Smart DNS users from UK since its free

odyssey06 · 02-06-2021 9:59am

Delta2113 wrote: »

'That leaves the 16 Wednesday night matches still up for grabs but, as of yet, there has been no announcement as to which broadcaster will show those in Ireland.'

And it sounds like Livescore will also be streaming the Wednesday matches for free, which I'm guessing reduces the value of the Wednesday night games for any subscription service\channel as they wouldn't be exclusive.

Delta2113 · 02-06-2021 10:02am

TG4 with Irish commentary - please no.

odyssey06 · 02-06-2021 10:04am

Delta2113 wrote: »

TG4 with Irish commentary - please no.

It would interfere with their wednesday night country and western schedule!
Or maybe it's the perfect lead in.

odyssey06 · 02-06-2021 10:05am

No word about Europa league rights?

FRIENDO · 02-06-2021 10:05am

I just downloaded Livescore app from the play store, they are advertising free Champions league to be screened in Ireland only

FRIENDO · 02-06-2021 10:10am

All 137 Champions league games free to Air in Ireland on livescore app

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 10:29am

This is the strangest most surprising TV rights announcement I think I’ve ever seen

.. hey it’s CL for free though which is great.

Delta2113 · 02-06-2021 10:36am

irishfeen wrote: »

This is the strangest most surprising TV rights announcement I think I’ve ever seen .. hey it’s CL for free though which is great.

- Nobody saw this coming. I just hope the casting works well and you can get at least 720 HD quality on Tv.

Dodge · 02-06-2021 10:41am

odyssey06 wrote: »

And it sounds like Livescore will also be streaming the Wednesday matches for free, which I'm guessing reduces the value of the Wednesday night games for any subscription service\channel as they wouldn't be exclusive.

They’re showing every game and RTE still wanted the Tuesday games. Plenty of people just don’t like streaming

MisterAnarchy · 02-06-2021 10:43am

Delta2113 wrote: »

- Nobody saw this coming. I just hope the casting works well and you can get at least 720 HD quality on Tv.

Anything will be better than the pixellated rubbish picture on Virgin.
Their standard definition channels are appalling.

NIMAN · 02-06-2021 10:43am

Dodge wrote: »

They’re showing every game and RTE still wanted the Tuesday games. Plenty of people just don’t like streaming

To be fair there is no comparison between a game on a terrestrial channel versus streaming off your phone.

If the game is on RTE, I'll always be watching it that way.

iseegirls · 02-06-2021 10:48am

NIMAN wrote: »

To be fair there is no comparison between a game on a terrestrial channel versus streaming off your phone.

If the game is on RTE, I'll always be watching it that way.

Streaming will also have a delay. You could have the app displaying that a goal has been scored, and then 20 seconds later seeing the goal.

bennyineire · 02-06-2021 10:51am

Amazon's football streaming was prefect quality TBF so I can't see what Livescores won't be, and the delay will only be a couple of seconds unlike a couple of minutes when streaming from "other" sources

Tigerandahalf · 02-06-2021 10:52am

Do we know if there will be studio analysis or just streaming the games.

For the last couple of years I have watched everything on BT on Now TV.

I will miss Garry Lineker. Smart down to earth chap.

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 11:04am

I think the delay with streaming is not really an issue at all. By all accounts IPTV is in fact closer to real time action then satellite broadcasting.

The backhaul to uplink locations takes longer.

icdg · 02-06-2021 11:12am

irishfeen wrote: »

This is the strangest most surprising TV rights announcement I think I’ve ever seen .. hey it’s CL for free though which is great.

Yeah it’s definitely the strangest one I have ever seen too. But as you say it’s 137 football games live and free to stream, so I won’t be complaining too much providing Chromecast or Airplay are a thing. Suspect BT will see a big increase in ROI viewers of their Champions League coverage now, if it’s the only way to watch Wednesday night games on “proper TV”. BT will certainly be to the go to for commercial customers now, whenever things get going again on that front.

Wondering what will happen with the Europa League now.

Interesting about there still being a Wednesday package for sale. Wouldn’t be surprised if VM now try to get those matches, no pay TV company will touch them now and they might get them with a fresh bid.

Spn744 · 02-06-2021 11:16am

Big thing for me with a little toddler is being able to pause live matches and watch others in full later on (now tv don’t allow this) does anyone who watched Serie A last season thorough live score know if either is possible?

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 11:19am

icdg wrote: »

Yeah it’s definitely the strangest one I have ever seen too. But as you say it’s 137 football games live and free to stream, so I won’t be complaining too much providing Chromecast or Airplay are a thing. Suspect BT will see a big increase in ROI viewers of their Champions League coverage now, if it’s the only way to watch Wednesday night games on “proper TV”. BT will certainly be to the go to for commercial customers now, whenever things get going again on that front.

Wondering what will happen with the Europa League now.

Interesting about there still being a Wednesday package for sale. Wouldn’t be surprised if VM now try to get those matches, no pay TV company will touch them now and they might get them with a fresh bid.

Europa league rights must have been well worth it for VM the last few seasons with Liverpool, United etc reaching the final and the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham competing. Problem is if the English teams don’t turn up or go far in the competition then it’s fairly bleak for a big Irish TV audience.

What’s killing Irish broadcasters is the full non exclusive subscription rights lying with BT.. If this wasn’t open to Irish viewers it would be much more appropriate to RTÉ and VM.

bren2001 · 02-06-2021 11:25am

irishfeen wrote: »

Europa league rights must have been well worth it for VM the last few seasons with Liverpool, United etc reaching the final and the likes of Arsenal and Tottenham competing. Problem is if the English teams don’t turn up or go far in the competition then it’s fairly bleak for a big Irish TV audience.

What’s killing Irish broadcasters is the full non exclusive subscription rights lying with BT.. If this wasn’t open to Irish viewers it would be much more appropriate to RTÉ and VM.

Do you think? If RTE/Virgin had one FTA game on both Tuesday and Wednesday, I'd be very unlikely to subscribe to BT or any exclusive broadcasters for CL. Usually, the game I want is FTA. Very few people will look past United/Liverpool.

Maybe I am just biased as a United supporter.

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 11:30am

bren2001 wrote: »

Do you think? If RTE/Virgin had one FTA game on both Tuesday and Wednesday, I'd be very unlikely to subscribe to BT or any exclusive broadcasters for CL. Usually, the game I want is FTA. Very few people will look past United/Liverpool.

Maybe I am just biased as a United supporter.

2 FTA games per CL round is very very little though. Wouldn’t be enough even for casual viewer I think .. certainly not me anyway

FRIENDO · 02-06-2021 11:33am

It advertise Cast being available on all Live Streams.
So I suppose we will have to wait and see

icdg · 02-06-2021 11:47am

irishfeen wrote: »

2 FTA games per CL round is very very little though. Wouldn’t be enough even for casual viewer I think .. certainly not me anyway

I’d submit that if you’re watching more than two football games over the course of two weekday nights…you’re not really a causal viewer! (Personally, I love the goals show on BT, during the group stages, unless there’s a particular game I really want to watch).

But this is great news, at least for the tech savvy. Every UEFA CL game for free, not tied to any particular tv or broadband provider. Cast promised. Couldn’t ask for more. Mind you, I’m expecting it to be largely world feed basis.

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 11:58am

icdg wrote: »

I’d submit that if you’re watching more than two football games over the course of two weekday nights…you’re not really a causal viewer! (Personally, I love the goals show on BT, during the group stages, unless there’s a particular game I really want to watch).

But this is great news, at least for the tech savvy. Every UEFA CL game for free, not tied to any particular tv or broadband provider. Cast promised. Couldn’t ask for more. Mind you, I’m expecting it to be largely world feed basis.

Your dead right it’s absolutely brilliant news if they can keep the servers up and stream to at least HD 720. As others have said though they will have their work cut out stopping UK and other viewers using VPN’s and overloading the network.

Elmo · 02-06-2021 12:22pm

Dodge wrote: »

They’re showing every game and RTE still wanted the Tuesday games. Plenty of people just don’t like streaming

I assume that they will not have their own dedicated analysis or commentators.

Stewball · 02-06-2021 12:24pm

Will all the UCL games still be available in Ireland on BT?

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 12:25pm

Elmo wrote: »

I assume that they will not have their own dedicated analysis or commentators.

Almost certainly the UEFA world feed

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 12:26pm

Stewball wrote: »

Will all the UCL games still be available in Ireland on BT?

Yes, free on live sport and under subscription on BT.

icdg · 02-06-2021 12:26pm

Stewball wrote: »

Will all the UCL games still be available in Ireland on BT?

Apparently so. Expect it’ll be the only solution for commercial customers.

irishfeen · 02-06-2021 12:29pm

I wonder is this livesport basically using Ireland’s rights as a Guinea pig to push on into major sports rights across Europe. Like it or not streaming is the way forward.

Spn744 · 02-06-2021 12:34pm

No pausing live matches or full match catch up afterwards unfortunately.

“ Hi,

With your new Irish champions league rights can you pause a match live and come back to where you are up to? Also will the full games be available after the match on catch up? ”

“ Thanks for getting in touch regarding our streaming service.

We have recently updated our app which now has an easy-to-use ‘Watch’ section of the site. You’ll be happy to hear you can now quickly and easily find games that are streamed on site along with match highlights and exclusive content you won’t find anywhere else.

You can navigate to our video section by tapping on the ‘Watch’ icon that is located in the middle of our navigation dock at the bottom of the app.

We will also pass on the feedback feature suggestion to our team.

If you need anything else, please let us know.

Team LiveScore
Jamie K”

icdg · 02-06-2021 12:46pm

irishfeen wrote: »

I wonder is this livesport basically using Ireland’s rights as a Guinea pig to push on into major sports rights across Europe. Like it or not streaming is the way forward.

It may well be, but how they will monetise these rights is an interesting one. This may well be one of the first instances of a streamer taking up premium sports rights and attempting to do it for free. Not tied to a broadband or tv subscription, not connected with an existing broadcaster, not requiring you to have a gambling account of some sort.

And they outbid VMTV, so presumably they didn’t pick up these rights for peanuts.

UEFA Champions League 21-24: FTA on RTE&VMTV, LiveScore other matches

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