[Ralph the Cat]

I hope PS keep the NHL. It would be nice to have more intermission coverage, but they at least went out and got HNIC, Hockey Tonight and After Hours.

They listen to their subscribers and are responsive. ESPN treat their subscribers like pond life and I'll be glad should that channel disappear into oblivion along with Craig Burley.

[wolvesdavid]

Originally Posted by Ralph the Cat

ESPN treat their subscribers like pond life

???

Lets be honest Premier Sports is a niche channel and half the suggestions on their facebook page are: "Can you show live coverage of Australian frisby!" "Actually can you show live 10 pin bowling from the local strikers."

Its not really the way to run a big sports channel by listening to views on facebook.

[ep1987]

I have subscribed to ESPN from the beginning and have never had a reply to any of my queries (about five in total).

[NitaJez]

You are unlucky - I always get a response to email sent to them (ESPN) - and I have sent quite a few. The last one was last week about an issue with a football game they showed.

Premier Sports used to be good on their Facebook page but have got considerably worse. Just look at all the unanswered questions.

[Ralph the Cat]

Originally Posted by wolvesdavid

???

Lets be honest Premier Sports is a niche channel and half the suggestions on their facebook page are: "Can you show live coverage of Australian frisby!" "Actually can you show live 10 pin bowling from the local strikers."

Its not really the way to run a big sports channel by listening to views on facebook.

It is one way in which they listen to subscribers. The key word being, 'listen'.

I know that from the 'listening', we got full coverage of HNIC with pre and post game shows. We also got over 330 games whereas ESPNA European subscribers lived off scraps. Which is why I'd like to see PS's relationship continue with the NHL.

The coverage on PS started off dreadfully, but they progressed throughout the season - it is a small operation, but they are developing and I don't think it is a problem at all, them using social media to interact with their subscriber base.

ESPNA on the other hand rarely answered any legitimate queries regardless of the platform used to raise them.

[NitaJez]

Originally Posted by Ralph the Cat

It is one way in which they listen to subscribers. The key word being, 'listen'.

I know that from the 'listening', we got full coverage of HNIC with pre and post game shows. We also got over 330 games whereas ESPNA European subscribers lived off scraps. Which is why I'd like to see PS's relationship continue with the NHL.

The coverage on PS started off dreadfully, but they progressed throughout the season - it is a small operation, but they are developing and I don't think it is a problem at all, them using social media to interact with their subscriber base.

ESPNA on the other hand rarely answered any legitimate queries regardless of the platform used to raise them.

Sorry the NHL coverage was a big step backwards. No intermission (except HNIC during a part of the regular season), No HD and at times sub standard SD pictures. There is no excuse for not having an HD sports channel despite what people think. Fine increase the subs to £9 a month (ie what ESPN is) but an HD channel is required.

I am not soley blaming Premier Sports really for the NHL coverage as the NHL has a big part in this. They stated overall coverage in the UK would improve...it did not. Premier Sport may have shown more games but the quality of the produce was severely lacking.

Looking at their facebook page, there were loads of unanswered questions, so I do not think they are much better at responding than ESPN / ESPNA.

In fact can you actually post on their wall anymore, other than responses to points raised by them?

[Ralph the Cat]

Originally Posted by NitaJez

Sorry the NHL coverage was a big step backwards. No intermission (except HNIC during a part of the regular season), No HD and at times sub standard SD pictures. There is no excuse for not having an HD sports channel despite what people think. Fine increase the subs to £9 a month (ie what ESPN is) but an HD channel is required.

I am not soley blaming Premier Sports really for the NHL coverage as the NHL has a big part in this. They stated overall coverage in the UK would improve...it did not. Premier Sport may have shown more games but the quality of the produce was severely lacking.

Looking at their facebook page, there were loads of unanswered questions, so I do not think they are much better at responding than ESPN / ESPNA.

In fact can you actually post on their wall anymore, other than responses to points raised by them?

There is a huge amount of context missing in your post which does contain some valid points,

PS are a very small operation that took advantage of a situation at extremely short notice. Throughout the year the improved from a base of no knowledge whatsoever of what they were doing in relation to hockey and consistently improving their offering from a low base and doing it within budgetary constraints.

While that offering in terms of quality does not (yet) match what happened before, they moved in the right direction. ESPNA were moving in the opposite direction. Also, the amount of coverage absolutely deficates on the ESPNA offering on their European feeds - feeds which I believe also offered no intermission coverage.

And as for responses - ESPNA couldn't/wouldn't via FB or official channels even answer or acknowledge basic questions such as, "what sports will I as a subscriber get for my money"? Not even a holding reply until their FB pages became swamped with queries over a prolonged period.

[NitaJez]

Originally Posted by Ralph the Cat

There is a huge amount of context missing in your post which does contain some valid points,

PS are a very small operation that took advantage of a situation at extremely short notice. Throughout the year the improved from a base of no knowledge whatsoever of what they were doing in relation to hockey and consistently improving their offering from a low base and doing it within budgetary constraints.

While that offering in terms of quality does not (yet) match what happened before, they moved in the right direction. ESPNA were moving in the opposite direction. Also, the amount of coverage absolutely deficates on the ESPNA offering on their European feeds - feeds which I believe also offered no intermission coverage.

I dont agree ESPNA were moving in the opposite direction, they lost the NHL rights in the UK basically because they lost them in Scandinavia and ESPN main channel is the home to the NBA and could therefore not take NHL.



And as for responses - ESPNA couldn't/wouldn't via FB or official channels even answer or acknowledge basic questions such as, "what sports will I as a subscriber get for my money"? Not even a holding reply until their FB pages became swamped with queries over a prolonged period.

The ESPNA European coverage did have intermission from what I have been told as it was broadcast from ESPN in the US as all ESPNA programming is... not the NHL sat feed.

I admit ESPNA's European coverage had less than Premier Sport - that is no doubt and I therefore think PS could have a great little package. They have the influence of Setanta and just need to become more professional in their presentation.

Remember when NASN launched they had NHL intermission coverage from the start. At the time they were owned by a small Company too.

I would subscribe to PS, but they need to move to HD.

Another big problem is that the NHL loses a lot of viewers as PS has no cable access.

[yvonne]

We did not subscribe to Premier Sport this year as the coverage was not worth the cost. Premier Sport have a great little set up and some nice rights. They can survive quite easily just like NASN / ESPNA have.
I do agree however that they need an HD channel in this modern day. The NHL needs to buck up their coverage on PS too with intermission.
Virgin - not an issue for us but a big hole for the NHL
In connection with Facebook yes Premier Sports responses have gone downhill and in fact you can not post questions or articles onto their page anymore which you can with ESPNA. So in reality you are not going to get much in the way of responses from either. I do not know why PS have done this.
A good option would be for PS and ESPN to merge their rights in the UK.

[Ralph the Cat]

Originally Posted by NitaJez

The ESPNA European coverage did have intermission from what I have been told as it was broadcast from ESPN in the US as all ESPNA programming is... not the NHL sat feed.

I admit ESPNA's European coverage had less than Premier Sport - that is no doubt and I therefore think PS could have a great little package. They have the influence of Setanta and just need to become more professional in their presentation.

Remember when NASN launched they had NHL intermission coverage from the start. At the time they were owned by a small Company too.

I would subscribe to PS, but they need to move to HD.

Another big problem is that the NHL loses a lot of viewers as PS has no cable access.

Yeah,I checked further, ESPNA in Europe did have the intermission coverage, though the rights in the States are held by NBC and their sports channel.

Hopefully PS can continue to expand their offering in terms of HD and intermission coverage beyond HNIC. It would also be good if they could pick up a highlights package.

But considering where we were at the start of the season - we got a reasonably good deal - if you had a Sky Box. PS need to be available across a wider range of platforms.

I had GCL and picked up PS when they announced the HNIC deal.

[rawman]

ESPN will not take on the conference football, they said so after Setanta went bust. It doesn't fit under their mantra of top sporting action.

[suffolkblue]

Originally Posted by Ralph the Cat

I hope PS keep the NHL. It would be nice to have more intermission coverage, but they at least went out and got HNIC, Hockey Tonight and After Hours.

They listen to their subscribers and are responsive. ESPN treat their subscribers like pond life and I'll be glad should that channel disappear into oblivion along with Craig Burley.

Although i have ESPN i agree with that comment. Premier are in talks with the NHL at the moment so its anyones guess what happens next year although they did say they would keep people informed once they know about next years NHL which apparently will be soon.

[Mollie_Turner]

So with the Europa league and Champions League draws made today, do we think Premier Sports will pick up any of the Scottish/Irish/Welsh games?

[wolvesdavid]

Champions League is:

1st qualifying round:

Linfield (Northern Ireland) v B36 Torshavn (Faroe Islands)

Winners play AEL Limassol (Cyprus) in 2nd qualifying round.

2nd qualifying round confirmed ties:

Shamrock Rovers (Republic of Ireland) v Ekranas (Lithuania)
The New Saints (Wales) v Helsingborg (Sweden)

Celtic and Motherwell come into the competition in the 3rd qualifying round.

All the English clubs are already in the group stages.

[wolvesdavid]

The 1st round for either British or Irish clubs in the Europa League looks like this:

Wales:

MYPA (Finland) v Cefn Druids
Winners play Rapid Bucuresti (Romania) in the 2nd qualifying round.

KuPS (Finland) v Llanelli
Winners play Maccabi Netanya (Israel) in the 2nd qualifying round.

Zimbru Chisinau (Moldova) v Bangor City
Winners play Young Boys (Switzerland) in the 2nd qualifying round.

Northern Ireland:

Rosenborg (Norway) v Crusaders
Winners play winners of Jagodina (Serbia) v Ordabasy (Kazakhstan) in the 2nd qualifying round.

Kalmar FF (Sweden) v Cliftonville
Winners play winners of FC Santa Coloma (Andorra) v Osijek (Croatia) in the 2nd qualifying round.

Shkendija (Macedonia) v Portadown
Winners play Slaven Belupo (Croatia) in the 2nd qualfying round.

Republic of Ireland:

Bohemians v Þór Akureyri (Iceland)
Winners play Mlada Boleslav (Czech Republic) in the 2nd qualifying round.

St. Patrick's Athletic v IBV (Iceland)
Winners play Siroki Brijeg (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in the 2nd qualifying round.

Then confirmed ties in the 2nd qualifying round involving British and Irish clubs are as follows:

Eskisehirspor (Turkey) v St Johnstone

Spartak Trnava (Slokavia) v Sligo Rovers

In the 3rd qualifying round Liverpool and Dundee United enter the competition.

In the playoff round Newcastle United and Hearts enter the competition.

In the group stage Tottenham enter the competition.

[Ian Cleverly]

Hereford United V Macclesfield chosen as the first TV fixture for the 2012/13 Blue Square BET Premier, with a 7.30pm KO on the 13th August.

Source: Hereford United on Twitter

[suffolkblue]

Premier sports have confirmed they have got the NHL for the next 4 years mote on their facebook page they will be showing 400 games this season.

[yvonne]

Originally Posted by suffolkblue

Premier sports have confirmed they have got the NHL for the next 4 years mote on their facebook page they will be showing 400 games this season.

That is a lot of games. 2 a night I believe. So not sure what else the channel will be showing. Luckily PS do not have much sport to show. No other channel could have got anywhere near that number of games. Good on them to pick up the rights.

Let us hope they get intermission and HD for the season otherwise a lot we know will still not be subscribing as SD is so out of date for a sports channel.

Edit - Also need intermission and a highlights show as well.

[DuncanEmery]

Originally Posted by rawman

ESPN will not take on the conference football, they said so after Setanta went bust. It doesn't fit under their mantra of top sporting action.

I have links to a conference club that is not the reason they were given, and a deal was discussed at length and Ray Stubbs thought it had been done, but seems it fell down over filming costs + sponsorship.
If it didn't fit under their "mantra of top sporting action" then they wasted a lot of time discussing it.

A great move by Premier sports to take it up and their name became known very quickly because of this in non league football circles.

[suffolkblue]

Premier wanted to show 40 Blue Sq games this season but the conference said you can only show 30. Dont know why though as surely the more games they show the better it is for the conference.

[wolvesdavid]

I think the conference would have been better off having fewer games live but them all being on Sky Sports.

[popeye13]

Originally Posted by wolvesdavid

I think the conference would have been better off having fewer games live but them all being on Sky Sports.

This obsession that all things sport should be on Sky Sports is enough to make me want to vomit its so childish!
Sky are not the be-all and end-all of sports and actually, i think Premier Sports gave the Blue Square Premier League a good covering last season.

[suffolkblue]

Agreed snods is classic and a good laugh. My only wish is HD now but hopefully it will happen soon. Premier said they want to pick up more sports before going HD so I guess its see what happens.

[Ian Cleverly]

Originally Posted by Premier Sports on Facebook

Premier Sports have announced the first batch of fixtures that outlines the live broadcast of Conference Blue Square Bet Premier games until the end of 2012.

19 of the 24 clubs feature at least once and the intention will be to get as many teams on television throughout the season.

We hope the choice of dates and decision to publish live fixtures until the end of the year would mean knock on affects did not occur and fans would be in a position to make travel arrangements well in advance.

The channel also confirmed that the well respected line-up of Steve Bower, Ian Snodin and Claire Rourke will continue to present the coverage.

Friday 10 August
Hereford United v Macclesfield Town 19:30 KO

Friday 17th August
Hyde v Luton Town 19:30 KO

Saturday 25th August
Wrexham v Grimsby Town 17:15 KO

Saturday 15th September
Cambridge United v AFC Telford 17:15 KO

Friday 21st September
Grimsby Town v Luton Town 19:45 KO

Friday 28th September
Forest Green Rovers v Lincoln City 19:45 KO

Wednesday 10th October
Stockport County v Wrexham 19:45 KO

Saturday 13th October
Gateshead v Cambridge United 17:15 KO

Friday 26th October
Dartford v Mansfield Town 19:45 KO

Friday 9th November
Alfreton Town v Newport County 19:45 KO

Thursday 15th November
Mansfield Town v Luton Town 19:45 KO

Friday 30th November
Southport v Lincoln City 19:45 KO

Friday 7th December
Barrow v Hereford United 19:45 KO

Saturday 29th December
Forest Green Rovers v Kidderminster Harriers 17:15 KO

Taken from Here

[wolvesdavid]

Originally Posted by popeye13

This obsession that all things sport should be on Sky Sports is enough to make me want to vomit its so childish!
Sky are not the be-all and end-all of sports and actually, i think Premier Sports gave the Blue Square Premier League a good covering last season.

The point is hardly anyone subscribes to it though.

The conference would have been better off getting more viewers with less matches on Sky, in my opinion. Its not just about how many live matches can be screened on a channel when most of the time there is another live match on another channel anyway!