Well that is better than nothing I suppose, but the first weeks games only are free, after that it is pretty useless than, unless you are willing to fork out extra money I suppose.
And planning to have a weekly game, is different to confirming having one free, so I am not getting my hopes up about that until it is confirmed.
I wonder what the problem is with the NBA and getting a TV deal over here? Why do they always leave things so late when other sports sort their rights out months if not years before they're due to start?
It's not like they have a shortage of potential partners - Sky, BT, Premier, 5 have shown NBA before as well. All I can assume is they're asking too much and nobody's willing to pay what they're asking? I find it hard to believe that there's genuinely no broadcasters interested in showing NBA at all, so surely it must be a question of price?
Well that is better than nothing I suppose, but the first weeks games only are free, after that it is pretty useless than, unless you are willing to fork out extra money I suppose.
And planning to have a weekly game, is different to confirming having one free, so I am not getting my hopes up about that until it is confirmed.
I presume its planned in that if they get no UK TV deal then they will go ahead to keep some profile, but as soon as they get a TV deal here even if its pay TV then they will drop the idea.
I wonder what the problem is with the NBA and getting a TV deal over here? Why do they always leave things so late when other sports sort their rights out months if not years before they're due to start?
It's not like they have a shortage of potential partners - Sky, BT, Premier, 5 have shown NBA before as well. All I can assume is they're asking too much and nobody's willing to pay what they're asking? I find it hard to believe that there's genuinely no broadcasters interested in showing NBA at all, so surely it must be a question of price?
NFL have been the same leaving the deal until the last minute.
I think C5 have lost interest in US sports as they gave up MLB and NFL even when they could have continued MLB for a token fee, as they make more money from their through the night gambling show.
It is realistically only Sky or BT in the running as Premier have NHL. Also with timings the only games of any value are the Sunday night double header as that's UK Primetime. The problem is they won't show that when NFL is on as they won't want to take out two channels on the Sunday night when they already have La Liga, Golf and potentially other stuff like Darts or Tennis as well.
Agree it is probably price as we discussed last year the middle of the night games have minimal value outside the playoffs to a UK broadcaster and NBA probably want cash for them.
I wonder if that weekly free streamed game would almost certainly be one of the earlier Sunday tip-offs most weeks, early Saturday when there isn't one (then later Saturday when there isn't one of those!), it would be next to useless if it was 3am weeknights!
The feeling from fans on NBA UK's Facebook page is that no TV deal is a strategy to boost sign ups to the League Pass, and when sign ups start to slow down a TV deal will appear. Given the huge price they're charging for it, I can see why they might want to increase sign ups for the League Pass.
The feeling from fans on NBA UK's Facebook page is that no TV deal is a strategy to boost sign ups to the League Pass, and when sign ups start to slow down a TV deal will appear. Given the huge price they're charging for it, I can see why they might want to increase sign ups for the League Pass.
I can't imagine the take up being that great given that a large proportion of games will be through the night and we won't have means to record the games unless you're very tech clever.
I used to just Sky+ the Heat games and watch the back the following evening. I'm a big NBA fan but not to the point where I'd subscribe purely for NBA content.
It's a bit disappointing but I suppose with a 82 game regular season followed by best of 7 play offs then I am ok to wait until after the NFL finishes.
I know it's all about TV money and filling schedules but the length of the season and number of games is ridiculous.
I want to say that's encouraging, but "closing in" could mean anything. It doesn't specify how far away they are from agreeing a deal (the article may do, but I can't access it)
Not having games on UK TV is one aspect. The other is that the NBA League Pass Monthly Membership rose by $2 before the Manchester game and by another $2 again today (ahead of the end of the Free Trial) to either $24 or $29 per month (£15 or £18). The annual price is 2-3 times that in other territories and 2-3 times the price of the MLB and NHL equivalents over here.
But to me the monthly pass price increases almost smack of unfair practice.
Both Premium and Standard packages have gone up by $4 since 2nd October (with 2x$2 increases since that time, this excluding any early bird deals)!
Not having games on UK TV is one aspect. The other is that the NBA League Pass Monthly Membership rose by $2 before the Manchester game and by another $2 again today (ahead of the end of the Free Trial) to either $24 or $29 per month (£15 or £18). The annual price is 2-3 times that in other territories and 2-3 times the price of the MLB and NHL equivalents over here.
But to me the monthly pass price increases almost smack of unfair practice.
Both Premium and Standard packages have gone up by $4 since 2nd October (with 2x$2 increases since that time, this excluding an early bird deals)!
It is very unfair, seeing as that is the only real way to watch the games (well legally anyway).
I am just mightly peed off about the whole situation.
As much as it goes against being able to watch the games legally, the only way to really make a point is if everyone who would have bought the league pass, doesn't. They'll soon do something, whether that be a TV deal or a cheaper pass, when they notice declining revenues from it. The current price is ridiculous.
Comments
Do you know something that no-one else seems to know?
Indeed. I don't know why they make these things so complicated.
Sarcasm...but that is what we should have if you compare many other European countries NBA coverage.
Internet / online coverage is expensive and only for those with great download limits / bandwidth...
NBA should get moving with tv deal!
1- We are working tirelessly to secure a TV deal for you our fans. We will let you know more as soon as we can.
2- You can watch the first week of games live and on demand for FREE with NBA League Pass at http://on.nba.com/ViiLOa
3 - For the first time in the UK, we are planning on a weekly FREE streamed game. More info to come!
https://www.facebook.com/nbauk
And planning to have a weekly game, is different to confirming having one free, so I am not getting my hopes up about that until it is confirmed.
It's not like they have a shortage of potential partners - Sky, BT, Premier, 5 have shown NBA before as well. All I can assume is they're asking too much and nobody's willing to pay what they're asking? I find it hard to believe that there's genuinely no broadcasters interested in showing NBA at all, so surely it must be a question of price?
I presume its planned in that if they get no UK TV deal then they will go ahead to keep some profile, but as soon as they get a TV deal here even if its pay TV then they will drop the idea.
NFL have been the same leaving the deal until the last minute.
I think C5 have lost interest in US sports as they gave up MLB and NFL even when they could have continued MLB for a token fee, as they make more money from their through the night gambling show.
It is realistically only Sky or BT in the running as Premier have NHL. Also with timings the only games of any value are the Sunday night double header as that's UK Primetime. The problem is they won't show that when NFL is on as they won't want to take out two channels on the Sunday night when they already have La Liga, Golf and potentially other stuff like Darts or Tennis as well.
Agree it is probably price as we discussed last year the middle of the night games have minimal value outside the playoffs to a UK broadcaster and NBA probably want cash for them.
If they want to grow the league, and be as big as say the Premier League, then they surely have to get a tv deal over here?
Watching games over the internet, is no real compromise to having games on the tv.
I can't imagine the take up being that great given that a large proportion of games will be through the night and we won't have means to record the games unless you're very tech clever.
I used to just Sky+ the Heat games and watch the back the following evening. I'm a big NBA fan but not to the point where I'd subscribe purely for NBA content.
I know it's all about TV money and filling schedules but the length of the season and number of games is ridiculous.
Sportcal @sportcal 5m
#NBA 'closing in' on UK television rights deal with 2013-14 season under way @nba http://www.sportcal.com/news/news_article.aspx?articleid=95980 … (£)
Sportcal @sportcal 2m
#NBA 'closing in' on UK television rights deal with 2013-14 season under way @nba http://www.sportcal.com/news/news_article.aspx?articleid=95980 … (£)
*sorry - I posted exact same time as above!
Can anyone access the page and maybe cut and paste it in here?
But to me the monthly pass price increases almost smack of unfair practice.
Both Premium and Standard packages have gone up by $4 since 2nd October (with 2x$2 increases since that time, this excluding any early bird deals)!
It is very unfair, seeing as that is the only real way to watch the games (well legally anyway).
I am just mightly peed off about the whole situation.
See here..
http://www.btplc.com/News/Articles/ShowArticle.cfm?ArticleID=C4B9B631-E4FF-454B-82C5-D32F2B1D0C0C
Fantastic news!
Shame that D-Rose is injured once again though!
74 games up to and including the 1st of Feb. All 51 national broadcasts (ABC/ESPN/TNT) at first glance with an additional 23 fixtures.
A very good spread of games (only teams not shown are Orlando, Milwaukee, Charlotte, New Orleans, Sacramento and New Orleans).