I'm intrigued why you think Sky have got the better games here, because I would argue that BT easily have the top games in terms of English sides, as they should given that they get the first 3 picks. If you look at just the English sides games in the Champions Cup (as this is were the ratings and greatest interest are) we get...
SKY SPORTS Round 1
Sat 14 Nov / 15:15 / Saracens v Toulouse
Sun 15 Nov / 17:15 / Ospreys v Exeter Chiefs
Round 2
Sat 21 Nov / 13:00 / Benetton Treviso v Leicester Tigers
Sat 21 Nov / 17:15 / Glasgow Warriors v Northampton Saints
Round 3
Sat 12 Dec / 17:15 / Exeter Chiefs v Clermont Auvergne
Sun 13 Dec / 13:00 / Oyonnax v Saracens
Round 4
Sat 19 Dec / 13:00 / Saracens v Oyonnax
Sun 20 Dec / 15:15 / Clermont Auvergne v Exeter Chiefs
BT SPORT Round 1
Fri 13 Nov / 19:45 / Leicester Tigers v Stade Français
Sat 14 Nov / 19:45 / Northampton Saints v Scarlets
Sun 15 Nov / 13:00 / Leinster v Wasps
Sun 15 Nov / 15:15 / Toulon v Bath
Round 2
Fri 20 Nov / 19:45 / Ulster v Saracens
Sat 21 Nov / 15:15 / Bath v Leinster
Sat 21 Nov / 19:45 / Exeter Chiefs v Bordeaux-Bègles
Sun 22 Nov / 17:15 / Wasps v Toulon
Round 3
Sat 12 Dec / 15:15 / Racing 92 v Northampton Saints
Sat 12 Dec / 19:45 / Munster v Leicester Tigers
Sun 13 Dec / 17:15 / Wasps v Bath
Round 4
Fri 18 Dec / 19:45 / Northampton Saints v Racing 92
Sat 19 Dec / 15:15 / Bath v Wasps
Sun 20 Dec / 17:15 / Leicester Tigers v Munster
Which set of games would everyone rather have? BT win this easily, as they should.
Two reasons really:
1) The top French and Celtic teams can be just as good to watch, and have a decent number of big names to see play.
2) I'm a Saracens fan.
I agree that in theory BT have a much better deal, at least during the group stages whilst there are still plenty of English teams involved playing big, attractive games, and they're certainly best placed to get the majority of the games from Pool 5 (in fact every game but the two legs of Leinster-Toulon presuming they pick them in their top 3).
Are ITV's rights up after the World Cup, and if so are they likely to retain full rights or share them with say BT or loose them altogether.
I believe the contract is for 2011 and 2015, so yes, although with them taking over regular Six Nations games they will probably be better placed to retain the RWC rights for 2019.
Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to see a pay channel taking over some of the rights, and given the fact that the final is protected, I would suggest that BT are slightly more likely to be willing to work with BBC/ITV/C4 than Sky.
I wouldn't be surprised to see BT/Sky have every match, with selected games and highlights on BBC/ITV/C4/C5.
I believe the contract is for 2011 and 2015, so yes, although with them taking over regular Six Nations games they will probably be better placed to retain the RWC rights for 2019.
Anyone know if they are they going to sell the 2019 rights separately, or bundle them with the 2023 rights? 2019 is in Japan so you'd expect games in early morning timeslots but then 2023 is going to be a European or South Africa tournament with more favourable timeslots for games.
Anyone know if they are they going to sell the 2019 rights separately, or bundle them with the 2023 rights? 2019 is in Japan so you'd expect games in early morning timeslots but then 2023 is going to be a European or South Africa tournament with more favourable timeslots for games.
That would be a similar situation to 2011/2015 then, although Japan is only UTC+9, compared to New Zealand's UTC+12. An 11am kickoff for the final (UK time) would not be unreasonable, and this would be 8pm in Japan.
Anyone know if they are they going to sell the 2019 rights separately, or bundle them with the 2023 rights? 2019 is in Japan so you'd expect games in early morning timeslots but then 2023 is going to be a European or South Africa tournament with more favourable timeslots for games.
It took it's time, but now the competition details have finally been nailed down, SANZAR has announced it's long awaited new five year deal with Sky Sports
I'm intrigued why you think Sky have got the better games here, because I would argue that BT easily have the top games in terms of English sides, as they should given that they get the first 3 picks. If you look at just the English sides games in the Champions Cup (as this is were the ratings and greatest interest are) we get...
SKY SPORTS Round 1
Sat 14 Nov / 15:15 / Saracens v Toulouse
Sun 15 Nov / 17:15 / Ospreys v Exeter Chiefs
Round 2
Sat 21 Nov / 13:00 / Benetton Treviso v Leicester Tigers
Sat 21 Nov / 17:15 / Glasgow Warriors v Northampton Saints
Round 3
Sat 12 Dec / 17:15 / Exeter Chiefs v Clermont Auvergne
Sun 13 Dec / 13:00 / Oyonnax v Saracens
Round 4
Sat 19 Dec / 13:00 / Saracens v Oyonnax
Sun 20 Dec / 15:15 / Clermont Auvergne v Exeter Chiefs
BT SPORT Round 1
Fri 13 Nov / 19:45 / Leicester Tigers v Stade Français
Sat 14 Nov / 19:45 / Northampton Saints v Scarlets
Sun 15 Nov / 13:00 / Leinster v Wasps
Sun 15 Nov / 15:15 / Toulon v Bath
Round 2
Fri 20 Nov / 19:45 / Ulster v Saracens
Sat 21 Nov / 15:15 / Bath v Leinster
Sat 21 Nov / 19:45 / Exeter Chiefs v Bordeaux-Bègles
Sun 22 Nov / 17:15 / Wasps v Toulon
Round 3
Sat 12 Dec / 15:15 / Racing 92 v Northampton Saints
Sat 12 Dec / 19:45 / Munster v Leicester Tigers
Sun 13 Dec / 17:15 / Wasps v Bath
Round 4
Fri 18 Dec / 19:45 / Northampton Saints v Racing 92
Sat 19 Dec / 15:15 / Bath v Wasps
Sun 20 Dec / 17:15 / Leicester Tigers v Munster
Which set of games would everyone rather have? BT win this easily, as they should.
Sky have the much stronger lineup if you're an Exeter or Saracens fan. Where as BT have gone for Bath and Wasps, depends which team you support really.
Yokohama Stadium, which staged the 2002 football World Cup final, will host the final because of delays in building the new National Stadium but i think it will be brilliant. My wife & I are already saving to go!
Yokohama Stadium, which staged the 2002 football World Cup final, will host the final because of delays in building the new National Stadium but i think it will be brilliant. My wife & I are already saving to go!
Not now no, but my post was from before, and eluding to, the meeting at the end of September at which Japan 2023 had to pitch and present those changes for ratification. At that point movement to a Southern Hemisphere nation was still firmly a Plan B if necessary
It took it's time, but now the competition details have finally been nailed down, SANZAR has announced it's long awaited new five year deal with Sky Sports
In essence nothing. The story of a deal has been run repeatedly in media outlets, here and in Australia, over the past year, but because of other SANZAR related reasons (mentioned in earlier posts) it's taken until today for them and Sky to officially confirm it
From the trails they are running it looks like BT will keep the theme going from football and will be showing most of this years competition on BT Sport Europe
The TV picks for the remainder of the Champions and Challenge Cup pool stage, including rescheduled matches, have been announced:
SKY SPORTS
Postponed Games from Rounds 1 & 2
Sat 9 Jan / 13:00 / Racing 92 v Glasgow Warriors
Sat 9 Jan / 16:45 / Stade Français v Munster
Sun 10 Jan / 13:00 / Oyonnax v Ulster
Round 5
Fri 15 Jan / 19:45 / Ospreys v Clermont Auvergne
Sat 16 Jan / 13:00 / Munster v Stade Français
Sat 16 Jan / 13:00 / Bordeaux-Bègles v Exeter Chiefs
Sat 16 Jan / 17:30 / Leinster v Bath
Sun 17 Jan / 13:00 / Racing 92 v Scarlets Sun 17 Jan / 15:15 / Harlequins v Cardiff Blues
Round 6 Thu 21 Jan / 19:45 / Sale Sharks v Newport Gwent Dragons
Sat 23 Jan / 13:00 / Ulster v Oyonnax
Sat 23 Jan / 13:00 / Toulouse v Saracens
Sat 23 Jan / 17:30 / Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92
Sat 23 Jan / 17:30 / Scarlets v Northampton Saints
Sun 24 Jan / 15:15 / Clermont Auvergne v Bordeaux-Bègles
BT SPORT
Postponed Games from Rounds 1 & 2
Fri 8 Jan / 19:45 / Bordeaux-Bègles v Clermont Auvergne
Sun 10 Jan / 15:15 / Toulon v Bath
Round 5 Fri 15 Jan / 19:45 / Newport Gwent Dragons v Castres
Sat 16 Jan / 15:15 / Saracens v Ulster
Sat 16 Jan / 15:15 / Oyonnax v Toulouse
Sat 16 Jan / 19:45 / Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso
Sun 17 Jan / 15:15 / Toulon v Wasps
Sun 17 Jan / 17:30 / Northampton Saints v Glasgow Warriors
Round 6 Fri 22 Jan / 19:45 / Montpellier v Harlequins
Sat 23 Jan / 15:15 / Bath v Toulon
Sat 23 Jan / 15:15 / Wasps v Leinster
Sun 24 Jan / 13:00 / Benetton Treviso v Munster
Sun 24 Jan / 13:00 / Stade Français v Leicester Tigers
Sun 24 Jan / 15:15 / Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys
The TV picks for the remainder of the Champions and Challenge Cup pool stage, including rescheduled matches, have been announced:
SKY SPORTS
Postponed Games from Rounds 1 & 2
Sat 9 Jan / 13:00 / Racing 92 v Glasgow Warriors
Sat 9 Jan / 16:45 / Stade Français v Munster
Sun 10 Jan / 13:00 / Oyonnax v Ulster
Round 5
Fri 15 Jan / 19:45 / Ospreys v Clermont Auvergne
Sat 16 Jan / 13:00 / Munster v Stade Français
Sat 16 Jan / 13:00 / Bordeaux-Bègles v Exeter Chiefs
Sat 16 Jan / 17:30 / Leinster v Bath
Sun 17 Jan / 13:00 / Racing 92 v Scarlets Sun 17 Jan / 15:15 / Harlequins v Cardiff Blues
Round 6 Thu 21 Jan / 19:45 / Sale Sharks v Newport Gwent Dragons
Sat 23 Jan / 13:00 / Ulster v Oyonnax
Sat 23 Jan / 13:00 / Toulouse v Saracens
Sat 23 Jan / 17:30 / Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92
Sat 23 Jan / 17:30 / Scarlets v Northampton Saints
Sun 24 Jan / 15:15 / Clermont Auvergne v Bordeaux-Bègles
BT SPORT
Postponed Games from Rounds 1 & 2
Fri 8 Jan / 19:45 / Bordeaux-Bègles v Clermont Auvergne
Sun 10 Jan / 15:15 / Toulon v Bath
Round 5 Fri 15 Jan / 19:45 / Newport Gwent Dragons v Castres
Sat 16 Jan / 15:15 / Saracens v Ulster
Sat 16 Jan / 15:15 / Oyonnax v Toulouse
Sat 16 Jan / 19:45 / Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso
Sun 17 Jan / 15:15 / Toulon v Wasps
Sun 17 Jan / 17:30 / Northampton Saints v Glasgow Warriors
Round 6 Fri 22 Jan / 19:45 / Montpellier v Harlequins
Sat 23 Jan / 15:15 / Bath v Toulon
Sat 23 Jan / 15:15 / Wasps v Leinster
Sun 24 Jan / 13:00 / Benetton Treviso v Munster
Sun 24 Jan / 13:00 / Stade Français v Leicester Tigers
Sun 24 Jan / 15:15 / Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys
Would say atm Round 5 is pretty much even (although that could change after the rescheduled games) Sky have the better of the Saturday games and BT the Sunday.
Hard to say about Round 6 until nearer the time, one or two of the games could easily turn out to be dead rubbers
If the TV picks for the QFs work the way I think (BT get to pick two games involving English teams in the Champions Cup, Sky in the Challenge Cup, with the other broadcaster picking up the other two games) then I would hazard a guess at the following:
Champions Cup
Saracens v Northampton Saints - BT
Leicester Tigers v Stade Français - Sky
Wasps v Exeter Chiefs - BT
Racing 92 v Toulon - Sky
Challenge Cup
Harlequins v London Irish - Sky
Gloucester v Newport Gwent Dragons - Sky
Sale Sharks v Montpellier - BT
Grenoble v Connacht - BT
If the TV picks for the QFs work the way I think (BT get to pick two games involving English teams in the Champions Cup, Sky in the Challenge Cup, with the other broadcaster picking up the other two games) then I would hazard a guess at the following:
Champions Cup
Saracens v Northampton Saints - BT
Leicester Tigers v Stade Français - Sky
Wasps v Exeter Chiefs - BT
Racing 92 v Toulon - Sky
Challenge Cup
Harlequins v London Irish - Sky
Gloucester v Newport Gwent Dragons - Sky
Sale Sharks v Montpellier - BT
Grenoble v Connacht - BT
Alex Payne said on air that Sky will be showing Saracens/Northampton and Racing 92 vs Toulon
Alex Payne said on air that Sky will be showing Saracens/Northampton and Racing 92 vs Toulon
Those picks were made quickly!
Presumably it doesn't work like I thought then as you'd think Sarries-Saints would be the first-picked game involving an English team (or two in this case).
It has certainly paid off for the French & English clubs the way they threw their toys out the pram and threatened to boycott the competition a few years ago. Not a celtic country in sight, in the main competition. Having more French and English teams in the competition makes it fairer on everyone else of course......not
Isn't from QF onwards not a simple BT 1-3 SKY 2-4 picks wise in the Heineken Cup with the reversal in the Challenge Cup?
I don't know - have they ever publicly spoken about their pick system for the knockouts?
If that was the case last year then quite possibly the reverse system is used this year, which is why Sky have picked up Sarries-Saints (unless one of the other 3 is more attractive?).
Comments
Think you mean Saracens vs Toulouse as Toulon are in a different pool.
Two reasons really:
1) The top French and Celtic teams can be just as good to watch, and have a decent number of big names to see play.
2) I'm a Saracens fan.
I agree that in theory BT have a much better deal, at least during the group stages whilst there are still plenty of English teams involved playing big, attractive games, and they're certainly best placed to get the majority of the games from Pool 5 (in fact every game but the two legs of Leinster-Toulon presuming they pick them in their top 3).
Quite right, serves me right for using predictive.
I believe the contract is for 2011 and 2015, so yes, although with them taking over regular Six Nations games they will probably be better placed to retain the RWC rights for 2019.
Having said that, I wouldn't be surprised to see a pay channel taking over some of the rights, and given the fact that the final is protected, I would suggest that BT are slightly more likely to be willing to work with BBC/ITV/C4 than Sky.
I wouldn't be surprised to see BT/Sky have every match, with selected games and highlights on BBC/ITV/C4/C5.
Anyone know if they are they going to sell the 2019 rights separately, or bundle them with the 2023 rights? 2019 is in Japan so you'd expect games in early morning timeslots but then 2023 is going to be a European or South Africa tournament with more favourable timeslots for games.
That would be a similar situation to 2011/2015 then, although Japan is only UTC+9, compared to New Zealand's UTC+12. An 11am kickoff for the final (UK time) would not be unreasonable, and this would be 8pm in Japan.
2019 is currently in Japan.......
http://www.sanzarrugby.com/superrugby/news/sky-sports-secures-uk-rights/
Sky have the much stronger lineup if you're an Exeter or Saracens fan. Where as BT have gone for Bath and Wasps, depends which team you support really.
I see no reason for it to change.
Yokohama Stadium, which staged the 2002 football World Cup final, will host the final because of delays in building the new National Stadium but i think it will be brilliant. My wife & I are already saving to go!
Not now no, but my post was from before, and eluding to, the meeting at the end of September at which Japan 2023 had to pitch and present those changes for ratification. At that point movement to a Southern Hemisphere nation was still firmly a Plan B if necessary
Very intrigued.
What is the difference between that post and this..just 12 months ago?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/england/11128952/Sky-Sports-beat-off-competition-to-cover-Englands-next-three-tours-to-Australia-South-Africa-and-New-Zealand.html
In essence nothing. The story of a deal has been run repeatedly in media outlets, here and in Australia, over the past year, but because of other SANZAR related reasons (mentioned in earlier posts) it's taken until today for them and Sky to officially confirm it
SKY SPORTS
Postponed Games from Rounds 1 & 2
Sat 9 Jan / 13:00 / Racing 92 v Glasgow Warriors
Sat 9 Jan / 16:45 / Stade Français v Munster
Sun 10 Jan / 13:00 / Oyonnax v Ulster
Round 5
Fri 15 Jan / 19:45 / Ospreys v Clermont Auvergne
Sat 16 Jan / 13:00 / Munster v Stade Français
Sat 16 Jan / 13:00 / Bordeaux-Bègles v Exeter Chiefs
Sat 16 Jan / 17:30 / Leinster v Bath
Sun 17 Jan / 13:00 / Racing 92 v Scarlets
Sun 17 Jan / 15:15 / Harlequins v Cardiff Blues
Round 6
Thu 21 Jan / 19:45 / Sale Sharks v Newport Gwent Dragons
Sat 23 Jan / 13:00 / Ulster v Oyonnax
Sat 23 Jan / 13:00 / Toulouse v Saracens
Sat 23 Jan / 17:30 / Glasgow Warriors v Racing 92
Sat 23 Jan / 17:30 / Scarlets v Northampton Saints
Sun 24 Jan / 15:15 / Clermont Auvergne v Bordeaux-Bègles
BT SPORT
Postponed Games from Rounds 1 & 2
Fri 8 Jan / 19:45 / Bordeaux-Bègles v Clermont Auvergne
Sun 10 Jan / 15:15 / Toulon v Bath
Round 5
Fri 15 Jan / 19:45 / Newport Gwent Dragons v Castres
Sat 16 Jan / 15:15 / Saracens v Ulster
Sat 16 Jan / 15:15 / Oyonnax v Toulouse
Sat 16 Jan / 19:45 / Leicester Tigers v Benetton Treviso
Sun 17 Jan / 15:15 / Toulon v Wasps
Sun 17 Jan / 17:30 / Northampton Saints v Glasgow Warriors
Round 6
Fri 22 Jan / 19:45 / Montpellier v Harlequins
Sat 23 Jan / 15:15 / Bath v Toulon
Sat 23 Jan / 15:15 / Wasps v Leinster
Sun 24 Jan / 13:00 / Benetton Treviso v Munster
Sun 24 Jan / 13:00 / Stade Français v Leicester Tigers
Sun 24 Jan / 15:15 / Exeter Chiefs v Ospreys
BT sport's live games are stronger
Would say atm Round 5 is pretty much even (although that could change after the rescheduled games) Sky have the better of the Saturday games and BT the Sunday.
Hard to say about Round 6 until nearer the time, one or two of the games could easily turn out to be dead rubbers
If the TV picks for the QFs work the way I think (BT get to pick two games involving English teams in the Champions Cup, Sky in the Challenge Cup, with the other broadcaster picking up the other two games) then I would hazard a guess at the following:
Champions Cup
Saracens v Northampton Saints - BT
Leicester Tigers v Stade Français - Sky
Wasps v Exeter Chiefs - BT
Racing 92 v Toulon - Sky
Challenge Cup
Harlequins v London Irish - Sky
Gloucester v Newport Gwent Dragons - Sky
Sale Sharks v Montpellier - BT
Grenoble v Connacht - BT
Alex Payne said on air that Sky will be showing Saracens/Northampton and Racing 92 vs Toulon
Those picks were made quickly!
Presumably it doesn't work like I thought then as you'd think Sarries-Saints would be the first-picked game involving an English team (or two in this case).
I don't know - have they ever publicly spoken about their pick system for the knockouts?
If that was the case last year then quite possibly the reverse system is used this year, which is why Sky have picked up Sarries-Saints (unless one of the other 3 is more attractive?).