I tell ya what - BT could do with Liverpool making the Champions League regularly again. In recent years, I, as a Liverpool fan, haven't been fussed about the Champions League during the group stages. When the truly meaty ties come up in the knockout stages, I start getting interested, but I could live without the Champions League otherwise. That's unless Liverpool get back in. Then the Champions League has added value, as it would for many other football fans in this country (as Liverpool has such a large fan base).
Responding to some other posts over the past 12 hours or so, over numerous pages(!) (sorry this makes this such a long post) ...
Originally Posted by ArchieArchivist:
“I can't justify what I'm paying to Sky without Champions League”
You'll be able to barter with Sky over the price you pay, I expect. You and many other customers, no doubt.
Originally Posted by D.M.N.:
“Dated November 11th. Wonder if they - and UEFA - brought it forward knowing intense media speculation.”
Indeed it's the first time in a very long time (if at all) that UEFA have made such an announcement (on media rights) at a weekend. (Try finding any other Saturday or Sunday article on at least the first few pages here:
http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/me...ion/index.html)
Originally Posted by mattw:
“Questions still to be answered:
- Will there be a separate highlights package and if so who will get it - BBC or itv”
There definitely will be a separate highlights package, as indicated by the use of the curious term "co-exclusive" by UEFA here:
http://www.uefa.org/mediaservices/me...d=2021902.html
Originally Posted by corh5:
“I can really see a scenario where it will cost between £100 and £150 a month for multiple TV subscriptions I.e sky and BT (including non-sport) in the non to distant future.”
And people moan about having to pay that much for a whole YEAR of the BBC. (And yes, I know Sky and BT are a choice and the BBC isn't, but still ...)
Originally Posted by rammie96:
“So if I switch from Sky Talk/Broadband to BT I will get BT Sport for free (assuming they don't start levying an extra charge for the CL coverage).”
BT charge a lot more for broadband than Sky do though (after the initial introductory offer anyway), so that's where you need to think carefully (I know I will be).
Originally Posted by
batdude_uk1:
“Now I just need to go and find out more about these other services, and if they are at all compatable with my Sky + box, or if they offer recordable progammes like my box does, as I do lie that sort of thing. 
”
Colin_London answered this, but I guess you missed it:
"
You will be able to within a week or so as the software update to enable recording is imminent."
-
http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=1061
Originally Posted by rammie96:
“They should have bitten the bullet and given free, or massively discounted, Broadband and phone to all current Sky Sports subscribers as soon as BT entered the game.”
That's what I got, by taking the initiative and contacting Sky myself, back in July. I also paid BT £12 a month for BT Sport on top of what I have with Sky, knowing I'd still be making an overall saving.
Originally Posted by Sirius:
“Well that's the thing, if BT are pushing up line rental to fund this then Virgin Media will likely follow suit for their share.
Broadband only went up £2.50 a month recently because Virgin know that their customers have no alternative. Other fibre products require a landline, so they have their customers over a barrel.
Sky won't aggressively reduce prices because that will hit their overall profit line.
So, as you say, all the major players are doing the same thing.”
Sounds like our beloved energy market.
Originally Posted by
Gray77:
“So, you're already doubling your initial fiver then!
”
Ah, but he's changed currency from pounds to euros.
Originally Posted by Tel69:
“The loss of FTA isn't good either.”
FTA is not "lost". Live coverage on channels that are exclusively FTA, yes, but not the whole concept of FTA Champions League.
Originally Posted by alexj2002:
“I think it's because BT have highlight rights included as part of their package, the second broadcaster that gets the highlights-only package won't have them exclusively, so they've coined this term co-exclusive.”
In other words, not exclusive at all, but trying to make it sound more exclusive.