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BT Sports Channel (Part 2)
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Radiomike
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by CaptainRobbo:
“Surely this is bad news for Sky, Que Virgin adverts informing the world about FREE BT SPORTS for XL customers.

Sky are about to hit a PR disaster with lots of unhappy Sky World Customers.”

Doubt it. Virgin previously had FREE ESPN for XL customers so not much has changed and anyone who was likely to change for that is already with Virgin. BT Sport is simply a de facto swap for ESPN with very little extra.

Sky viewers can still access BT Sport but simply have to subscribe through BT for more than they paid for ESPN and without multiroom. So not too different to the previous ESPN scenario - but annoying. Less likely that many will go to the bother of subscribing to BT Sport as a result.

Also Sky Sports has its best and fullest offering on Sky in terms of channels, HD etc.

I don't expect the channels for free on Sky - I would just like to obtain them from Sky so I can at least have the multiroom option. if they were a little cheaper than from BT direct so much the better I certainly have no intention of changing broadband to BT just because of BT Sport.
suffolkblue
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by thebestbit:
“What a joke. So we Sky world customers get fobbed off, whilst Virgin get it free. Sort it out Sky.”

Could Not agree more. VM customers seem to get everything free these days i for one paying sky 80 quid and an extra 12 quid for BT i for one am not impressed. VM takes the p or does this mean that virgin are paying out of their pocket to show the channels for free in the XL pack
Radiomike
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by calico_pie:
“Although I guess those 2m people had arguably already taken themselves out of that market by not switching, despite all the advertising about it not being available on Virgin. So now they'll be getting something from Virgin for at least 2m customers that they probably wouldn't have.”

Just because they hadn't switched yet doesn't mean they wouldn't in the future.

Millions of Sky subscribers haven't switched either so by the same logic you might as well offer BT Sport to all Sky subscribers through a wholesale deal with Sky.
CaptainRobbo
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by Radiomike:
“Doubt it. Virgin previously had FREE ESPN for XL customers so not much has changed and anyone who was likely to change for that is already with Virgin. BT Sport is simply a de facto swap for ESPN with very little extra.

Sky viewers can still access BT Sport but simply have to subscribe through BT for more than they paid for ESPN and without multiroom. So not too different to the previous ESPN scenario - but annoying. Less likely that many will go to the bother of subscribing to BT Sport as a result.

Also Sky Sports has its best and fullest offering on Sky in terms of channels, HD etc.

I don't expect the channels for free on Sky - I would just like to obtain them from Sky so I can at least have the multiroom option. if they were a little cheaper than from BT direct so much the better I certainly have no intention of changing broadband to BT just because of BT Sport.”

I think this time its different,

ESPN gave the impression it was a small setup showing the odd premier league game but mostly US sport, BT Sports give the impression its a British Company offering a host of British sports.

BT seems a more attractive package to the average punter than ESPN did.
coventrywooo
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by suffolkblue:
“Could Not agree more. VM customers seem to get everything free these days i for one paying sky 80 quid and an extra 12 quid for BT i for one am not impressed. VM takes the p or does this mean that virgin are paying out of their pocket to show the channels for free in the XL pack ”

for free.. i pay 106 a month on VM is that free. no
calico_pie
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by Radiomike:
“Just because they hadn't switched yet doesn't mean they wouldn't in the future.

Millions of Sky subscribers haven't switched either so by the same logic you might as well offer BT Sport to all Sky subscribers through a wholesale deal with Sky.”

Some might, but probably not that many.

I might be wrong, but I'd imagine a higher proportion of Sky subscribers subscribe to Sky Sports than VM subscribers, so it may be that they thought the numbers might be more favourable doing what they did with Sky.

Someone posted some figures in the cable section, based on potential subscription numbers at £12 a month compared to £2 a month from all XL subscribers.

XL subscribers could be worth £4m a month.

They'd need around 333k subscribers at £12 a month to match that.

They probably weren't the exact figures, but you get the idea.
Dancc
15-08-2013
Shrewd bit of business from Virgin Media there. And excellent for both parties that it was resolved just in time for the new Premier League season. I guess we can now adjust those Liverpool v Stoke predictions upwards!!

Originally Posted by stej86:
“I have heard from sources that a wholesale deal with Talktalk TV is likely to be signed very very shortly, making the BT Sport and ESPN channels available to every home television service in the UK.”

What about retail YouView?

I know you can get it direct from BT over IPTV if you take their broadband but I read that YouView were looking to do direct deals with broadcasters to enable more channels to be watched over the internet regardless of ISP.
1andrew1
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by Dancc:
“Shrewd bit of business from Virgin Media there. And excellent for both parties that it was resolved just in time for the new Premier League season. I guess we can now adjust those Liverpool v Stoke predictions upwards!!”

No, the predictions closed at midnight a couple of days back. My 800k looks more likely in light of today's news.

Originally Posted by Dancc:
“What about retail YouView?
I know you can get it direct from BT over IPTV if you take their broadband but I read that YouView were looking to do direct deals with broadcasters to enable more channels to be watched over the internet regardless of ISP.”

Nothing looking likely here. I suspect a TalkTalk wholesale deal will come later this year as will a PlusNet YouView service. These remaining providers pretty much account for the rest of the broadband market so probably not a viable option for BT Sport to go directly to the rest of the market. Might work for niche channels in the future like US sports that decide not to do a wholesale deal.
coulsontom
15-08-2013
Sky is still cheaper than virgin and better channel choice
anthpieface
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by coulsontom:
“Sky is still cheaper than virgin and better channel choice”

Sky customers are a bit touchy today aren't they
DragonQ
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by coulsontom:
“Sky is still cheaper than virgin and better channel choice”

Sorry but that statement is way too basic. Both companies intentionally make it difficult to directly compare prices, so knowing which is cheaper entirely depends on the exact requirements of the customer.
tony le mesmer
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by Jim_S:
“Sky should cease to broadcast this greedy company's channels now, it's pretty obvious that these channels only exist to grab Sky broadband customers. XL costs nothing near the full Sky price but Sky customers still have to pay £12 a month and a £15 activation fee?

Sky is the only reason why BT can succeed because of their amount of available subscribers, pull the plug and they'll come back crying when they can only offer the channels on Virgin or their own BT Vision box that nobody wants”

You do know Sky can't pull the plug right? BT broadcast and retail their own channel, on Sky's open platform.
1andrew1
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by coulsontom:
“Sky is still cheaper than virgin and better channel choice”

Better channel choice. Yes. Available in double the number of homes than VM. Yes.

Cheaper. No. Everyone's needs are different and there are many different configurations which favour VM over Sky. And vice versa. There will be a few more today eg Sky customers wanting multiroom for BT Sport may well find VM cheaper!
mogzyboy
15-08-2013
All we need now is for BT to make it into the 21st Century and offer an adequate multi-room service on the UK's biggest pay-TV platform.

Or, perhaps they like being stuck in the '90s...
Gary_LandyFan
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by DUNDEEBOY:
“I would have no problem paying sky for bt sport. I just don't want to pay bt for bt sport directly”

Why? Either way you would be paying BT.
RobSmithS
15-08-2013
With this deal between VM and BT, could it be BT just passed on a very good opportunity to damage one of their tripleplay competitors.
Gary_LandyFan
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by suffolkblue:
“Could Not agree more. VM customers seem to get everything free these days i for one paying sky 80 quid and an extra 12 quid for BT i for one am not impressed. VM takes the p or does this mean that virgin are paying out of their pocket to show the channels for free in the XL pack ”

It isn't VM's fault that Sky are a much more greedy company who prefer to think of only their profits and not their customers.

I am a Sky triple-pay customer too before any accuses me of being a VM fan.
ocav
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by suffolkblue:
“Could Not agree more. VM customers seem to get everything free these days i for one paying sky 80 quid and an extra 12 quid for BT i for one am not impressed. VM takes the p or does this mean that virgin are paying out of their pocket to show the channels for free in the XL pack ”

Nope you get nothing free at all, except,

- Sky Atlantic
- Sky Atlantic HD
- Sky Sports 3,4, F1, News HD
- Sky News HD
- Sky Poker
- Nat Geo Wild HD
- History HD
- CI HD
- MTV Classic
- Disney HD
- More 4 HD
- a whole host of kids and music channels
- quite a lot more to mention
- a lot more On Demand
- Sky Go
- Sky Sports App
LOSG
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by ocav:
“- Sky Go”

Virgin have their own version of this and at quick glance the "Live Channel" options looks better. BT Sport is on it for starters which isn't on Sky Go.
ocav
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by LOSG:
“Virgin have their own version of this and at quick glance the "Live Channel" glance looks better. BT Sport is on it for starters which isn't on Sky Go.”

But not available on android and Sky customers with BT Sport get access to the official BT Sports App
LOSG
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by ocav:
“But not available on android”

They've only recently rolled it out. I'd expect improvements at a decent pace.

Such a shame Virgin isn't available on my road, their top bundle, or "collection" as they call it would be fantastic for me (especially now Bt Sport is thrown in.)
Gary_LandyFan
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by ocav:
“But not available on android and Sky customers with BT Sport get access to the official BT Sports App”

Virgin Media are not the only ones that seem to be neglecting Android.

More and more people are getting Android devices over poorer iShite devices, it is time that these companies start to get the app to work on all devices not just a pathetic selection.
PaulLFC
15-08-2013
Going to ring BT later and try and get the other Sky box activated since it's multiroom on Virgin - expecting a grand total of zero success, but it's worth a try
mlt11
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by Radiomike:
“I also believe it is a sensible deal but on the same basis I think a wholesale deal with Sky would also make sense. Unless Sky gave the BT channels away (like Virgin XL - unlikely), or at a significant discount to BT's own standalone price (they might offer at wholesale cost or just above), then BT retain their edge of free channels if you switch broadband to BT whilst those who have no desire to switch to BT anyway from Sky (for broadband or TV) can still access the channels on the simplest basis. Sky also has the biggest base of genuine sports fans.

The more Sky subscribers that BT Sport has access to the more they can push their own broadband offering to whilst still receiving fees in the meantime.

And BT You View subscribers would get access to Sky Sports in return. Win win.”

A wholesale deal with Sky makes no sense for BT.

If BT can act as retailer on the Sky platform, why wouldn't it?

The only reason ESPN did a wholesale deal with Sky was to benefit from Sky's marketing and retailing operation and avoid incurring its own customer service plus admin costs.

But BT has a massive marketing and customer service operation anyway. And BT wants to act as retailer to sell BT broadband.

There is zero chance of BT Sport operating as any kind of "basic channel" on Sky - because the Sky platform has a substantial number of people who will pay the £12 / £15 for BT Sport. A far, far fewer proportion of VM customers would pay £12 / £15 for BT Sport which is why it makes sense to be a basic channel on VM - just as it did for Setanta and ESPN.
Mr Newshound
15-08-2013
Originally Posted by mlt11:
“The only reason ESPN did a wholesale deal with Sky was to benefit from Sky's marketing and retailing operation and avoid incurring its own customer service plus admin costs.”

I'd also add the timescale issues. ESPN launching in the wake of Setanta's demise was very rushed, it was simply easier to tag on to existing systems where possible (using Sky for customer service, ad sales, football production etc).
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