Originally Posted by TelevisionUser:
“From all that I've read in respect of Project Purple, it does come across as a scorched earth attack and destroy policy whereas a more nuanced, strategic and long term damage limitation approach might actually serve Sky better.”
Can you give any specific examples of what Sky is actually doing under Project Purple other than:
1) Lots of advertising
2) One free day of Sky Sports last Saturday
In what way are the above a "scorched earth attack and destroy policy"?
They seem like pretty mundane, run of the mill things to me.
And what could Sky do? They can't stop BT broadcasting. They can't stop BT advertising. Sky isn't in a position to "destroy" BT Sport. BT Sport has won certain rights, it's on air, BT will no doubt market it very strongly and events will take their course whatever Sky does.
The only variable which Sky has control over is how much it bids in the next CL and PL rights auctions. It is those two auctions which are going to be the most important factors in how the rivalry between BT Sport and Sky Sports develops over the next few years.
However those rights are for the future. The respective rights positions are set now for the next two years and neither Sky nor BT can do anything to change the positions that they are in.
So I don't think that any decisions that Sky or BT take now are going to have any significant effect on what happens over the next two years - ie until the next CL rights contract starts.