Originally Posted by hendero:
“I never understood why they didn't pick up MNF straight away when it became available three seasons back. I can't imagine the Beeb or Eurosport spent more than a fiver on the rights.”
Yes, but they had no need for MNF then - so no point wasting money broadcasting it.
BT's entry to the market completely changes the dynamics. It's now much more important for Sky to bolster their schedules as much as they can in all directions - they've already lost Champions League and there's every chance they will soon lose a chunk of Premier League as well.
Obviously stuff like NFL MNF can't replace that as it is trivial in comparison - but the point is that Sky want their schedules to be as strong and deep as possible in order to minimise cancellations in a scenario where they have less PL and no CL.
It's quite a long list of bits and pieces being added - extra Euro/World Cup qualifiers, Eredivisie, IPL cricket, Pro12 and Top 14 rugby union, now NFL MNF - all pretty minor stuff in terms of importance but taken together they fill out the schedules quite a bit.
Also worth noting that MNF may have ended up on BT if Sky hadn't taken it - ie it would not necessarily have remained on British Eurosport. So Sky taking it closes off that option.