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Sky Sports Cricket Coverage 2016


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Old 03-12-2015, 15:19
Ginger Daddy
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Sky will make sure there is a tv cricket match on every day of some description !!!
Oh no(!) What bastards (!)
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Old 03-12-2015, 16:27
madmusician
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Tell you what, how's about allowing those of us who want to watch one-camera streaming watch? If you think it's a "dreadful way of watching cricket" then simply don't view the streams!
When you go to a game that's all you get, a two-pairs-of-eyes stream and people still turn up
Difference is, your eyes can move to follow the ball, unlike these fixed cameras. Plus you can a,ways bring your binoculars with you for a closer eye on the action.
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Old 03-12-2015, 21:13
mavreela
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So there is a live camera and a live feed at at least one ground most rounds.....could Sky not put that live feed onto an interactive channel even though it's just one static camera? That way CC fans get to see the action,
Which is what Sky did with rugby league last season. As well as the usual televised matches, with full HD coverage, as an experiment they also broadcast additional ones on Sky Sports Xtra. Including many on Friday evening at the same time as an 'official' televised match.

For those. Sky simply took the two-camera feed that was already present for highlights and club purposes and added an off-screen commentary. It was a very basic setup, they had a score graphic but nothing else, not even a clock. So not really broadcast quality, hence it only being on an online channel, but perfectly watchable and enjoyable.

As Nottinghamshire's online coverage shows, people are willing to watch basic coverage of cricket too. So there is no reason the same approach cannot work with cricket.

It must have been decided already as there are random 1 day games in the fixture list which are out of sync with the rest !!!
Although the bulk of the T20 Blast is scheduled so that most matches are played on Friday evenings, each county still gets to play whenever is suitable for them. This means there will always be matches on random days to fit around ground schedules, other local reasons, and specific preferences.

And midweek matches being on Sky notwithdstanding, they would still need to make choices for Friday evenings.
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Old 03-12-2015, 21:32
Darren Lethem
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Which is what Sky did with rugby league last season. As well as the usual televised matches, with full HD coverage, as an experiment they also broadcast additional ones on Sky Sports Xtra. Including many on Friday evening at the same time as an 'official' televised match.

For those. Sky simply took the two-camera feed that was already present for highlights and club purposes and added an off-screen commentary. It was a very basic setup, they had a score graphic but nothing else, not even a clock. So not really broadcast quality, hence it only being on an online channel, but perfectly watchable and enjoyable.

As Nottinghamshire's online coverage shows, people are willing to watch basic coverage of cricket too. So there is no reason the same approach cannot work with cricket.



Although the bulk of the T20 Blast is scheduled so that most matches are played on Friday evenings, each county still gets to play whenever is suitable for them. This means there will always be matches on random days to fit around ground schedules, other local reasons, and specific preferences.

And midweek matches being on Sky notwithdstanding, they would still need to make choices for Friday evenings.
Sky only did it during the Super 8s didn't they ? I know the commentary was off tube. For cricket they would probably go no comms if popping it onto Sky Xtra
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Old 03-12-2015, 22:27
mavreela
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Sky only did it during the Super 8s didn't they ?
It started a bit before then, although only became a regular thing during the Super 8s.

The first SSX matches were the midweek rearranged fixtures for the teams who had to play in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup: Hull KR vs Salford on June 30th, and Wakefield vs Hull FC on July 1st.
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Old 03-12-2015, 22:33
Darren Lethem
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It started a bit before then, although only became a regular thing during the Super 8s.

The first SSX matches were the midweek rearranged fixtures for the teams who had to play in the fourth round of the Challenge Cup: Hull KR vs Salford on June 30th, and Wakefield vs Hull FC on July 1st.
Ah that's right
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Old 03-12-2015, 23:19
howard h
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Thanks for the info about the rugby streaming. Someone mentioned Sky Sports Extra; is that a sports channel *hidden* from Now TV viewers (who can't access interactive services) or is that now "5"?

A question about next season's 20/20 - a QF (SF??) couldn't finish because the game started, rained a bit IIRC and they never got back on because of the time of year it was too dark and there were no floodlights. Was it Worcester/Taunton?? Can't remember exactly.

My question, I haven't seen the full county schedule but have they considered the dates of the QF's to prevent that happening again (ie brought it forward a bit)?
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Old 03-12-2015, 23:39
MGBCTV
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How many cameras do you need do you reckon for reasonable web only coverage
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Old 03-12-2015, 23:57
howard h
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How many cameras do you need do you reckon for reasonable web only coverage
One might be enough, positioned fairly high up but not necessarily behind the bowler - as long as it shows the full square we can tell if a ball's gone for four or not by the reaction of the batsmen/umpires!
But a Lancs fan has suggested two; I presume one focusing on the wicket and the second much more of the outfield - and for £30/day he has volunteered himself to switch between the two! I think that would be acceptable, and I'd pay for a system like that at Lanc's games. Think a single streaming camera would probably have to be free as much of the outfield wouldn't be seen (although ads could run as a ticker at the bottom??)

I suppose the split-screen method could do, where the close-up of the wicket is the normal one but top-corner is a smaller image of the outfield. So when the ball leaves the main picture you can follow the action on the smaller one - OK yhe ball migh not be seen but the fielders chasing it give a clue!

At small-scale Curling tournaments they have a security-type webcam above both houses (target circles) and stream them live. Someone switches from one to the other as and when. For a casual viewer it's almost impossible to follow, no commentary* etc and no identification of the teams for examlple - but for those into the sport it's plenty to see what's going on and follow.

That happens at the Glynhill International...and is viewed by (the most I've seen) about 20 viewers. I have asked if so few are watching live why do it? and the answer - using the webcams which are already in situ means it costs them no extra just to put them on youtube live and on demand, so why not?

EDIT * at the Glynhill they use the overhead webcams but IIRC for some, if not all games, there is commentary (I assume it's by a volunteer); but at other sites that's not always the case.
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Old 04-12-2015, 16:40
mavreela
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Someone mentioned Sky Sports Extra; is that a sports channel *hidden* from Now TV viewers (who can't access interactive services) or is that now "5"?
It is an online streaming channel that is only available on Sky's website for their Sky Sport subscribers. It is not available on the Sky Go apps, Sky Sports Mobile TV, Now TV, or to Sky Sports subscribers on other platforms.

Most of the programming is also made available separately on the Sky Sports for iPad app, not sure whether that includes Virgin subscribers, but not on iPhone or Android devices.

So calling it "hidden" is pretty fair as it is a daft arrangement, for sure.

It is mainly used to stream red button events, but does occasionally carry exclusive content such as matches from Super Rugby. Those take a feed from the host broadcaster though so require no production by Sky.

This is how the experiment with rugby league Super 8 matches from Super League and the Qualifiers was different and may suggest they will look at doing it with other sports.

http://www.skysports.com/watch/sky-sports-xtra

My question, I haven't seen the full county schedule but have they considered the dates of the QF's to prevent that happening again (ie brought it forward a bit)?
The quarter finals are the second weekend of August, the same as last year, when the sunset is around 8:40pm.

That is reasonably late, and you cannot arrange the schedule around having the quarter finals at the end of June just because that is when the days are longest. Not least of which because whilst you get an extra hour of daylight you also get, on average, less sunshine and more rain.

So the added insurance of a longer day comes with a much greater risk of play being disrupted and that hour being unusable for bad light.

That not to mention the T20 Blast already starts in the middle of May, pretty much as the IPL ends its regular season.

Bringing it forward just a month would mean starting in the still relatively damp and cool nights of April. And the competition would be over before the school summer holidays, when they already have only a small overlap as it is.

Two things which are important to what is supposed to the spectator ad family-friendly form the game where counties earn a lot of their income.
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Old 04-12-2015, 18:19
howard h
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One answer to the light issues in August would be whoever dictates those QF's should be midweek so late in the season should pay for the installation of temporary floodlights! On top of that you might need planning permission!!

That point about April - whilst I agree evenings can be chilly (so can July's!!) up here in Lankyland it's statistically the driest part of the season. The CC starts seem to get earlier and earlier, yet save for one notable exception years ago when there was a month's deluge and we couldn't even get a game started, watching first-class cricket in late April and early May has been very agreeable.

In oreder to free up more time for the 20/20 mid-season, it has been suggested (not by me!) that the first round of Championship games could take place abroad, probably late March. They are probably thinking the three or four grounds in the middle east. Thoughts anyone? Certainly not for me - let the players have their fingers numbed on the 4th April in Durham!!

But if a suitable ground could be found in Spain (La Manga?) or Portugal then I could change my mind. After all, the MCC do play in Mallorca....and a nice, tidy ground it is too!
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Old 04-12-2015, 21:48
Alex2606
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Thanks for the info about the rugby streaming. Someone mentioned Sky Sports Extra; is that a sports channel *hidden* from Now TV viewers (who can't access interactive services) or is that now "5"?

A question about next season's 20/20 - a QF (SF??) couldn't finish because the game started, rained a bit IIRC and they never got back on because of the time of year it was too dark and there were no floodlights. Was it Worcester/Taunton?? Can't remember exactly.

My question, I haven't seen the full county schedule but have they considered the dates of the QF's to prevent that happening again (ie brought it forward a bit)?
No, as mavreela says they're on the same equivalent week to last year, although the final is a week earlier to last season. That means the RL50 semi-finals are now on what will be August Bank Holiday weekend
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Old 23-12-2015, 13:29
Neil_Harris
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From Jan 1 - Jan 18 there is cricket on every day
and again from Jan 19 - 31

Only 1 day of no cricket in January !

For those interested in ladies cricket, Sky are showing Australia V India T20 series
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Old 23-12-2015, 18:15
Judio
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Non stop coverage of the big bash I assume ??

At least there are 2 Test Series as well

Australia hosting West Indies

and

South Africa v England
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Old 23-12-2015, 19:13
Neil_Harris
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Non stop coverage of the big bash I assume ??
As far as I can see. Clashing with England but listed on separate channel
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Old 24-12-2015, 08:56
chrisr21
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It's Atherton, Botham & Lloyd out in South Africa for Sky.

As I have said previously, I thought this tour would have the full team out there, with presentation from the grounds. Cost cutting really taking hold by the looks of it.

It's also a shame that we won't hear Nasser Hussain commentate this winter. For me, he's in the top 3 of commentators Sky have.
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Old 24-12-2015, 13:52
Bhaveshgor
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No surprise really Away cricket tours of England are very costly and loads of savings can be made.

The only surprise is that Botham and Lloyd get two winters tours each with Hussain zero.
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Old 24-12-2015, 15:24
Alex2606
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It's Atherton, Botham & Lloyd out in South Africa for Sky.

As I have said previously, I thought this tour would have the full team out there, with presentation from the grounds. Cost cutting really taking hold by the looks of it.

It's also a shame that we won't hear Nasser Hussain commentate this winter. For me, he's in the top 3 of commentators Sky have.
No surprise really Away cricket tours of England are very costly and loads of savings can be made.

The only surprise is that Botham and Lloyd get two winters tours each with Hussain zero.
A shame, but the writing looked to be on the wall with the Big Bash moved to the corridor...presumably so the normal studio could be kept for South Africa vs England
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Old 24-12-2015, 19:40
howard h
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Looking forward to a month's sub to Now for the cricket. Regarding commentators, I'm glad there are fewer English ones - away I always think the majority should be from the home side, a couple of aways and maybe a neutral! That's maybe from my formative years of listening to TMS when you would have one English commentator (usually CMJ) and an English expert...so that the local commentators were mostly heard.

Simply makes if feel more like an away series, and you possibly get to hear voices that you wouldn't normally. So if it's due to Sky cutbacks, for once there's a bonus!

Anyone out there feel the same way?
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Old 25-12-2015, 18:16
chrisr21
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Ian Ward is out in SA as well.
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Old 25-12-2015, 19:12
Richard1960
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No surprise really Away cricket tours of England are very costly and loads of savings can be made.

The only surprise is that Botham and Lloyd get two winters tours each with Hussain zero.
No surprise really both Botham and Lloyd are more customer friendly in my view anyway.
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Old 25-12-2015, 20:21
Bhaveshgor
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Not sure Botham is customer friendly.
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Old 25-12-2015, 20:23
Richard1960
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Not sure Botham is customer friendly.
After watching Hussain in action at Essex i can assure you he is.!
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Old 25-12-2015, 20:25
Bhaveshgor
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Ian Ward is out in SA as well.
probably doing the interviews and other stuff for sky during the intervals.
Surely Gower presenting from london.
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Old 25-12-2015, 20:26
Bhaveshgor
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After watching Hussain in action at Essex i can assure you he is.!
we talking about commentators not cricketers.
Nasser is one of Sky top commentators.

Sky big 3 are Hussain, Atherton and Lloyd.


It is very weird for Sky not to select him for 2 winter tours.
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