BT Buys ESPN UK Channels

[Dave_]

http://advanced-television.com/2013/02/25/bt-buys-espns-uk-tv-channels-business/

 

[The_Lhc]

Figured you'd have posted about this by now!

No mention of whether ESPN will continue on Sky's platform, I was considering cancelling anyway, perhaps I won't get much choice in the matter...

 

[Dave_]

I imagine they will still be available, along with the BT Sports channels launching on Sky and Virgin.

The money they've spent acquiring a sports rights portfolio they can't afford not to be, given that BT Vision and YV combined only has around 1.25million subscribers compared to Sky and VMs 15+ million.

 

[The_Lhc]

I imagine they will still be available, along with the BT Sports channels launching on Sky and Virgin.

Ah ok, I wasn't aware that was happening.

The money they've spent acquiring a sports rights portfolio they can't afford not to be, given that BT Vision and YV combined only has around 1.25million subscribers compared to Sky and VMs 15+ million.

Yes, that thought had crossed my mind but I thought BT were looking to pull customers away from Sky, interesting...

 

[Dave_]

Ah ok, I wasn't aware that was happening.

They bought the Sky EPG slots last novemberish in preperation for the launch, and are currently operating Sailing 1 and 2 as placeholders

Yes, that thought had crossed my mind but I thought BT were looking to pull customers away from Sky, interesting...

BTv is a dead loss IMO (as is YV to an extent), i can see BT scrapping it at some point and just being a broadcaster/content provider rather than platform provider

 

[The_Lhc]

I imagine they will still be available,

Looking slightly less likely, I've just had an email from Sky to say my ESPN subscription will be coming to an end on 31 July, no mention of a replacement.

 

[Dave_]

The BT/ESPN deal is due to be finalised in July IIRC.

Just guessing but I imagine BT will be looking to package BT Sport and ESPN and/or may handle subscriptions themselves rather than leaving it to Sky.

 

[The_Lhc]

The BT/ESPN deal is due to be finalised in July IIRC. Just guessing but I imagine BT will be looking to package BT Sport and ESPN and/or may handle subscriptions themselves rather than leaving it to Sky.

Like Setanta used to I guess? I wonder if Sky will be passing on customer details for BT to contact? Probably not. I can't tell if I'm bothered or not, the only thing I used to watch on ESPN is baseball and I don't get the opportunity to do that anymore really. The very occasional Premier League game probably isn't worth it, although saying that I can envisage all of West Ham's games ending up on BT if I don't renew!

I might use the money for another multi-room instead...

 

[Dave_]

The BT/ESPN deal is due to be finalised in July IIRC. Just guessing but I imagine BT will be looking to package BT Sport and ESPN and/or may handle subscriptions themselves rather than leaving it to Sky.

Like Setanta used to I guess? I wonder if Sky will be passing on customer details for BT to contact? Probably not. I can't tell if I'm bothered or not, the only thing I used to watch on ESPN is baseball and I don't get the opportunity to do that anymore really. The very occasional Premier League game probably isn't worth it, although saying that I can envisage all of West Ham's games ending up on BT if I don't renew!

I might use the money for another multi-room instead...

Its difficult to know what either will be/are doing when they're constantly at battle and trying to poach subscribers.

Interesting take on the Guardian website
http://m.guardian.co.uk/media/media-blog/2013/apr/21/bt-bsky-sports-rights-broadband.

 

[Dave_]

Just found this http://bt.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/43821/~/where-will-bt-sport-be-available%3F

Which confirms BT will collect the subs like Setanta used to rather than have Sky involved.