17 replies to this topic

[Amber Avenger]

Chris Irvine tweeted last night that the new BT sports channel - the one that has bought a load of Premier League rights from under Sky's nose and has bought a load of union matches - is very interested in buying the World Cup rights to show.

No more details than that. It's good news we have another party interested and as we have seen they aren't afraid to splash the cash. I hope it's secondary rights though rather than exclusive. We need the big matches at least to be on terrestrial.

(Sorry if this is already being discussed elsewhere, couldn't find it)

[EastLondonMike]

Lets hope IMG and the RFL know what they want from these broadcasters. Anything on terrestrial TV should have live games every weekend, at peak times, and a highlights package nationwide every evening (not middle of the night) pre 10pm that a game is played. And an insistance on coverage on all news shows post game.

[Amber Avenger]

Martyn has just posted on twitter that it looks like BT are looking likely to snatch away the NRL from Premier Sports, so it looks like they may well be serious about the World Cup too,

[keighley]

I hope the doping scandal today engulfing the NRL dosn't scare any bidders from going ahead.

[JohnM]

[Dave T]

I hope to see the WC on the BBC and Sky to attract the largest audiences.

Hopefully the interest from BT will bump up the price.

[Futtocks]

The BBC have been pretty positive about international RL in the last few years, showing not just live matches, but highlights packages of generous length, and nationally at reasonable times.

Whoever gets the primary rights, some terrestrial presence (even if it isn't live coverage) can only make good commercial sense.

[Rascal Bongo Stork]

If they want to grow the game the BBC have to have the pick of the games.Anything else would be rank shortsighted stupidity.
Liking that BT showing an interest in RL though,further down the line if they're still around when the SL is up for renewal it's time to bump the price up

[RLDave]

I hope they don't steal the NRL rights

[hindle xiii]

Two questions;

i) have the BT Sports channels started airing?
ii) will they be available on sky? I can't see them at the moment.

[roughyedspud]

1. its rumoured to start in june/july...

2. doubt it

[hindle xiii]

1. its rumoured to start in june/july...

2. doubt it

I read something today trying to find info about Jake Humphrey of BBC F1 fame joining BT Sport in January, so I assumed it was imminent.

[Dave T]

Interestingly, Clare Balding has signed to do some work for BT's sport channel.

Maybe she will stay involved in RL after all?

[Just to be clear]

i) have the BT Sports channels started airing?
ii) will they be available on sky? I can't see them at the moment.

Just to be clear, they will be available on Sky and Virgin although no details have yet been released. They are currently in testing on Sky on channels 445 and 447 (Sailing 1 and 2).

[JohnM]

if the games are on free-to-air eg BBC tv or ITV then sure the games will be seen, I think, by many more people across the country. However, in the past, such coverage has in my opinion been at the expense of attendances at the games. Plus, i feel the BBC may not pay as much as the others, though I don't know that for a fact. If the games are on pay TV, then I reckon they will not bee seen by as many of the non-committed viewers we'd like to influence, though the money the game gets might be higher.

[roughyedspud]

I read something today trying to find info about Jake Humphrey of BBC F1 fame joining BT Sport in January, so I assumed it was imminent.

the reason i said june/july is because they have signed up abit of football that starts from next season...thats alot of content...as of now (imminent) they don't have alot....


about 6months about i emailed bt and said that securing NRL rights would be a good idea because it meant they could fill the weekend morning slots with live sport and would'nt actually cost that much.........got a reply back saying it was a cracking idea........


so watch this space i guess



also jack humphrey signed up 5 or 6 months ago

Edited by roughyedspud, 08 February 2013 - 08:54 AM.

[Amber Avenger]

He announced the signing 6 months ago and started work in January. I think they are doing pilots and tests before the launch later in the year.

As 'Just to be clear' says, there is about 0% chance these channels won't be on Sky. Sky won't be happy that BT have nicked one of their football packages, but they will damn well make sure their customers can watch all live matches via their service. It's not worth their while not to.

[roughyedspud]

sky were'nt happy with BT putting sky sports 1 & 2 on freeview....