Sky Sports+ and Rugby League: What we know so far (hijacked thread)

[Futtocks]

5 hours ago, glossop saint said:

I suppose the grey area is what is 'TV'. Iplayer? Amazon Prime? Netflix? SL+?

There's an argument to be made either way for each of them. Though I think it was always the case that we were going onto this Sky Sports streaming platform. It depends on how you look at it, or rather how you want to look at it to support your own views.

To see the games up to now, you needed a Sky sub. You will still require that, but you will access some of the games with a couple of extra button-pushes.

This is completely and utterly normal in 2024 for most TV viewers, and we've known since the start of the season that this was going to happen.

[Hopie]

6 minutes ago, Futtocks said:

To see the games up to now, you needed a Sky sub. You will still require that, but you will access some of the games with a couple of extra button-pushes.

This is completely and utterly normal in 2024 for most TV viewers, and we've known since the start of the season that this was going to happen.

As is often posted on this board, people who want to find it won't be able to even if this new service is "completely and utterly normal". Minority channels and more obscure streaming services also increase those occasions when people won't know it is on until after the fact.

We know this change is happening, but what about people who don't? TV coverage isn't just about hardcore fans, it is a tool for attracting new eyes, and this step makes it harder. The lack of figures or publicity for said figures, suggests that all the extra coverage this year isn't drawing new eyes on the sport.

 

[JohnM]

2 hours ago, Hopie said:

As is often posted on this board, people who want to find it won't be able to even if this new service is "completely and utterly normal". Minority channels and more obscure streaming services also increase those occasions when people won't know it is on until after the fact.

We know this change is happening, but what about people who don't? TV coverage isn't just about hardcore fans, it is a tool for attracting new eyes, and this step makes it harder. The lack of figures or publicity for said figures, suggests that all the extra coverage this year isn't drawing new eyes on the sport.

I really don't think that any Sky coverage draws new eyes. I think Sky coverage is watched by those who already know about the game.

To get new eyes, I think that some games need to be promoted on the BBC Sport News and some games need to be shown fta on the main national TV..which is the BBC.

[Hopie]

2 hours ago, JohnM said:

I really don't think that any Sky coverage draws new eyes. I think Sky coverage is watched by those who already know about the game.

To get new eyes, I think that some games need to be promoted on the BBC Sport News and some games need to be shown fta on the main national TV..which is the BBC.

I'd suggest we need both, most sports fans are watching sports on Sky. FTA can work, but not the way it is going this year, feels like a step backwards from what we had before.

No easy solutions, but we must get new eyes or we will see the sport continue to wither and die.

[JohnM]

I agree that we need both,to a greater or lesser extent but I do think that most sports fans who have Sky have it with a particuar sport in mind already.

I think the most effective way to get those new eyes is to have more exposure on the main free to air - especially teresstrial-channels - and YouTube and iPlayer and the like. Although the trend is away from  watching scheduled  programming on terrestrial channels, it is still the default choice of many. "Advertising" our sport in advance of screening is vital in my view, catered for on YouTube by the " you might also like" type of algorithm and catered for on terrestrial by the channels own features and advertising as well as by then broadcasting games live FTA.

All subjective of course: to convince the actors, I'd need solid evidence. If only we could involve a global sports management group.

Edited August 8 by JohnM

[Odsal Outlaw]

I think the ‘every game live’ has been great, it’s meant I’ve had more chance to watch games when typically the traditional Thu/Fri slots don’t work for me. I do think though that we haven’t grasped the opportunity it gave us.
 

If we really wanted to demonstrate to Sky the impact we can have we should have scheduled games more consciously. Having 4 matches on at the same time will never deliver huge viewing figures - in fact the opposite. Instead we should have been creating ‘super Saturday’ style schedules, or timing games around other huge events to demonstrate the best possible cumulative audience. Then Sky may have said, actually … we should keep more of these on the mainstream channels, or give us a better story to sell in future negotiations.

Edited August 8 by Odsal Outlaw

[gingerjon]

 

[JohnM]

All looks ok to me on Sky Go.

[gingerjon]

2 hours ago, JohnM said:

All looks ok to me on Sky Go.

All the streams are showing on Now TV.

[phiggins]

Quite sad that in between live coverage, the main channel seems to be just showing Sky Sports News, as well as one Sky Sports Main event and the SSN channel itself. 

[Tommygilf]

Big posters up in Leeds saying "Watch all Mens Rhinos Games on SS+" and incidentally a less prominent poster saying similar for LUFC.

[Tommygilf]

11 minutes ago, phiggins said:

Quite sad that in between live coverage, the main channel seems to be just showing Sky Sports News, as well as one Sky Sports Main event and the SSN channel itself. 

It's been a bit of a disaster on Sky Sports since they went to named channels tbh. 

[JohnM]

I only watch on Sky Go, and have not had a problem with the different channels so I don't understand the issue.

[Dave T]

4 minutes ago, JohnM said:

I only watch on Sky Go, and have not had a problem with the different channels so I don't understand the issue.

At times, you can have the same broadcast across multiple channels, one of the particular challenges is that there may only be 2 live broadcasts, (say darts and super league) yet SL will be on the equivalent of Sky Sports 8, while 2 to 7 are full of random repeats that at times literally nobody is watching. 

This year it has led to a SL game beibg shown live on Showcase, which isn't primarily a sports channel, despite not having live sport on around 4 or 5 of their channels. 

It's all a bit random, and whereas in the past you'd maybe have 3 or 4 premium sports channels to flick through for content, it's now much more but with less on. 

I actually think now would be the time to return to say, 4 linear channels and have SS+ behind it where coverage overlaps. But I think they've made their bed with committing specific channels for certain sports. Logistically it looks a pain for both Sky and customers tbh. 

[bentleyman]

How o i get tonights game on cant see it 

 

[Gerrumonside ref]

6 minutes ago, bentleyman said:

How o i get tonights game on cant see it 

 

It’s on the main feed on Sky Sports +

[bentleyman]

It says i nee to upgrade my package

[Gerrumonside ref]

2 minutes ago, bentleyman said:

It says i nee to upgrade my package

Are you with Sky, Now TV or Virgin?

What kind of box are you using?

Edited August 8 by Gerrumonside ref

[bentleyman]

with sky

 

[bentleyman]

sky q box

[Gerrumonside ref]

2 minutes ago, bentleyman said:

with sky

 

Sky Stream or through an old box with satellite feed?

You should speak to Sky really to make sure your package and the way you get Sky is compatible.

Sky Sports + is a streaming service so if your Sky isn’t coming from the internet you might have a problem here.

[Gerrumonside ref]

My understanding is if you have Sky Q and a full sports subscription then you should be able to access it.

 

[HawkMan]

5 minutes ago, bentleyman said:

sky q box

Same here, my Sky Q box is via satellite dish, but is also connected via cable to back of BT broadband router. If your box has youtube, I player, and other apps then skysports app appeared today.

[Treize Hombres]

14 minutes ago, bentleyman said:

It says i nee to upgrade my package

Same with me. I don't have the full sports package as only watch RL. Action and Arena were the only channels I needed. Feel like we've been sold a right dummy by Sky and SL 

[Ullman]

10 hours ago, JohnM said:

All looks ok to me on Sky Go.

Problem with Sky Go is that from now on you can only watch the two main games. In theory you should be able to watch the other games live on your mobile device using the Sky Sports app. Just tried to install the app and it's telling me it isn't compatible with my device. I've never had a problem with Sky Go or My Sky and I'm a bit peed off to say the least.