GE
This is the last year of the contract as well - it will be renegotiated for the new Diamond League next year.
So, if anyone does pick it up, it will only be for five meetings this summer.
Off topic, but athletics is in a pretty bad way at the moment in terms of audiences and interest - better television exposure is surely one way to improve it. In the UK, Setanta was never going to achieve that, in the way that the BBC could - or any other terrestrial broadcaster for that matter.
No, not heard anything either. I guess Eurosport would probably be favourites, perhaps the BBC, but they don't seem as interested in athletics outside Britain as they once were. It used to be on Sky too, but I don't think they'd be much value in them picking it up.
This is the last year of the contract as well - it will be renegotiated for the new Diamond League next year.
So, if anyone does pick it up, it will only be for five meetings this summer.
Off topic, but athletics is in a pretty bad way at the moment in terms of audiences and interest - better television exposure is surely one way to improve it. In the UK, Setanta was never going to achieve that, in the way that the BBC could - or any other terrestrial broadcaster for that matter.
BR
And their attempts to improve it aren't exactly well thought through - the "Devil Take The Hindmost" twist at the recent European Team Champs was an awful idea, with distance races where whoever is last after certain laps drops out. That is not athletics - and indeed many of the great distance runners run the race from the back, not the front, picking off the others in the final few laps.
I don't think this Diamond League is great either. The Golden League is the elite meetings in Europe, often historic meetings in historic stadiums. Next year it's expanded to 14 events, putting Gateshead Athletics Stadium on a par with Romes Olympic Stadium!
It would have been better just expanding it slightly to say 8 events, and then put the secondary events in a more high profile "Silver Series" or something. That way too I'm sure they'd be more interest from broadcasters in the main event - as 6-8 events are manageable for terrestrial broadcasters, but 12-14 means it's likely they'll end up on pay-TV IMO. (London and Gateshead will be on the BBC as Diamond League rights allow national federations to sell their own events themselves).
I don't think this Diamond League is great either. The Golden League is the elite meetings in Europe, often historic meetings in historic stadiums. Next year it's expanded to 14 events, putting Gateshead Athletics Stadium on a par with Romes Olympic Stadium!
It would have been better just expanding it slightly to say 8 events, and then put the secondary events in a more high profile "Silver Series" or something. That way too I'm sure they'd be more interest from broadcasters in the main event - as 6-8 events are manageable for terrestrial broadcasters, but 12-14 means it's likely they'll end up on pay-TV IMO. (London and Gateshead will be on the BBC as Diamond League rights allow national federations to sell their own events themselves).
GE
Exactly - Kelly Holmes would probably not have won two golds in Athens has this rule been in force (different event I know, but its the same general logic). Plus, these new regulations have made the timetable longer - the exact opposite of what athletics should be doing. Four hours of track and field is not attractive to the average viewer.
Agreed on your views about the Diamond League as well - definitely not attractive to terrestrial broadcasters in the UK, especially with the time difference for meetings in Doha, Shanghai, New York etc.
But to drag the thread back on-topic, ESPN hold the rights to the Golden League in the US, so I suppose, if they picked up the rights cheaply enough, they could show their US feed on ESPN America here in the UK.
And their attempts to improve it aren't exactly well thought through - the "Devil Take The Hindmost" twist at the recent European Team Champs was an awful idea, with distance races where whoever is last after certain laps drops out. That is not athletics - and indeed many of the great distance runners run the race from the back, not the front, picking off the others in the final few laps.
Exactly - Kelly Holmes would probably not have won two golds in Athens has this rule been in force (different event I know, but its the same general logic). Plus, these new regulations have made the timetable longer - the exact opposite of what athletics should be doing. Four hours of track and field is not attractive to the average viewer.
Agreed on your views about the Diamond League as well - definitely not attractive to terrestrial broadcasters in the UK, especially with the time difference for meetings in Doha, Shanghai, New York etc.
But to drag the thread back on-topic, ESPN hold the rights to the Golden League in the US, so I suppose, if they picked up the rights cheaply enough, they could show their US feed on ESPN America here in the UK.
GO
From DS:
Quote:
According to the Irish Times, the satellite platform holder has extended the carriage deal so that the company's founders can talk to concert promoter Denis Desmond and other parties about rescuing the operation.
After Setanta's existing carriage agreement with Sky came to a close yesterday, negotiations have been underway to put together a short-term broadcasting deal in Ireland.
Setanta is believed to owe Sky around £4.7 million in unpaid carriage charges, which mostly derives from its UK operation after it went into administration last week.
It is understood that the satellite company has decided not to hold Setanta Ireland to the total arrears owed to it by parent firm Setanta Sport Holdings, which is currently in the hands of administrators Deloitte.
Instead, the satcaster has agreed to a staggered payment structure to cover the arrears specifically relating to carriage in Ireland so that Setanta can continue to operate in the country.
Setanta founders Leonard Ryan and Michael O'Rourke are now locked in negotiations to save the business with Desmond and former Setanta executive Mark O'Meara.
The discussions reportedly include talks with Irish venture capital groups, as well as US cable TV parent group Liberty Global.
After Setanta's existing carriage agreement with Sky came to a close yesterday, negotiations have been underway to put together a short-term broadcasting deal in Ireland.
Setanta is believed to owe Sky around £4.7 million in unpaid carriage charges, which mostly derives from its UK operation after it went into administration last week.
It is understood that the satellite company has decided not to hold Setanta Ireland to the total arrears owed to it by parent firm Setanta Sport Holdings, which is currently in the hands of administrators Deloitte.
Instead, the satcaster has agreed to a staggered payment structure to cover the arrears specifically relating to carriage in Ireland so that Setanta can continue to operate in the country.
Setanta founders Leonard Ryan and Michael O'Rourke are now locked in negotiations to save the business with Desmond and former Setanta executive Mark O'Meara.
The discussions reportedly include talks with Irish venture capital groups, as well as US cable TV parent group Liberty Global.
SK
All Setanta branded channels have been removed from the Sky EPG (apart from Setanta Ireland which is still broadcasting).....
ST
The Sports Category looks rather bare if you exclude the HD channels!
http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/SportsEPGCap2.jpg
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first time that Sky's EPG has ever removed 6 channels all at the same time from a single genre.
All Setanta branded channels have been removed from the Sky EPG (apart from Setanta Ireland which is still broadcasting).....
The Sports Category looks rather bare if you exclude the HD channels!
http://www.gorillaenterprises.co.uk/upload/uploadFiles/SportsEPGCap2.jpg
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think this is the first time that Sky's EPG has ever removed 6 channels all at the same time from a single genre.
Last edited by Stuart on 7 July 2009 4:03pm
DA
Are you a time traverller? How did you manage to post this screenshot at 3:42pm?
Are you a time traverller? How did you manage to post this screenshot at 3:42pm?
JO
Are you a time traverller? How did you manage to post this screenshot at 3:42pm?
'Last edited by Stuart on 7th July 2009 4:03pm'
Are you a time traverller? How did you manage to post this screenshot at 3:42pm?
'Last edited by Stuart on 7th July 2009 4:03pm'