It's all getting even messier too with talks going on about the Welsh regions leaving the Pro12 to set up some kind of Anglo-Welsh league - which geographically probably makes more economic sense, but personally much prefer keeping the Celtic link. I'd have thought though as the BT deal is signed there can't be any changes to the English Premiership for the duration of the deal (the TV deals were the excuse Argentina were frozen out of the Tri-Nations for so long).
Its highly unlikely to happen - it will happen over the WRU's dead body, and even if that wasn't the insurmountable problem it is, the Welsh clubs will surely not join Premiership Rugby if it means forgoing their automatic European places (given that Premiership Rugby are strongly insisting that the Pro12 clubs have a single European qualification stream, they can hardly not apply this to themselves) and while promotion and relegation remains (Dragons at least would probably be facing relegation in their first season - a season that would be likely to see several clubs relegated in order to reduce the Premiership back down to a manageable size.). Anyway it has to be seen in the context of the current WRU-RRW dispute and is just sabre-rattling really.
Far more likely, incidentally, is that Sky will now go after the rights for the Pro12 - something that has been mooted, if only as a "by-the-way", by at least one English daily paper this week.
Far more likely, incidentally, is that Sky will now go after the rights for the Pro12 - something that has been mooted, if only as a "by-the-way", by at least one English daily paper this week.
Sky have refused to carry upcoming ads for BT Sport on Sky Sports, but are willing to show them on other Sky branded channels and channels who advertise through Sky Media. BT have complained to Ofcom.
Sky's justification is as follows,
Quote:
BSkyB says it has invested billions of pounds in its own sports channels and will not run a rival ad campaign on the Sky Sports portfolio. However, it says BT is free to run its ads on the 100-plus other channels that Sky sells TV ad spots across.
"There many other avenues for BT to advertise its sports channels without seeking to take advantage of the investments that we've made to build Sky Sports," said a spokeswoman. "It's entirely reasonable for us to choose not to carry advertising for a directly competing service."
I think Sky will lose this one, it's a spoiling tactic. BT have as much right to advertise on SS as any other advertiser, It's clear that BT's decision to self market has annoyed BSB and they're looking for every delaying tactic possible.
I think Sky will lose this one, it's a spoiling tactic. BT have as much right to advertise on SS as any other advertiser, It's clear that BT's decision to self market has annoyed BSB and they're looking for every delaying tactic possible.
I reckon Sky are only contesting this because they know BT can advertise their YouView package, broadband, and calls alongside their sports package. If the two didn't compete in so many areas, I think Sky wouldn't have said anything.
Suggestions heard out and about today that major announcements regarding channel structure, draft schedules, carriage, more content, beyond the 'informed' Conference and MotoGP deals and basic pricing, will be announced tomorrow 09-May-2013.
Aim seems to be to deflect BT Sport questions from the BT Final Results presentation due on Friday. Thoughts that BT plc doesn't want to swamp more major corporate announcements due then with BT Sport detail.