JA
Also what about Premier League Tonight?
I wonder if this will mean the end of BT Sport Score - they may as well all go home at 2:30pm now.
Also what about Premier League Tonight?
SW
It's clearly going to come to an end, much like the exact time Fletch and Sav was axed was the exact time they got the rights to Saturday evening matches. It's a supplement to the live coverage utilising the same personnel both in front of and behind the camera, and the same facilities. Of course, they have done Premier League Today when they have Sunday lunchtime matches.
I wouldn't be so sure about Score, though - it's a separate production not linked to the live game. In their first few weeks on air back in 2013 they did an unconvincing scores service on Saturday afternoon.
Also what about Premier League Tonight?
It's clearly going to come to an end, much like the exact time Fletch and Sav was axed was the exact time they got the rights to Saturday evening matches. It's a supplement to the live coverage utilising the same personnel both in front of and behind the camera, and the same facilities. Of course, they have done Premier League Today when they have Sunday lunchtime matches.
I wouldn't be so sure about Score, though - it's a separate production not linked to the live game. In their first few weeks on air back in 2013 they did an unconvincing scores service on Saturday afternoon.
MY
That's what we used to have when it was just Sky Sports, none of this channel shuffling. I don't know what it's like in other pubs but in my local it's a pain in the arse having to ask for the channel to be changed every two hours.
Its a shame they didnt get the 17:30 matches as well, imagine 12:30 match, score, 17:30 match, premier league tonight, would have been quite a line up
That's what we used to have when it was just Sky Sports, none of this channel shuffling. I don't know what it's like in other pubs but in my local it's a pain in the arse having to ask for the channel to be changed every two hours.
HA
That's what we used to have when it was just Sky Sports, none of this channel shuffling. I don't know what it's like in other pubs but in my local it's a pain in the arse having to ask for the channel to be changed every two hours.
If only we got PLTV, you wouldn’t have to change channels then...
harshy
Founding member
Its a shame they didnt get the 17:30 matches as well, imagine 12:30 match, score, 17:30 match, premier league tonight, would have been quite a line up
That's what we used to have when it was just Sky Sports, none of this channel shuffling. I don't know what it's like in other pubs but in my local it's a pain in the arse having to ask for the channel to be changed every two hours.
If only we got PLTV, you wouldn’t have to change channels then...
DV
One report tonight (ESPN) that the FAPL are to re-think the last two packages to make them more attractive. Suggestion mooted is that the packs might become
(A)
5 matches on TWO Bank Holidays - instead of 10 matches on ONE BH and
5 matches on TWO Midweek Match days - instead of 10 on ONE Match day
(B)
5 matches on FOUR Midweek Match days - instead of 10 on TWO Match days
reversing the ALL Matches televised in round idea.
My question are there six full midweek programmes to make this workable?
(A)
5 matches on TWO Bank Holidays - instead of 10 matches on ONE BH and
5 matches on TWO Midweek Match days - instead of 10 on ONE Match day
(B)
5 matches on FOUR Midweek Match days - instead of 10 on TWO Match days
reversing the ALL Matches televised in round idea.
My question are there six full midweek programmes to make this workable?
RD
rdd
Founding member
My understanding is that, in the current deal, there are 33 weekend rounds, including the final Sunday, which then leaves 5 mid week/ bank holiday rounds.
Two of these are usually Boxing Day &New Year. I don’t think the FAPL plays on any other bank holidays usually (EFL has games on Good Friday/Easter Monday). But there’s a slight oddity. When either Boxing Day or New Years Day fall on a Saturday, then they get counted as a weekend round. Usually then there’s an extra midweek round over Christmas/New Year.
Lest there be any understanding that this distinction is any more then academic interest, Sky can screen a 3pm game in Ireland on Boxing Day or New Years Day only if in that year, they are counted as a “weekend” rather than “Bank Holiday” round.
Two of these are usually Boxing Day &New Year. I don’t think the FAPL plays on any other bank holidays usually (EFL has games on Good Friday/Easter Monday). But there’s a slight oddity. When either Boxing Day or New Years Day fall on a Saturday, then they get counted as a weekend round. Usually then there’s an extra midweek round over Christmas/New Year.
Lest there be any understanding that this distinction is any more then academic interest, Sky can screen a 3pm game in Ireland on Boxing Day or New Years Day only if in that year, they are counted as a “weekend” rather than “Bank Holiday” round.
W1
I read some analysis on Twitter (and apologies I can't find it to quote to you) that said BT were happy with this position - they've changed their tactics considering their recent scandals in Italy and elsewhere. They are happy being number 2 in these things, and the content deal with Sky signed later last year was an early indication of that. They intend to give BT TV customers the option to watch Sky football through their platform and now less keen to create a mammoth sports department that will rival Sky's.
Had they not changed their tactics, I would have expected both the cost of the overall deal to be higher, and for Sky Sports to have lost some ground - at a minimum having Sky lose their remaining Saturday package. The Monday night game was predicted by pundits to go over before the deal was announced.
I wonder if Sky will launch deals containing BT Sport as the 'total football' package, similar to Virgin. This could be good for fans, as at least there will be three providers (BT, Virgin and Sky) offering the 'total football' offering (shame one is not available to the whole population). Sky's NOW TV will get a boost through BT too.
It will be interesting to see in the next negotiation in a few years what effect this will have. I can see BT either coming back stronger (having switched strategy again, and having seen growth in it's TV platform as a result of the content deal with Sky) OR it thinking that the BT Sport project has cost them money and it needs to chopped. We all know that the Premier League want a vibrant BT to keep the price war going but BT might have other ideas.
Finally, the final packages available in this round would (if money was no object) be great for the BBC - or at least a free to view operator. It would really add to the BBC's coverage to have a few games at Christmas and on the final day. The website and red button could handle the simulcasting - perhaps taking world feed commentary. It would also be a great PR move for the League at home which is increasingly under fire for high ticket prices and expensive TV deals. Otherwise, I think it has to go to BT or Sky (if it can) to avoid viewers having to sign up to a third provider for such an odd number of games (it would be quite hard to market, and produce).
Had they not changed their tactics, I would have expected both the cost of the overall deal to be higher, and for Sky Sports to have lost some ground - at a minimum having Sky lose their remaining Saturday package. The Monday night game was predicted by pundits to go over before the deal was announced.
I wonder if Sky will launch deals containing BT Sport as the 'total football' package, similar to Virgin. This could be good for fans, as at least there will be three providers (BT, Virgin and Sky) offering the 'total football' offering (shame one is not available to the whole population). Sky's NOW TV will get a boost through BT too.
It will be interesting to see in the next negotiation in a few years what effect this will have. I can see BT either coming back stronger (having switched strategy again, and having seen growth in it's TV platform as a result of the content deal with Sky) OR it thinking that the BT Sport project has cost them money and it needs to chopped. We all know that the Premier League want a vibrant BT to keep the price war going but BT might have other ideas.
Finally, the final packages available in this round would (if money was no object) be great for the BBC - or at least a free to view operator. It would really add to the BBC's coverage to have a few games at Christmas and on the final day. The website and red button could handle the simulcasting - perhaps taking world feed commentary. It would also be a great PR move for the League at home which is increasingly under fire for high ticket prices and expensive TV deals. Otherwise, I think it has to go to BT or Sky (if it can) to avoid viewers having to sign up to a third provider for such an odd number of games (it would be quite hard to market, and produce).
DV
Report that the last two packages are to be resolved on Tuesday. Expect announcement early evening as usual.
My current thinking that Sky will get the Bank Holiday orientated one, BT the other. As for re-jigging I feel the FAPL will be very reluctant to do this as it could undermine the whole process. Changing the terms of part of the offering puts the whole auction into disrepute territory.
We'll see.
My current thinking that Sky will get the Bank Holiday orientated one, BT the other. As for re-jigging I feel the FAPL will be very reluctant to do this as it could undermine the whole process. Changing the terms of part of the offering puts the whole auction into disrepute territory.
We'll see.