Sky are revamping their service this summer with cricket, Formula One and golf getting dedicated channels. Football is still seen as the big seller and will have two channels, one for the Premier League and one for the rest.
But rugby union, despite Sky televising the Lions and England's autumn internationals, is going to be bundled with other sports in a variety package.
Interesting. This actually links to one of Sky's bosses, Jeremy Darroch, proposing a selective rights strategy for the Sky Sports channels.
The fact that they're now planning to charge an entry level price for a specific sports channel is telling; they're tailoring their packages towards those who watch specific sports.
Interesting. This actually links to one of Sky's bosses, Jeremy Darroch, proposing a selective rights strategy for the Sky Sports channels.
The fact that they're now planning to charge an entry level price for a specific sports channel is telling; they're tailoring their packages towards those who watch specific sports.
It's an interesting plan, but I think it could work. I know people who only watch Sky Sports for Rugby League or Cricket, where as I only like the football. If there was a football only option I'd take it, same with others who don't like football.
The F1 channel seems to work well enough, I guess when the other channels get themed weeks they must do ok.
Hmm, there are two sets of complaints I hear often.
One is from football fans who wonder why they should pay for other sports. The other is from fans of other sports who wonder why they should have to pay for football. Of course, the Premier League not only is the most expensive sports rights Sky posssess but the main driver of subscriptions.
This could be an interesting experiment though. I fear they could be making a big mistake in making golf a standalone package - I'd personally be happy to drop it for nine months of the year and take it up only for the Open, US Open and PGA (and Ryder Cup on years that it's on) (Masters is on BBC and Eir) and I suspect a lot of causal golf viewers would be the same.
There would be a lot of happy rugby union fans who take Sky primarily for the Champions Cup (and stay for the Pro 12 and Sanzaar) who would probably be delighted to drop the expensive package.
Interesting. This actually links to one of Sky's bosses, Jeremy Darroch, proposing a selective rights strategy for the Sky Sports channels.
The fact that they're now planning to charge an entry level price for a specific sports channel is telling; they're tailoring their packages towards those who watch specific sports.
It's an interesting plan, but I think it could work. I know people who only watch Sky Sports for Rugby League or Cricket, where as I only like the football. If there was a football only option I'd take it, same with others who don't like football.
The F1 channel seems to work well enough, I guess when the other channels get themed weeks they must do ok.
I agree. There is unfettered potential with such a plan being put in place - viewers who have an allegiance towards different sports have the flexibility of paying for what they want to watch, rather than have all of the Sky Sports channels. The cheaper price will no doubt keep people on the Sky platform - and frees Sky with the burden of constantly increasing prices at the expense of viewers.
It's a feasible option, and one that I feel extremely optimistic about, but we'll see how it goes.
The £18 entry level price must be a reaction to Sky losing revenue to pirate IPTV providers. I wonder if NOW TV will also offer a cheaper sports pass for one channel at a similar price?
This plan inconvieniently raises the temperature of the BT - Sky Sports availability dispute, something that's been simmering for most of the last decade.
I wonder if the one channel package will also include Sky Sports News HQ? I don't think Sky customers should have to pay for the full package to watch what is basically a promotional tool.
The marketing for Sky Sports Mix said it was going to be available to all Sky customers so that won't change and of course it acts as a teaser for the full package, much like Pick supposedly is a teaser (though not a very good one on occasion) for Freeview viewers to join Sky.
I seem to remember not with individual sports as such but Sky did use to have more bundles/packages than they do now and you could split them up to avoid getting certain channels if you had no need, say, for the kids channels. That was before they consolidated the lot into the three package option with premium options they use now. So harvesting certain elements off into separate packages isn't a totally new thing for Sky.
With dedicated names for specific sports, wonder what the non-specific sports channel will be called..?
Sky Sports Premier League
Sky Sports Football (Other)
Sky Sports Cricket
Sky Sports Golf
Sky Sports F1
Sky Sports Sports