PF
The Sports logos have seemingly always been different than the rest when they had uniform looks. Still using that modified version of an old corporate font.
Perhaps Sky are planning a new look for their channels (wouldn't surprise me, they have re-branded the Sky Movies channels how many times over the years?) that maybe this is the start of a new look for the channels and Sky Sports is the first to get it?
Perhaps Sky are planning a new look for their channels (wouldn't surprise me, they have re-branded the Sky Movies channels how many times over the years?) that maybe this is the start of a new look for the channels and Sky Sports is the first to get it?
JA
I'm glad someone else has picked up this point, the numbered channels give so much more scheduling flexibility that dedicated channels make much more difficult.
Rugby is my main thing, I would actively avoid all things football but do dip into several other sports as and when. SANZAAR & internationals have been shown on at least 3 of the numbered channels and I think 4.
It only takes 2 summer/autumn internationals overlapping when, say, there's no football on..for this new theory to fall apart. Time'll tell, but so far I'm not impressed.
The problem will be when they need to show two rugby matches, or GAA and rugby league, or any two of the non "chosen" sports at the same time.
This is what is leading me to conclude that Sky's rights strategy will now be completely focused on the "chosen" and that the "non chosen" - in particular rugby union - can now look forward to less coverage.
(One source is claiming the European Rugby cups are on their way to BT. There are murmurings Sky would give up the Pro 12 once this contract ends. That still leaves Sky with quite a bit of rights, particularly exclusive SANZAAR rights and England and Ireland's Autumn Internationals, as well as the Top 14).
But announcing your strategy in this way is a hell of a way of letting your rival know what sports they can now spend less bidding on and hope to retain....
This is what is leading me to conclude that Sky's rights strategy will now be completely focused on the "chosen" and that the "non chosen" - in particular rugby union - can now look forward to less coverage.
(One source is claiming the European Rugby cups are on their way to BT. There are murmurings Sky would give up the Pro 12 once this contract ends. That still leaves Sky with quite a bit of rights, particularly exclusive SANZAAR rights and England and Ireland's Autumn Internationals, as well as the Top 14).
But announcing your strategy in this way is a hell of a way of letting your rival know what sports they can now spend less bidding on and hope to retain....
I'm glad someone else has picked up this point, the numbered channels give so much more scheduling flexibility that dedicated channels make much more difficult.
Rugby is my main thing, I would actively avoid all things football but do dip into several other sports as and when. SANZAAR & internationals have been shown on at least 3 of the numbered channels and I think 4.
It only takes 2 summer/autumn internationals overlapping when, say, there's no football on..for this new theory to fall apart. Time'll tell, but so far I'm not impressed.
RD
rdd
Founding member
The dedicated channels on their own aren't the problem...it's when the dedicated subscriptions are added that you really lose the flexibility. If a person takes out a subscription to Sky Sports Golf, they want all the golf, and if clashing events mean some coverage has to go on another channel, then they'll feel done out of if they can't watch it, because their subscription specifically only covers "Sky Sports Golf" and not "golf on Sky Sports".
LL
London Lite
Founding member
I hope there is an incentive for those who take out the single channel subs that they continue to receive Sky Sports Mix for overspill coverage.
JA
Yeah, Mix and News HQ should be available to all, and Red Button should be available to everyone subscribing to the channel that normally airs the sport it's being used for (so if Red Button does golf overspill, Golf subscribers would see that feed. If it's showing football, the Football subscribers would see it but the Golf subscribers would not).
Solution: use Football 2 as a popup channel in the summer, like they've done with certain events recently (was it Sky Sports 4 that they've been using?).
It only takes 2 summer/autumn internationals overlapping when, say, there's no football on..for this new theory to fall apart. Time'll tell, but so far I'm not impressed.
NW
On paper it sounds like a really good idea, however it's hard to imagine what it will be like in a year's time, as mentioned within this thread they may have to be flexible with the channel names during off months for other sports.
However it could prove really successful as people are willing to pay for what they want to watch. I currently have Sky Sports but I'm willing to keep Sky Sports Football (or whatever they're going to call it) and ditch the rest, I know other people, especially Rugby League fans who are going to do the same.
I think it's a bad idea especially since Sky has rights to all sort of events.
On paper it sounds like a really good idea, however it's hard to imagine what it will be like in a year's time, as mentioned within this thread they may have to be flexible with the channel names during off months for other sports.
However it could prove really successful as people are willing to pay for what they want to watch. I currently have Sky Sports but I'm willing to keep Sky Sports Football (or whatever they're going to call it) and ditch the rest, I know other people, especially Rugby League fans who are going to do the same.
JA
BT Sport Europe lasted one season before being renamed. Just sayin'.
Good point, well made. If I remember correctly it was launched for the European football contract, within a year it was being used as overspill on European rugby weekends, and a bit later just became BT Sport 3.
On Virgin to this day, it's only full-screen when there's live matches being shown, and has the "final score" style graphics at all other times.
And the more I think about it, it's European rugby weekends when both BT & Sky can be pretty well solid across several channels - I think that arrangement has a year or so left to run, and having effectively 8 channels to spread it over does have certain advantages. Being across 2 pay providers not so good.
I'm glad someone else has picked up this point, the numbered channels give so much more scheduling flexibility that dedicated channels make much more difficult.
BT Sport Europe lasted one season before being renamed. Just sayin'.
Good point, well made. If I remember correctly it was launched for the European football contract, within a year it was being used as overspill on European rugby weekends, and a bit later just became BT Sport 3.
On Virgin to this day, it's only full-screen when there's live matches being shown, and has the "final score" style graphics at all other times.
And the more I think about it, it's European rugby weekends when both BT & Sky can be pretty well solid across several channels - I think that arrangement has a year or so left to run, and having effectively 8 channels to spread it over does have certain advantages. Being across 2 pay providers not so good.
DV
On Virgin to this day, it's only full-screen when there's live matches being shown, and has the "final score" style graphics at all other times.
Same on Sky, You have to press red for full screen but that's in SD only.
On Virgin to this day, it's only full-screen when there's live matches being shown, and has the "final score" style graphics at all other times.
Same on Sky, You have to press red for full screen but that's in SD only.