Posted May 9, 201311 yr BT have announced who'll be fronting their sports coverage and it isn't great, Michael Owen joining as a commentator being one of the weirdest choices. For some unknown reason they've hired the ever Charismatic Rio Ferdinand to do lots of their programming and interviews too. http://www.btlife.bt.com/entertainment/bt-sport-announces-a-great-line-up-of-sporting-talent/ On the plus side, they've announced that the channel will be free for BT Customers.
May 9, 201311 yr BT have announced who'll be fronting their sports coverage and it isn't great, Michael Owen joining as a commentator being one of the weirdest choices. For some unknown reason they've hired the ever Charismatic Rio Ferdinand to do lots of their programming and interviews too. http://www.btlife.bt.com/entertainment/bt-sport-announces-a-great-line-up-of-sporting-talent/ On the plus side, they've announced that the channel will be free for BT Customers. ...another reason not to get BT!
May 10, 201311 yr How are they showing them? On TV or online streams? Both. With BT broadband you get BT TV including the sports bit and can also watch sport online or on your phone/tablet as well. I looked into it but as I'm in the sticks it's not available on TV here. But would be tempted otherwise. It's the same price as our current provider but you get BT TV as well for the same price. I might consider it anyway but hubby says he can't be arsed to change email addresses! Edited May 10, 201311 yr by Beerqueen
May 10, 201311 yr We have BT broadband, but I've never seen any kind of BT TV. We just have a freeview box.
May 10, 201311 yr Think it may be new - the sports bit certainly is - from August. Give them a ring to ask them - it's probably easier than trying to find out on their website.
May 10, 201311 yr Interesting story this as BT have raided Radio 5 Live: Darren Fletcher, Alastair Eykyn (Tennis/Rugby Union), Lynsey Hipgrave (Tennis) and Nick Mullins (Tennis/Rugby Union) are all off to BT (as well as Jake Humphrey from BBC TV). Imo, BBC have lost the will to compete with other channels/forms of media, in sport. I can even see a day when Radio 5 loses EPL rights - it's coming. V sad.
May 10, 201311 yr Interesting story this as BT have raided Radio 5 Live: Darren Fletcher, Alastair Eykyn (Tennis/Rugby Union), Lynsey Hipgrave (Tennis) and Nick Mullins (Tennis/Rugby Union) are all off to BT (as well as Jake Humphrey from BBC TV). Imo, BBC have lost the will to compete with other channels/forms of media, in sport. I can even see a day when Radio 5 loses EPL rights - it's coming. V sad. Can you lose Radio rights? Surely a radio station can commentate on a game even if they are not present. But yeah I agree with your point they really are losing their will to compete. Losing rights to the FA Cup was huge and I pray that ITV don't get rights to Premier League highlights again. The Premier League was awful. Featured 1 game for like 30 mins (with add breaks) then some games in a bit of depth and brushed over the other games barely showing more the goals. Those were dark days and Arsenal were dominating, so it was even less enjoyable. Despite my dislike for Lawerson and Shearer nothing can beat MOTD.
May 10, 201311 yr Can you lose Radio rights? Surely a radio station can commentate on a game even if they are not present. But yeah I agree with your point they really are losing their will to compete. Losing rights to the FA Cup was huge and I pray that ITV don't get rights to Premier League highlights again. The Premier League was awful. Featured 1 game for like 30 mins (with add breaks) then some games in a bit of depth and brushed over the other games barely showing more the goals. Those were dark days and Arsenal were dominating, so it was even less enjoyable. Despite my dislike for Lawerson and Shearer nothing can beat MOTD. Agreed re. ITV - shocking stuff - and MOTD. Apparently, the Radio rights are bid for. Radio 5 just renewed their EPL rights for 3 years, and the FA Cup and England International rights for 5 years. Radio 5 has no rights for some EPL games (Saturday late k/o and Sunday midday) and sonetimes decides not to broadcast other games they do have rights for. Talk Sport is really competing against Radio 5 and, if the cost of the broadcast rights keeps rising, I wonder whether they'll reduce the number of games they bid to commentate on? For radio broadcasts, stations bid to win packages of 30 or so matches. There are seven packages: the BBC has four. Hope BBC can stay in the game on the radio, at least.
May 10, 201311 yr The investment that has gone into this is massive and represents a major commitment on the part of BT to compete against an established provider such as Sky and offer the consumer a wider choice. The BT share price was up about 11% today having dipped yesterday so someone out there believes BT can deliver. Of note is that BT's pricing for Pubs and Clubs is significantly lower than Sky's (Sky use rateable value to determine cost for pubs and clubs). I I will be investigating.............
May 10, 201311 yr Their website seemed very busy - it'll be popular - as they've said alot of people don't want to pay £50-odd a month but would still like to be able to see premier league football. A cheaper alternative is bound to attract interest but I've no idea how many they have to sell to break even.
May 10, 201311 yr Anything the break up the monopoly of Sky is a good thing. Sky prices keep going up and up way ahead of inflation. Are Premier League packages sold to one provider in foreign countries?​My experience in Sub-Saharan Africa is that South African channel SuperSport own all the rights for the BPL and show every game live across the continent. However the Digital Television company charge $80 a month for the sports package. Astronomical figures when one considers some of these countries average GDP/Capita is less than $1000
