IMPORTANT: UK FOOTBALLING VIEWING ON TV

[Guest gumper]

After a conversation with a colleague i was reminded that Sky's monopoly hold on the UK TV rights for the premiership is ending at the end of this season:

 

From the brief reserach ive done it seems as if the Live football has been split into 6 'packages' and no one provider was allowed to bid for all six packages. (this was done in an effort to reduce Sky's monopoly and ultimately provide a better and more cost effective solution for end users)

 

Setanta have won 1 of the packages allowing them to show 46 games per season (doesnt tie up with the info in link below; looks more like they have 2 packages) starting next season (subscribing to Setanta is approx £11/month)

 

Sky (as far as I am aware) still hold the rights to the other 5 packages, and the BBC keep the highlights (Match of the day)

 

Few questions/points/rantings:

 

I'm at work so havent been able to do much investigation but I am finding it very difficult to find much more info about all of this

 

I have not been able to find anywhere a list of what the packages are and what games might be shown in each package or how the allocation of games/teams is divided etc.

 

I currently pay about £36/month for my Sky and £50/year for premiership plus so that I can watch all the footy that is shown at home (I have young kids so cant go to the pub/ground as much as I would like)

 

I would resent having to pay another £11 a month on top of the £36 I alreday pay (total £47 a month is getting abit steep for footy!)

 

It really pisses me off that you cant find out what games are going to be shown on what channels in advance; you are therefore unable to make an informed decision as to what to subscribe to in advance of the season starting. (for example sky offer the half/half sport and movies package where you get skysports 1&3 but not skysports 2)

 

As Sky are now no longer going to be showing as much premiership football you would expect their price for next season to come down (fat chance!!!)

 

This breakup of Sky's monopoly is supposed to benefit the end user; all its doing its reducing level of service and raising costs (what a pile of s****)

 

I would be very intersted to here the views of other UK sky subscribers (victims) and hear what others are planning to do

 

Also does anyone have any more info on what the packages etc. are and what might be shown where (for example if setanta are only showing monday night games which someone suggested it definetly wont be worth an LFC supporter subscribing as we are never on then!!)

 

At the end of the day im only arsed about watching LFC and resent having to pay all this money for stuff i dont watch (Newcastle against Bolton; wicked )

 

If, hopefully in a few years each team is given the right to sell their own games broadcasts etc. I would quite happily pay £500/year to see all liverpools games on the TV (dsafe in the knowledge that the money is going to the club and not to the PL fatcats)

 

Thanks for reading.

 

 

Links:

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4949998.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/4156138.stm

http://techdigest.tv/2006/12/bt_signs_setant.html

http://www.benchmark.com/news/europe/2006/12_18_2006.php

http://gb.setanta.tv/gb_index.htm

http://www.topuptv.com/setantasports.html

http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?comm...xtPage=homepage

[baz2107]

Think PPV games are being scrapped on sky as of the end of the season, at least thats what I heard, still doesnt make much difference if Setanta have got the rights

[honourablegeorge]

Sky's monopoly ended last season, i thought - there are already games on Setanta. Liverpool v Sheffiedl United last weekend, for example.

 

Just means there are more games on more channels - you're not getting less for your money, just games that aren't shown elsewhere are shown on Setanta.

 

Sky and Prem Plus show more games than every nowadays.

[Guest gumper]

Sky's monopoly ended last season, i thought - there are already games on Setanta. Liverpool v Sheffiedl United last weekend, for example.

 

Just means there are more games on more channels - you're not getting less for your money, just games that aren't shown elsewhere are shown on Setanta.

 

Sky and Prem Plus show more games than every nowadays.

 

The game shown last saturday was no NOT for UK LEGALLY!!; that was a 15:00 saturday game; none of which can be legally shown in the UK. The games shown on Setanta Ireland would be different form those shown on Setanta UK wich is what you would have to subscribe to if you live in the UK.

 

I watch some games on the internet as well and SEtanta often has some PL games on; but this is Setanta Ireland not the same Setanta you would see in the UK.

[adiman]

Setanta have got the Monday night and Saturday teatime package. I think for your subscription you also get all US golf, NASN (MLB and NFL matches)

 

More here

[Mondavi]

Setanta have got the Monday night and Saturday teatime package. I think for your subscription you also get all US golf, NASN (MLB and NFL matches)

 

More here

 

The question is......will setanta show games on their normal channels, or will they show on PPV channels a la prem plus ? No details released on that as yet, we'll have to wait and see what transpires in the summer.

[CarraLegend]

How much is that Setanta package at the minute, is it the £11 mentioned in the first post or is that from next season?

 

Sundays are f***ing s*** unless we're playing so wouldnt mind having the Dutch, Scottish, German footy etc to watch so thinking about getting it.

[Benitez]

Setanta Sports Pack right now is £15 a month. I'm sure it'll go up next season!

 

It's really good at the moment, and well worth that price, it's a shame if it does go up just to cover Prem matches tbh, cos I like it how it is, without the Prem, cos it's good value and shows loads of live ice hockey, and loads of live footy from the bundesliga (which is great!), Eredivisie, French league, Portugese league amongst others. Shame it's not the Spanish footy package they have bought, rather than the prem!

[Guest gumper]

Setanta Sports Pack right now is £15 a month. I'm sure it'll go up next season!

 

It's really good at the moment, and well worth that price, it's a shame if it does go up just to cover Prem matches tbh, cos I like it how it is, without the Prem, cos it's good value and shows loads of live ice hockey, and loads of live footy from the bundesliga (which is great!), Eredivisie, French league, Portugese league amongst others. Shame it's not the Spanish footy package they have bought, rather than the prem!

 

although setanta are quoting £15 on their website it is available in UK on freeview and sky at £10.99 per month from top up TV (link in first post)

 

While i appreciate that Setanta might be great for other sports if all you want to do (like myself) is watch premiership football (in particular liverpool) then you would have to pay Sky and Setanta now to get all the 6 live packages: this is what pisses me off

 

Sorry for ranting but im furious

Edited February 28, 2007 by gumper

[Benitez]

although setanta are quoting £15 on their website it is available in UK on freeview and sky at £10.99 per month from top up TV (link in first post)

 

 

 

 

that Topuptv for 10.99 doesn't mention NASN though, so it's of no use to me

[keno]

 

Sorry for ranting but im furious

 

Grumper, your right and I kind of saw this coming after they won the US PGA Tour Golf. Besides watching the Reds I enjoy the golf too. I phoned them to say I just wanted the golf. They said you must subscribe to a package for £14.99 a month. I politely said to them WTF would I want Rangers and Celtic TV for?

 

Basically whilst I don't mind other TV companies in competition with Sky - Sky are hardly going to cut there subs are they.

Edited February 28, 2007 by keno

[CarraLegend]

Setanta Sports Pack right now is £15 a month. I'm sure it'll go up next season!

 

It's really good at the moment, and well worth that price, it's a shame if it does go up just to cover Prem matches tbh, cos I like it how it is, without the Prem, cos it's good value and shows loads of live ice hockey, and loads of live footy from the bundesliga (which is great!), Eredivisie, French league, Portugese league amongst others. Shame it's not the Spanish footy package they have bought, rather than the prem!

 

Cheers think i'll probably get it and get rid of some of the s*** I never watch

[Extraordinary Swindle]

Sky's monopoly ended last season, i thought - there are already games on Setanta. Liverpool v Sheffiedl United last weekend, for example.

That was on Setanta Ireland, they alternate showing games with RTE - one Saturday, Setanta Ireland shows a 3.00pm game, the following week RTE show a game in the same slot.

[Benitez]

Cheers think i'll probably get it and get rid of some of the s*** I never watch

 

 

aye, thats what I did!

 

 

Now I just got basic Sky package, cos I was only really watching Spanish footy on Sky Sports, so it was a total rip off for me. I prefer to watch that, and leagues like Bundesliga to non Liverpool prem games. So Setanta is cool.

[Guest gumper]

Bit more research found this:

 

http://wwp.premierlive.co.uk/tv/sky-sports...ports/index.htm

 

Its from Sky so its bound to be positive but Sky seems to claim they will actually be showing more live matches next season than they did this with Setanta showing even more so it looks as if one the earlier posters was right ( sorry cant remember your name!)

 

This 'nearly' live business might be interesting as well; that'll be more afternoons spent walking round with headphones and blinkers so that i dont accidently overhear the score!

[richt71]

aye, thats what I did!

Now I just got basic Sky package, cos I was only really watching Spanish footy on Sky Sports, so it was a total rip off for me. I prefer to watch that, and leagues like Bundesliga to non Liverpool prem games. So Setanta is cool.

 

Just to throw a curveball in here. I did a survey recently on behalf of sky. They're rejigging their packages. One of them the entertainment package will go up by £5 a month but will include 4 FREE (their words) footie channels - mutv, chelsea tv, Real tv and LIVERPOOLFC.TV. These proposed channels will show ressie action, interviews and full 24 hour delayed matches from pl, cl and carling cup. Many friendlies will also be covered. Not timetable for these was mentioned.

[Guest gumper]

aye, thats what I did!

Now I just got basic Sky package, cos I was only really watching Spanish footy on Sky Sports, so it was a total rip off for me. I prefer to watch that, and leagues like Bundesliga to non Liverpool prem games. So Setanta is cool.

 

 

How do you watch Liverpool? Are you one those fabled season ticket holders or a pub goer

[cymrococh]

A mate of mine works for Setanta and when I bumped into her the other day, she had the premiership contract in her bag. Seeing her tomorrow night so will find out about it then.

[Benitez]

How do you watch Liverpool? Are you one those fabled season ticket holders or a pub goer

 

 

I go to whatever home games I can afford to go to. And I did have Sky Sports until earlier this year! So I've not been without if for long. And so far, I've watched some games on the interweb, and a few others I've listed to on good old fashioned radio

[Mono]

Are Sky and Setanta 100% totally independent of each other?? No chance of any cosy cartels down the road?

Edited February 28, 2007 by Mono

[Guest gumper]

Are Sky and Setanta 100% totally independent of each other?? No chance of any cosy cartels down the road?

 

 

aparantly so.......

[Hightown Phil]

I've got it now, it's worth the money, but then I can sit there all day and watch the Racing.

[Rico]

Sky [...] will include [...] LIVERPOOLFC.TV [which] will show ressie action, interviews and full 24 hour delayed matches from pl, cl and carling cup. Many friendlies will also be covered.

 

Hubba, hubba, hubba! Just what I've been waiting for. I think I'm gonna spooge.

[DJS]

Sky's monopoly ended last season, i thought - there are already games on Setanta. Liverpool v Sheffiedl United last weekend, for example.

 

Dont think that counts mate, as that broadcast wasnt a UK broadcast. At least, not legally anyway.

 

Anyone who has setanta and watched that, or pubs that showed it, was breaking the law, technically speaking.

[Guest RedLegend]

Are Sky and Setanta 100% totally independent of each other?? No chance of any cosy cartels down the road?

 

Well Setanta are an Irish company so different to Sky. They've been in competition for a number of contracts recently (Setanta got the USA PGA tour from under the noses of Sky apparently).