[Wallet]

BT, the telecoms giant with ambitions to bring about a Skyfall - or at least a partial eclipse of the satellite channel's domination of TV sport - did not include boxing when announcing plans to launch two new subscription channels in July.

However, I understand they are likely to add the sport to a portfolio which already includes 39 Premier League games, tennis and rugby by acquiring BoxNation, the boxing channel set up 18 months ago by backers including promoter Frank Warren and Simon Green, now the head of BT Sport.

Green, formerly BoxNation's chief executive, remains an executive director and is keen to incorporate into BT's programming their daily output of news and interviews, plus regular live coverage of domestic and international fights. This would be seen as a further direct challenge to BSkyB, from whom Green has already snatched £738 million of Premier League TV rights.

Since the BBC ditched boxing, Sky were its prime outlet before the start of BoxNation, for which subscribers pay £10 a month. Last year Sky controversially signed an exclusive deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom, which upset other promoters.

One of BoxNation's attractions for BT is that they have links with Golden Boy, the US promoters now bidding to sign GB's Olympic stars, as well as exclusivity to the Warren stable and Frank Maloney's world heavyweight prospect David Price. BT's determination to be a major player in the TV sports market is underlined by a desire to bid for Champions' League and England matches, while it is believed they might even buy out the final years of ESPN's FA Cup contract.

http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/...bt-throw-their-hat-into-the-ring-8449350.html

:think

 

[GazOC]

Looks like it could be good for boxing at first look. Loads of sports fans like boxing but not enough to pay the extra tenner for BoxNation.

 

[dftaylor]

I remember saying this was Frank's goal last year. And I remember Rob Palmer, with his usual grace and insight, told me I didn't know what I was talking about.

The whole scheme was obvious - he never had the economies of scale to make it a standalone success, but if he set up the infrastructure and built a decent subs base, it would be an excellent asset to sell on.

Sometimes I love actually knowing something about an industry (and knowing people that work in it).

 

[Bajingo]

As long as they don't make it exclusive to BT (which would be suicidal) then this should be a great move.

 

[dftaylor]

As long as they don't make it exclusive to BT (which would be suicidal) then this should be a great move.

I've not read much about BT's platform, but I'd hope they're focusing on making the basic package being really juicy (certainly in the first year) to encourage subscribers. Some specialist sports channels along with the football rights would probably be a good incentive.

 

[NoMas]

So letme get this right... Are BT still gonna have BoxNation on Sky still or terrestrial or what??? We pay £10 month, is it gonna stay same or what? Someone break it down lol What are BT's current subscription channels?? Sorry if I sound thick, Im knackered and half asleep lol

 

[Wallet]

So letme get this right... Are BT still gonna have BoxNation on Sky still or terrestrial or what??? We pay £10 month, is it gonna stay same or what? Someone break it down lol What are BT's current subscription channels?? Sorry if I sound thick, Im knackered and half asleep lol

Not really sure what's happening, they haven't announced anything about it yet.

The channels haven't started yet, but they've got 38 premier league games next season and are going into a few other sports as well.

 

[NoMas]

Not really sure what's happening, they haven't announced anything about it yet.

The channels haven't started yet, but they've got 38 premier league games next season and are going into a few other sports as well.

weird bt getting in on sport... not sure what to make of it, not liking having to buy another sports channel to watch the football... bad enough when a games not on skysport, i havnt got espn... boxnation and mutv are the only other sports channel i buy other than skysport...

 

[dftaylor]

It had to happen. Sky has too much weight which is leading to anti-competitive practises.

 

[Roe]

I reckon they'll be bust in 3 or 4 years at most.

 

[Wallet]

BT has agreed to buy ESPN's UK and Ireland TV channels as it adds to its live sports coverage.

The deal sees BT acquire the ESPN and ESPN America channels, and their live rights to show FA Cup, Scottish Premier League, Uefa Europa League, and German Bundesliga matches.

The company will launch its BT Sport TV package in the summer.

BT had already secured the rights to show live English Premier League games for the first time, from next season.

The BT deal creates a bigger competitor for BSkyB, the satellite broadcaster that has increased its number of UK subscribers to 10 million on the back of sports rights.

BT already offers a broadcasting package through its BT Vision pay-TV offering. The ESPN deal is seen as a way to drive customers for BT Vision, which currently has about 700,000 subscribers.

The UK telecoms firm has been investing heavily in its sports offering, including buying the rights to show live Aviva Premiership rugby union matches and a deal with the WTA to show women's tennis.

It has taken on some big-name sports presenters including Jake Humphrey, who led the BBC's Formula One coverage, and Clare Balding who presented horse racing and Olympics coverage for the BBC.

After last year's auction of Premier League rights, which raised more than £3bn, ESPN was left with no rights to show live matches after the 2012-13 season.

The package went for 70% more than the previous one, with BSkyB agreeing to pay £2.28bn for the rights to 116 games per season from 2013-14 to 2015-16. BT, meanwhile, agreed to pay £736m for the rights to 38 games per season over the three-year period.

New package
The ESPN deal is expected to be completed at the end of July. After that BT said it would continue to operate at least one ESPN-branded channel as part of its new sports package.

ESPN channels will broadcast from BT Sport's new facilities at the Olympic Park in Stratford.

"We are delighted to have reached agreement with ESPN for the acquisition of their UK channels business and that we have been able to add some exciting new sports rights to the ones we already have," said Marc Watson, chief executive of television, BT Retail.

"The FA Cup, Scottish Premier League and Europa League rights will allow us to offer customers of BT Sport even more quality live football, including our first games from the Scottish top flight and our first European competition rights."

The deal will also see BT continue to show the US sports currently shown on ESPN America, which includes college basketball, college football and Nascar racing.

Ross Hair, ESPN's managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa, said: "We could not be more proud of the TV channels built and nurtured by our talented team over the past four years.

"The value of that hard work is reflected in this deal with BT and the continuation of ESPN on television screens across the UK and Ireland."

The deal does not include ESPN Classic, which will be wound down.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21577676

 

[Chatty]

Football will bust them. If they did a channel with loads of different sports and left the Premier League alone they would probably be alright but they'll put all their weight behind the prem to try and compete with sky but no one will want to subscribe to see their team play twice a season (which is what most teams will get when you spread the 39 and take away that they will want to show the big teams more).

Setanta MKII marked all over it - just let sky have the footy and the over-inflated prices that come with it and take them on in anything else.

 

[Chatty]

Unless your cn get the market share of the footy, then you have a chance but really no fucker will pay for more than a months subscription when they have less than 40 games.