Were these rights previously not held anywhere or have they acquired them from another broadcaster ?
Just looking at the BBL website and the last TV rights deal was with British Eurosport in 2013-2015 which was highlights only and last season they had a few matches on the Sky Sports and BBL website.
By the looks of it 24 live men's matches and 8 live women's matches on freeview will get a better audience than buried away on sky website or BBL website and the red button can get a big reach, for example Chris Moyles Longest Show ever got 2.84 million on the red button and BBC Sport is one of the biggest websites in the UK but the BBC have to promote it to be successful.
Good to see any minority sport getting the exposure that the BBC gives, even through the website/red button. Hopefully the deal will allow them to show the finals on a linear channel if the interest builds.
This is, of course, the
return
of British Basketball to the BBC - Grandstand showed the National Cup final live and highlights of the BBL Championship playoffs and final up until around 2001/2002 IIRC.
Big sponsorship news from Sky this morning - after 23 years, Ford's sponsorship of Super Sunday and Monday Night Football is over. Nissan takes over sponsorship of Super Sunday and football on Saturdays, bet365 will sponsor Monday Night Football and Friday Night Football.
Yeah, I think I misread the article first time round - the "dedicated" bit in relation to Ireland seems to actually refer to the commercial (ie pub) version.
Yeah, I think I misread the article first time round - the "dedicated" bit in relation to Ireland seems to actually refer to the commercial (ie pub) version.
No, it says 'viewers in the Republic of Ireland' so that suggests everyone
So no longer will there be the odd situation in the UK where Eurosport have to show the biggest matches on delay and have no live coverage at all from the QFs onwards.
One for ITV to sneak in and grab secondary rights for?
Although the 5 hour time zone with most of the action taking place in peak time (UK) maybe be disruptive to the usual ITV4 schedule of repeats, fillers and repeats.
So Eurosport broadcasting the big matches live now? The thing is, I know that Sky has still got some of the ATP world tour rights, but I can't help but think that they may be having a second thought with those as well.
With regards to secondary rights, I'm sure both the BBC and ITV would be keen. But, here's another thought; Dave. They've got some BDO darts, Carribean T20 cricket, so maybe tennis?
I seem to recall but can't find it anywhere a proposal a while ago to split international packages of Tennis into two major packs and a series of smaller ones.
The idea was Pack 1 ATP 1000's plus World Tour Finals
2 ATP 500's out of domestic market
ATP 250's to be grouped on continental areas.
If Sky were to leave the Tennis arena completely. I can easily see BT with it's WTA agreement being very interested in picking at least some packs, if not all in the future.