BT Sport - Launch of BT Sport Ultimate

Have you invented a new acronym, or was that just a typo?

UEFACL? UEFA Champions League?

BT continue to increase 4K content. All the opening Aviva Premiership matches are to be covered in UHD next month.

Is there much take up though or is it likely to go the same route as 3D?

Not likely to go the same way as 3D, I think. As I've said before the main technological improvement is HDR. Extra screen real estate is a nice bonus IMO.

Retailers and manufacturers are pushing UHD at the moment but outside of streaming services and Blu-ray there is not much content, and what content there is is exclusive to Sky or BT.

Haven't seen much of BT's Premier League coverage so far, has "Come Together" been dropped?

Well you don't need special glasses to watch 4K, more people will see the benefit than with 3D, there are lots more productions in 4K than in 3D, YouTubers have taken up using 4K equipment very quickly, and it doesn't have the motion sickness problems of 3D.

Yup - it's now "I Believe It Now" by Everything Everything.

Just checked, seems that almost all of BT's Aviva Rugby Coverage including the studio based 'Rugby Tonight' is going UHD from September. Initially it seemed to me that only selected fixtures were involved in the transition. Here's September's offerings ....

Wednesday 31 August: Rugby Tonight - 8pm, BT Sport Ultra HD

Friday 2 September: Gloucester Rugby v Leicester Tigers - 7pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Saturday 3 September: Saracens v Worcester Warriors - 1.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Saturday 3 September: Harlequins v Bristol Rugby - 4.15pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Sunday 4 September: Wasps v Exeter Chiefs - 2.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Wednesday 7 September: Rugby Tonight - 8pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Friday 9 September: Worcester Warriors v Gloucester Rugby - 7pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Saturday 10 September: Leicester Tigers v Wasps - 2.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Sunday 11 September: Exeter Chiefs v Saracens - 2.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Friday 16 September: Sale Sharks v Gloucester Rugby - 7pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Saturday 17 September: Saracens v Northampton Saints - 2.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Sunday 18 September: Newcastle Falcons v Leicester Tigers - 2.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Wednesday 21 September: Rugby Tonight - 8pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Friday 23 September: Bristol Rugby v Exeter Chiefs - 7pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Saturday 24 September: Northampton Saints v Wasps - 2.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Sunday 25 September: Leicester Tigers v Bath Rugby - 2.30pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

Friday 30 September: Northampton Saints v Exeter Chiefs - 7pm, BT Sport 4K UHD

in general, Saturday lunchtime National League or FA WSL (but not SPL) games will be in UHD too - meaning on many weeks it'll be three back-to-back UHD transmissions.

The 3pm Premiership Rugby game will be on Sport 2, but will also be available on Extra 1 for BT Sport Lite subscribers.

BT Sport Score - Pougatch getting himself in a tangle handing over BTS1 viewers to Hull for the Premier League live match, seemingly continuing oblivious to the need so to do, without mentioning the move across to BTSX1. Messy.

With the respecification of the UEFA CL recently announced which has caused some friction amongst junior UEFA member associations I am expecting the 2018-21 tender processes to be put on hold until the competition format is fully agreed. A reminder that based on the 2015-18 award timetable, an annoucement covering the UK would have been due in around 10 weeks time. We'll see.