The Sport Thread

Tennis doesn't really fit into the category of 'blokie sport' though which the other sports rights they've picked up kind of do. Also I don't think Eurosport would be interested in doing a deal with anyone but the BBC or ITV.

Sky must have been paying Eurosport a lot of money if they were subbing the rights. Either Sky didn't think it worth it anymore or Eurosport asked them for more money.

It wouldn't surprise me if Eurosport wanted this one for themselves.

So have Sky dropped them or just like the Aus Open have the more aggressive Eurosport decided to keep things to themselves?

A poster over on that other forum (who seems to have some knowledge) says it's the first year Eurosport have held all the rights. That would contradict the newspaper reports which seemed to imply they'd been sub licensing them for some time.


Either way unlike the BBC's previous Australian Open deal Sky would have been paying a healthy premium for the primary rights - being able to show everything and severely restricting Eurosport's coverage - so had they felt financially able to continue the deal I'm sure they would have. They aren't 'marquee' rights but they're pretty descent ones to
hold. Eurosport may have asked for more from Sky but even if the price was the same their need to cut costs would probably have won out. Its fallen very nice for Eurosport given their plans to grow.

As for a sub licensing deal with a FTA channel - I can't see it myself. I'm sure ITVs French Open deal is directly with the organisers, who want to offer FTA coverage alongside Eurosport's where possible. Much as I'd like to see some ceoversge on a FTA channel I doubt the figures would add up for ITV - let alone anyone else -and I can't see the BBC going for it.

A FTA channel would want the equivalent to ITVs French Open deal - ie the choice of any match at a particular time - and if you're trying to grow the profile and reach of your channel that's a lot to give up exclusive rights for one of the biggest events you've got. Sky (or perhaps BT Sport) could - they chose to pay enough to possibly make that deal worth it, a FTA channel wouldn't

The appeal of the US Open to a 'general' audience isn't big enough for a FTA channel to pay what they'd want and, unlike the Olympics (which is), there's also no requirement for them to offer a certain level of FTA coverage. A lot of the play may be at a good time for a UK audience but the biggest matches are often overnight and the men's final in particular is often a very late finish for a UK audience.

Hopefully this deal will spur Eurosport into getting their App onto many more Connected TV platforms. It's a shame that they've stalled the offering and are relying on web services and casting options.

Also I guess in part to it being primarily on Sky for so long it just doesn't rank alongside the other grand slams in terms of affection. The French and Australian Opens, along with Wimbledon, offer something a bit more than just a tennis tournament but the US Open is kind of the poor relation.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I always thought that Sky held the primary rights, and sub licensed to Eurosport, as opposed to Eurosport sub licensing the primary rights to Sky.

You're not going to believe this folks - Motors TV UK is back on air, certainly on Sky Digital!

Back on the EPG. Should also be broadcasting on Virgin.

Well that's surprising! Is this becoming an annual occurrence now?

Rebranded Arise Motors?

And we all thought it would never come back, just like Plus. Instead, they popped up at Obaigbena's joke school of non payment.