BT Sport

[Alex]

Its approximately £30 a month to get all that sport. Its worth it IMO. Especially considering the quality of the coverage for the Cricket on Sky, and the UFC nearly every weekend on BT Sport.

Its not all about the football for me. The only thing I would change is the terrible standard of football punditry. Which is slowly changing with Carra and Neville on Monday nights. But it needs more of these more articulate ex pros similar to Cricket.

[Yozza]

Its approximately £30 a month to get all that sport. Its worth it IMO. Especially considering the quality of the coverage for the Cricket on Sky, and the UFC nearly every weekend on BT Sport.

Its not all about the football for me. The only thing I would change is the terrible standard of football punditry. Which is slowly changing with Carra and Neville on Monday nights. But it needs more of these more articulate ex pros similar to Cricket.

Haven't watched it yet - can't be bothered sitting through a hour of the Rat Faced Manc - is it worth it?

[magicalbarnes]

Still no news for Virgin custimers either is there?

I was speaking to someone who works for Virgin Media. They've advised that Virgin are still trying to agree a deal with BT as Virgin are wanting to include the BT matches in they're package free to all XL customers - the same way they have done for the prem plus & and ESPN matches.

Sky have always charged additional costs for the prem plus & ESPN games.

Fingers crossed that something will be agreed ASAP!

On a seperate note: Is BT Sport only available free to Sky Sports subscribers on the opening weekend? Or is it free to those with the basic sky package?

[Yozza]

I was speaking to someone who works for Virgin Media. They've advised that Virgin are still trying to agree a deal with BT as Virgin are wanting to include the BT matches in they're package free to all XL customers - the same way they have done for the prem plus & and ESPN matches.

Sky have always charged additional costs for the prem plus & ESPN games.

Fingers crossed that something will be agreed ASAP!

On a seperate note: Is BT Sport only available free to Sky Sports subscribers on the opening weekend? Or is it free to those with the basic sky package?

Just the opening weekend

[magicalbarnes]

Just the opening weekend

I ment to view it on the opening weekend, do you have to have sky sports to vie BT sport. Or can you just have the basis sky subscription?

[Neil Young]

Setanta took the games that had been PPV on PremPlus, so technically they hadn't been part of a subscription package previously.

But I agree with the broader point about the EC meddling.

I forgot about that repellent attempt to squeeze the consumer.

Yeah, the EU move wasn't in the interests of viewers.

[Yozza]

I ment to view it on the opening weekend, do you have to have sky sports to vie BT sport. Or can you just have the basis sky subscription?

Actually looking at it now I think BT was only free on 1st August - not opening fixture

I know Sky are showing their first game live on Sky 1 free to everyone:

To celebrate the first day of the Premier League season and the new look schedule, Sky Sports is inviting every home in Britain to enjoy a free day of action on Saturday August 17. Sky Sports 1 will replace the regular programming on Sky 2 (on Sky and other pay TV services) and Pick TV (on Freeview and You View) meaning millions of home viewers can enjoy a live Premier League match, a Football League fixture, plus a host of other football shows at no cost.

http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8818352/moyes-mourinho-and-pellegrini-kick-off-sky-sports-biggest-premier-league-season

[G]

To be honest the inconvenience of streams is what gets me to pay.

I would cancel Sky Sports and stream all the time if I could find one that was constantly good quality, and didn't involve me having to flick through several websites just to find one where I can make out which player is which.

Sometimes its just not worth the hassle.

http://watchjsc.com/how-to-guide/

You can't argue with the price and if you have good broadband speeds you'll be watching every match in HD for a fraction of the rip off prices Sky and BT charge.

Not strictly legal but there's little chance of them finding you out.

[Gibbo]

You done that G - did it look decent enough?

[Hollowman]

I suspect BT's long con here involves expanding their broadband base, rather than any direct interest in sports entertainment - the latter is just a tool for the former. That being the case, I'm not sure how open they'll be to a deal with Virgin, who are their primary fibre competition. The ploy of offering BT Sport free to all Infinity customers shows where their interests lie. Virgin would obviously want a carriage arrangement that is similar to the ESPN deal so they can give it to their XL customers, but there's a reason ESPN failed to compete, and handing customers to their main fibre rival doesn't seem like good business sense for BT. That said, there's only so far they can go before it's cutting off their nose to spite their face, so I imagine some deal will be reached, but if Virgin are to offer it to XL customers for free they might have to eat some of the cost.

[G]

You done that G - did it look decent enough?

I've signed up alright mate but I've yet to watch a live game on it.Saturday will be the first one. According to the people who did the tutorial,Al Jazeera have upped the quality off the streams this week so the are absolutely perfect.

I'll let you know after the game Saturday.

[ric.williams]

http://watchjsc.com/how-to-guide/

You can't argue with the price and if you have good broadband speeds you'll be watching every match in HD for a fraction of the rip off prices Sky and BT charge.

Not strictly legal but there's little chance of them finding you out.

hmm. mighty tempted

[ric.williams]

I've signed up alright mate but I've yet to watch a live game on it.Saturday will be the first one. According to the people who did the tutorial,Al Jazeera have upped the quality off the streams this week so the are absolutely perfect.

I'll let you know after the game Saturday.

can you post here please to let us know please

[G]

Will do.

[G]

Preview vid of their coverage here.

Only downside is Keys&Gray

[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGBM7cELsak"]Al Jazeera Sports Preview[/ame]

Sorry for the thread derail