TV coverage of football

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 12 Oct 2008, 11:15

As a supporter of England football team I was very unhappy that STV had not purchased rights to show the game against Kazhakstan yesterday. ITV viewers in England, Ireland and Wales had the game but STV refused to stump up. I'm not alone - there are thousands of England supporters in Scotland who must have been equally disappointed and many more who don't support England but are football fans and who also wanted to see the game. It was also on ITV HD but you need Freesat for that and I imagine Sky and Virgin subscribers were able to select ITV London but I don't have those options. I finally got to see highlights on ITV4 this morning.

This brings me to a more general point about football coverage on TV. In order to see all the games I want, I would have to subscribe to a number of different providers. I would need Setanta, the complete Sky Sports package and goodness knows what else and I simply can't justify that cost. In fact, it's just another example where the 'free market' hasn't in any way resulted in a better deal for customers. There may be competition for viewing rights but from the punter's POV it's just confusion and expense. (I believe England's next game is available on BBC3 so hurrah for that.)

What I think we need is a third party to negotiate between the customer and the companies holding the broadcasting rights. At the start of the season I want to be able to peruse the fixture list and pre-select the games I want to see and pay a reasonable sum for that right without having to subscribe to a host of different providers. So, for example, I might wish to choose to view all games featuring Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool along with all England fixtures, Champions League and Eufa games featuring British teams, Old Firm matches and games featuring Carlisle United. Over and above that, I want the facility to add any other game I fancy (whoever is showing it) on a pay per view basis. And I don't want to have to festoon my house with satellite dishes, buy new set-top boxes or re-cable to get what I want.

The customer is king. Get it sorted! (rant over)

Eck · Post by **Eck** » 13 Oct 2008, 11:38

There are plenty of online sites where you can purchase matches.

http://www.lovefooty.net/
Is one of them.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 13 Oct 2008, 12:26

Bob Jefferson wrote:I believe England's next game is available on BBC3 so hurrah for that.

I was wrong. In fact BBC3 is screening Germany v Wales. Setanta has the England game and STV isn't even showing highlights.

Have you tried watching a streamed football game Eck? Think I'll stick with the 5 Live radio commentary.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Oct 2008, 12:48

Just bite the bullet and get your cable package back. I think the Virgin VIP package is pretty good value once you take into consideration it covers all your phone calls and broadband use, as well as giving full sports and movies coverage. And if you already get discounted telephone and internet from another source, then simply use the savings towards upgrading your TV package.

Either that or bribe a fellow England supporter with beer, whenever there's a match on. Not sure if that works out any cheaper tho'!

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 13 Oct 2008, 20:46

Why not just find something more interesting to do - like make soup or something.......

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 13 Oct 2008, 21:09

Making soup is good too. I've just made some fantastic stock in fact. It started off as chicken stock yesterday but I added a duck carcass this evening and it now tastes and smells so good I'm really tempted just to scoff the whole lot.

Now stop trying to change the subject. I'm still annoyed!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 13 Oct 2008, 22:18

Blooming heck! You're buying duck, but won't shell out for the footie?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 14 Oct 2008, 06:38

Half a duck actually - around £3 from Scotmid as I recall. I can't afford a whole duck nowadays.

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 14 Oct 2008, 16:37

Marya wrote:Just bite the bullet and get your cable package back. I think the Virgin VIP package is pretty good value once you take into consideration it covers all your phone calls and broadband use, as well as giving full sports and movies coverage. And if you already get discounted telephone and internet from another source, then simply use the savings towards upgrading your TV package.

Either that or bribe a fellow England supporter with beer, whenever there's a match on. Not sure if that works out any cheaper tho'!

How much is that package?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 14 Oct 2008, 17:09

£86 a month from what I can see. £1032 per annum. It's a lot of money. We have the BT Vision employee package so it doesn't make any sense for me to sign up with Virgin or Sky.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 14 Oct 2008, 17:14

Bob Jefferson wrote:Half a duck actually - around £3 from Scotmid as I recall. I can't afford a whole duck nowadays.

you need to get out more often, Bob. Specifically to one of the local parks. Loads of mallards all splashing around and totally free.

All you have to do is catch them...

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 14 Oct 2008, 17:22

Killing a mallard duck in your local park is not actually illegal per se, as far as I know, but it might be a little distressing to other park users. I suspect that Brighton and Rosefield Residents Association might frown upon it. And I imagine that Friends of Figgate Park wouldn't like it at all.

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 25 Oct 2008, 11:51

Well Bob my team is Inter Milan and now there's no coverage of their games for me to watch as channel 5 has stopped showing Italian footie.
Mr BM won't pay for an uprgrade on the basic Sky package so I'm even less chuffed than you are Bob.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 25 Oct 2008, 13:28

I think I'm resigned to subscribing to Setanta for my fix but for the time being I'm waiting for an engineer to call to organise an appointment to repair my BTVision box which is on the blink.

Black Mamba · Post by **Black Mamba** » 25 Oct 2008, 13:47

Wish I could talk Mr. BM into uping our package

bellybabe · Post by **bellybabe** » 27 Oct 2008, 15:50

Marya wrote: Either that or bribe a fellow England supporter with beer, whenever there's a match on. Not sure if that works out any cheaper tho'!

My brother tried that when up here on a recent visit, for a Man U match... Worked like a dream, I believe...

Top tip: Try this with Homer, Bob...

BB

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

TV coverage of football

TV coverage of football

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