BT to take away football from FTA TV

Less football on FTA TV:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitio...

(or another reason to dislike/like BT)

In principle I dislike companies buying up sporting rights and then profiteering by charging viewers for watching what might otherwise have been free.

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/bt/f/4281160-more-r...

http://forums.thinkbroadband.com/worldcup2006/t/4281...

Well done, I should have posted it when I first read it in the paper!

" profiteering by charging viewers for watching what might otherwise have been free"

How do you think they pay footballers £50,000+ a week ?

Exactly the same as Sky have done with other parts of Football and International Cricket.

Hopefully someone will bid and win Wimbledon to stop it taking over the BBC

The last time BT bid large sums to buy something it was not a great success.

I am sure the rights holders will also benefit, though there maybe a claw back from advertisers if there is a reduction in the TV audience size.

It is now very expensive to watch the games live, though you do get a seat. (AIUI)

In reply to a post by Michael_Chare:

In principle I dislike companies buying up sporting rights

perhaps you should take that up with the people that put them up for sale ?

In the short term they gain, but it may frustrate supporters who have to change platforms. BT Sport has been free to BT broadband customers, whether this will remain the same for the Champions League remains to be seen. Satellite TV reaches about 98% of the population. Fast broadband does not match that.

I think this will kill it.

I have never paid (nor had) SKY BSB et al. But it did really make me wild when the boxing went to pay per view years ago.

Also, I am not interested in Man U, or Arsenal, or Liverpool, nor any other games in Europe. I maybe watch the European cup final sometimes.

But the issue with me is very soon,the World Cup, European Championships will go that way, let alone the Grand National, Tour De France et al.

Very sad days, and very sad people that pay for it to allow this to happen.

I mean, will all stiill pay £165 (or what ever it is) for a TV licence.

Nick

soon FTA tv will just be reality tv and soaps. things going downhill I agree.