Getting rid of Sky Sport 101

chopah

theprof

I wonder if TVNZ will continue to pick up these smaller sports and add it to their free online platform? I'm surprised that TVNZ can afford to do it and not charge for the service. Unless of course no-one else is bidding for these sports???

advert revenue

Cricket should always have some free to air. It’s designed for advertising. 

I think Sky is less likely to go after A-League rights if they already have the EPL. That way they get football fans subscribing without paying for rights to both. They do a similar thing with cricket.

Sky are tightening their belt and dropping sports, axing channels, reducing the number of new movies on their movie channels (with a ridiculous number of repeats) etc. due to the huge expense of their Optus D2 satellite prematurely going out of service in May next year.
On top of that, the replacement Optus D11 satellite is way behind schedule in construction, meaning Sky will have to fork out lots of dollars for temporary use of another satellite.
Two changes of satellite  = big financial hit to Sky.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/sky-tv-forced-to-move-to-new-satellite-option-sooner-after-supply-issue/ZKN3OZABPNAHVLHF25UIGUTHYI/
Technicians may have to adjust some customers' dishes early next year:
https://www.thepress.co.nz/business/350383092/unexpected-satellite-issues-main-risk-brighter-sky-tv-outlook
"Sky had been planning to migrate customers to a new, more capable satellite, Optus 11, late next year, but the launch of that satellite has been delayed until at least 2027 due to manufacturing issues.

The developments mean Sky will need to change satellites twice in just a few years.

Moloney said it was possible its technicians would need to visit a small number of homes early next year and adjust satellite dishes to ensure they could get a sufficiently strong signal after Optus D-2 was turned off.

One of the options Sky was looking at might mean it needed to make more use of software compression to deliver some programming, she said.

Sky might not need to visit any homes, depending on the outcome of tests, Moloney said. “We'll know more on that in the coming couple of months.”

                                  ___________________________________________
Last month's Sky notification on its satellite problems to the NZX:
https://www.nzx.com/announcements/436387
A 2020 report from Sky on their future satellite plans which have now been somewhat disrupted:
https://www.sky.co.nz/-/mk_pressrelease_0207
Freeview share the same current Optus satellite as Sky so there must also be uncertainty about the continuation of Freeview's satellite capability.
                ___________________________________________________________
A big part of Sky's costs consists of securing satellites.
They paid out $NZ 200 million to Optus for a ten year satellite deal 2021-31:
 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/sky-tv-pays-200m-to-renew-satellite-deal/ADM7ZQOEZZMCJCK6JFZKFAGJEQ/

and yet they are adding ultra hd to the rugby!!!

theprof

and yet they are adding ultra hd to the rugby!!!

it won't just be rugby - it's just that is the first cab off the rank.

Big Pete 65

Sky are tightening their belt and dropping sports, axing channels, reducing the number of new movies on their movie channels (with a ridiculous number of repeats) etc. due to the huge expense of their Optus D2 satellite prematurely going out of service in May next year.
On top of that, the replacement Optus D11 satellite is way behind schedule in construction, meaning Sky will have to fork out lots of dollars for temporary use of another satellite.
Two changes of satellite  = big financial hit to Sky.
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/sky-tv-forced-to-move-to-new-satellite-option-sooner-after-supply-issue/ZKN3OZABPNAHVLHF25UIGUTHYI/
Technicians may have to adjust some customers' dishes early next year:
https://www.thepress.co.nz/business/350383092/unexpected-satellite-issues-main-risk-brighter-sky-tv-outlook
"Sky had been planning to migrate customers to a new, more capable satellite, Optus 11, late next year, but the launch of that satellite has been delayed until at least 2027 due to manufacturing issues.

The developments mean Sky will need to change satellites twice in just a few years.

Moloney said it was possible its technicians would need to visit a small number of homes early next year and adjust satellite dishes to ensure they could get a sufficiently strong signal after Optus D-2 was turned off.

One of the options Sky was looking at might mean it needed to make more use of software compression to deliver some programming, she said.

Sky might not need to visit any homes, depending on the outcome of tests, Moloney said. “We'll know more on that in the coming couple of months.”

                                  ___________________________________________
Last month's Sky notification on its satellite problems to the NZX:
https://www.nzx.com/announcements/436387
A 2020 report from Sky on their future satellite plans which have now been somewhat disrupted:
https://www.sky.co.nz/-/mk_pressrelease_0207
Freeview share the same current Optus satellite as Sky so there must also be uncertainty about the continuation of Freeview's satellite capability.
                ___________________________________________________________
A big part of Sky's costs consists of securing satellites.
They paid out $NZ 200 million to Optus for a ten year satellite deal 2021-31:
 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/business/sky-tv-pays-200m-to-renew-satellite-deal/ADM7ZQOEZZMCJCK6JFZKFAGJEQ/

It's important to note this is linear only - a lot of the content will still be available on demand or via instant replay for the nSB and Pod.

Thing is, now Discovery are showing a lot of their programmes on TV 3, TVNZ & TV3 have better programmes on their on demand service than they show on TV. Sky are really determined to lose customers aside from this satellite issue. They have milked it for all it's worth for the last 20 years and now cry the pauper. Perhaps the rather large investment they agreed with the NZRFU could've helped ($400 Mill?). Meanwhile, They generously try and skimp on their A League input with a minimal amount. (<5 Mill?) My figures might be wrong but the point is that right now the chickens are coming home to roost. The still ongoing issues with their "new" white box that no one is interested in etc. 

Fudge me…

The season kicks off next month and we still don’t know who will broadcast it??

nufc_nz

Fudge me…

The season kicks off next month and we still don’t know who will broadcast it??

Pretty sure its been like this every time a new contract poriod begins. Both parties will be negotiating hard!

Wouldn't mind if Sky lost the rights. I got the Black Friday deal for Sky Sports Now last year, that will expire in November and I'm not that keen to start paying $50+ a month when the thing I'm most interested in is the A-League. But then again, it is the place you probably most want it to be from an exposure standpoint, other than maybe TVNZ. Wouldn't want to see it go to some other service that almost nobody has or uses, like beinsports or dazn or whatever. 

Edit: also complicated by the fact that sky has up until now produced the broadcasts of A-League games in nz, the rights going to someone else might also result in a worse technical product if it meant a different production team was doing it

If only Sky could offer their services over some different kind of infrastructure, that gave customers more choice in where and when they were gonna consume said services... or they could keep their focus of being the safety net for the last few dinosaurs clinging to their satellite dishes.

Sky would probably do better to buy all their customers with bad internet a Starlink kit and upsell them internet than to spend $200m on a new satellite.

Sky, try dropping your prices for long serving subscribers instead of hooking possible new customers. That might bring some back.

My sky now subscription just expired (I guess last years A-League season kicked off about now), will wait until the broadcaster is announced before making a decision about subscribing again. Seeing as I'm the wrong side of 40 I don't tend to stay up for Premier League or F1 anymore and mainly watch highlights which I can see on YouTube.

The formula one has turned into a cracker the last few weeks. 

Don’t want to go off the topic of the thread but just realised after a year that with sky go app, that without subscribing to any movie or other stuff outside sport, that Better call Saul and breaking bad are there!!

AucklandPhoenix

The formula one has turned into a cracker the last few weeks. 

Don’t want to go off the topic of the thread but just realised after a year that with sky go app, that without subscribing to any movie or other stuff outside sport, that Better call Saul and breaking bad are there!!

Yep, but F1 tv is $15 per month compared to $50 for sky.

I’m hoping Woodsy can nail a 20 goal season this year so I can go back to watching EPL highlights and live games. Probably been staying up for too many games in the last wee while! 

Does anybody know what the viewing figures are for Nix games on Sky? How do they compare to other NZ franchises?

20 Legend

If only Sky could offer their services over some different kind of infrastructure, that gave customers more choice in where and when they were gonna consume said services... or they could keep their focus of being the safety net for the last few dinosaurs clinging to their satellite dishes.

Sky would probably do better to buy all their customers with bad internet a Starlink kit and upsell them internet than to spend $200m on a new satellite.

you can already do this with Sky Sport now

chopah

20 Legend

If only Sky could offer their services over some different kind of infrastructure, that gave customers more choice in where and when they were gonna consume said services... or they could keep their focus of being the safety net for the last few dinosaurs clinging to their satellite dishes.

Sky would probably do better to buy all their customers with bad internet a Starlink kit and upsell them internet than to spend $200m on a new satellite.

you can already do this with Sky Sport now

SSN has certainly improved over the last 12 months but the experience still leaves a lot to be desired.

With that said, the key takeaway from my post is that Sky shouldn't be pumping up everyone's prices and cutting sports to support an redundant distribution model.

20 Legend

chopah

20 Legend

If only Sky could offer their services over some different kind of infrastructure, that gave customers more choice in where and when they were gonna consume said services... or they could keep their focus of being the safety net for the last few dinosaurs clinging to their satellite dishes.

Sky would probably do better to buy all their customers with bad internet a Starlink kit and upsell them internet than to spend $200m on a new satellite.

you can already do this with Sky Sport now

SSN has certainly improved over the last 12 months but the experience still leaves a lot to be desired.

With that said, the key takeaway from my post is that Sky shouldn't be pumping up everyone's prices and cutting sports to support an redundant distribution model.

Interesting take away - I have to ask how deeply you are involved in satellite operations?  What makes you qualified to make that statement? Even outside the 16% of NZ which can't get a digital terrestrial signal and satellite is their only option I think you will find this "redundant distribution method" is relied on heavily. 

chopah

20 Legend

chopah

20 Legend

If only Sky could offer their services over some different kind of infrastructure, that gave customers more choice in where and when they were gonna consume said services... or they could keep their focus of being the safety net for the last few dinosaurs clinging to their satellite dishes.

Sky would probably do better to buy all their customers with bad internet a Starlink kit and upsell them internet than to spend $200m on a new satellite.

you can already do this with Sky Sport now

SSN has certainly improved over the last 12 months but the experience still leaves a lot to be desired.

With that said, the key takeaway from my post is that Sky shouldn't be pumping up everyone's prices and cutting sports to support an redundant distribution model.

Interesting take away - I have to ask how deeply you are involved in satellite operations?  What makes you qualified to make that statement? Even outside the 16% of NZ which can't get a digital terrestrial signal and satellite is their only option I think you will find this "redundant distribution method" is relied on heavily. 

Starlink can deliver high speed internet to virtually everyone in NZ. Instead of $200m on a Satellite, Sky could just about buy every one of their satellite subscribers a free Starlink kit. I'd be giving Elon a call and working out how they can offer a joint TV+Internet package and monopolise the 16% of NZ who can't get broadband and TV any other way at a fraction of the cost.

Acknowledge there's other use cases (I'm guessing you're referring to places like public venues?) but begs the question whether that's worth increasing prices and cutting sports to support or if there's a better way.

I wouldn't want to base my business on Elon but there are other satellite constellations out there and more being built.

They don't need low latency LEO, they just need bandwidth.

@ALeagues to Sky, HERE WE GO!

The extension of the partnership means that all matches in the Isuzu UTE A-League Men (kicking off 18 October) and Ninja A-League Women (kicking off 1 November) will play on Sky Sport and streaming on Sky Sport Now and Sky Go.

All matches featuring an NZ team will be broadcast live and one match a week will be shared free to air on Sky Open.

1 free to air game per week

https://wellingtonphoenix.com/news/sky-to-remain-the-home-of-the-a-leagues-in-aotearoa/

Fantastic. Way to keep my Sky subscription for 3 more years 101.

What are the viewer numbers like... Will we get decent pre and post match coverage now... what will change?

With two clubs, there should be more noise you would think.

“All matches featuring a NZ team will be broadcast live” 

Makes me worry we may be going back to the bad old days of delayed games.  

Who has got DAZN and can give a review? Feeling very FOMO this past few days and it is a pain in the arse using dodgy streams so keen to know if it's worth it. 

I relooked today thinking oh well it's only $15 a month, but it's actually $15 a month locked in for the year, if you want to go monthly and cancel any time it's $30...

VimFuego

Who has got DAZN and can give a review? Feeling very FOMO this past few days and it is a pain in the arse using dodgy streams so keen to know if it's worth it. 

I relooked today thinking oh well it's only $15 a month, but it's actually $15 a month locked in for the year, if you want to go monthly and cancel any time it's $30...

VPN and paramount plus is the way to go

lukemstanton

VimFuego

Who has got DAZN and can give a review? Feeling very FOMO this past few days and it is a pain in the arse using dodgy streams so keen to know if it's worth it. 

I relooked today thinking oh well it's only $15 a month, but it's actually $15 a month locked in for the year, if you want to go monthly and cancel any time it's $30...

VPN and paramount plus is the way to go

Paramount + in which country? How much?

billyspleen75

lukemstanton

VimFuego

Who has got DAZN and can give a review? Feeling very FOMO this past few days and it is a pain in the arse using dodgy streams so keen to know if it's worth it. 

I relooked today thinking oh well it's only $15 a month, but it's actually $15 a month locked in for the year, if you want to go monthly and cancel any time it's $30...

VPN and paramount plus is the way to go

Paramount + in which country? How much?

Australia. $6.99 AUD. Ads don't play on live sports it seems so don't bother paying for no ads unless you plan on watching other shows on it

billyspleen75

lukemstanton

VimFuego

Who has got DAZN and can give a review? Feeling very FOMO this past few days and it is a pain in the arse using dodgy streams so keen to know if it's worth it. 

I relooked today thinking oh well it's only $15 a month, but it's actually $15 a month locked in for the year, if you want to go monthly and cancel any time it's $30...

VPN and paramount plus is the way to go

Paramount + in which country? How much?

Personally I have the US one for their panel, but as Noah said you can also go for the Aus coverage

billyspleen75

lukemstanton

VimFuego

Who has got DAZN and can give a review? Feeling very FOMO this past few days and it is a pain in the arse using dodgy streams so keen to know if it's worth it. 

I relooked today thinking oh well it's only $15 a month, but it's actually $15 a month locked in for the year, if you want to go monthly and cancel any time it's $30...

VPN and paramount plus is the way to go

Paramount + in which country? How much?

If it's Champions League you're after then the Paramount+ you will want is the USA. Monthly it is 7.99USD or 59.99USD if you sign up for an annual subscription.

I think if you want Europa League as well you have to sign up to the Paramount+ with Showtime thing which is 12.99USD a month or 119.99USD for the annual subscription.

I don't have a Paramount+ USA account so I don't actually know for sure but lukemstanton might by the sounds of it so he may be able to give more info of what subscription is best

Half a Pint

billyspleen75

lukemstanton

VimFuego

Who has got DAZN and can give a review? Feeling very FOMO this past few days and it is a pain in the arse using dodgy streams so keen to know if it's worth it. 

I relooked today thinking oh well it's only $15 a month, but it's actually $15 a month locked in for the year, if you want to go monthly and cancel any time it's $30...

VPN and paramount plus is the way to go

Paramount + in which country? How much?

If it's Champions League you're after then the Paramount+ you will want is the USA. Monthly it is 7.99USD or 59.99USD if you sign up for an annual subscription.

I think if you want Europa League as well you have to sign up to the Paramount+ with Showtime thing which is 12.99USD a month or 119.99USD for the annual subscription.

I don't have a Paramount+ USA account so I don't actually know for sure but lukemstanton might by the sounds of it so he may be able to give more info of what subscription is best

Or you watch it legally via the person who owns the rights in NZ.

Usually happy to do so, but in current cost of living pressures (and uncertain jobs with wife and I both in the public sector) I can't personally justify a 100% increase in price from last season to only watch one team and none of the other content on DAZN. So looking at alternative options for the first time in many years. If the $15 a month deal allowed you to cancel any time same as Bein that would be fine, but I can't justify paying for 12 months when I only need it for about 6 at the moment.

The rising cost of living is going to make more and more people reconsider their expenditure on sport subscriptions. There is also a revolution started by people who feel they are just being continually milked by professional football clubs to pay for the bloated lifestyles of pro footballers.
 Here in France the Ligue1 TV rights(partly) are held by Danza. There fan groups nationally have started a #boycottDanza movement. All the groups are offering guidance on illegal streaming. It’s working too. Danza needed over a million subscriptions to break even but have got around 100k. It will of course crash the Ligue1 financial situation for the clubs but the fans are angry and are happy to bring the whole system down. 
The general consensus is that players are getting paid way too much. Their wages spiral up every year and the poor fans end up paying for it by annual subscription increases. It seems most fans just want to pay to watch the team they support and are not really interested in all the other add on sports.
For me we are at the crossroad of sports coverage. The old models are no longer working. The customers are not getting what they want. If the sports and broadcasters hadn’t got so greedy then the illegal streaming industry would never have taken off like it has. 

That’s DAZN not Danza….sorry

Lol the French 🙁

Had DAZN for Libby, UK cups and bits of championship. Plus the J leagues. Gave up on the baseball. Plus they have things like NZ basketball and all kinds of random interesting things that would never be on Japanese TV. It had Libby in the Jupiler league. It seems to have about 5 clubs in league one currently, but not Mansfield Town. 

This year it’s Libby and Old. Unfortunately Garbett is on a separate set up. Sounds like they are getting burnt on Ligue Un massively though. Bummer. 

Originally had it for the PL, but they lost that. 

Occasionally cricket is cast free through the official cricket site, but I don’t really watch that either. But depressing.

DAZN here has been a good app, but it’s something of a luxury I’ve been tempted to chop, but I just find myself using it and Japanese TV has got waaay less crazy and fun since the 80s, so I hardly watch that.

Some of the new apps are annoying. They don’t reach HD properly or have limited navigation capability. For me DAZN was very stable, I can watch it on my phone and check my email simultaneously. They don’t show results early unless you ask. They send you notifications- hey, hey Libby’s team is playing. 

But I don’t have Sky as well, so. 

In other news Sky Sports Now has cut the rewind function from 24 hours to 8 hours thus making anything that doesn't make a full replay quite hard to watch. Golf, darts, other shows that you normally just rewound can't be done. 

They not making it easy to stay with them. And I'm paying for a skybox AND SSN. Sigh.