Fox News removed from Sky UK
Fox News has been withdrawn from the Sky UK pay TV service.
The removal of Fox News on Sky was officially explained as being a commercial move, with the channel’s distribution in the UK no longer being viable, according to 21st Century Fox.
The channel has...
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
Fox News removed from Sky UK
Wednesday, August 23, 2017
New free sports channel Free Sports coming soon
FreeSports, the new free-to-air sports channel launching soon, has confirmed further details about its service.
The channel, being launched by the people behind Premier Sports and the former Setanta UK service, has confirmed it will appear to viewers on Freesat channel 252, in addition to the...
Sunday, August 13, 2017
Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor - where to watch
Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor – where to watch
Saturday, August 26, 2017
T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas
Floyd Mayweather vs. Conor McGregor is a 12-round super welterweight matchup that pits the legendary boxer Mayweather against the all-time MMA great McGregor in an unprecedented event...
Saturday, August 12, 2017
Sky EPG due for major shuffle in early 2018
Sky EPG due for major shuffle in early 2018
Sky is set for a major revamp of the channels on its Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
Following consultation with broadcasters and other stakeholders (and probably online forums!), the changes are set for early 2018
The current EPG has a very mixed channel numbering system, with a mix of HD/SD simulcasts and +1s to find channels, with no discernible order applied to some parts of the guide following years of moves, launches, takeovers and closures of channels.
Reports say that Sky wants to merge entertainment and documentaries into one genre, following a similar move that brought lifestyle channels into the entertainment genre three years ago. The current proposal would see the likes of National Geographic, Discovery, Blaze and PBS America move up the EPG and appear among entertainment channels.
+1 channels would be grouped up and moved to their own section.
Children's channels would move to a channel range starting at 250. However, the order of children's channels on Sky has been a bone of contention with the BBC, who argue that CBBC and CBeebies should be listed first as public service broadcasting channels.
HD simulcasts of the main 5 channels would be forced to the top slots, providing the correct regional version is available in HD. ITV, for example, broadcasts multiple regional versions of ITV HD, but doesn't offer the channel on Sky channel 103 in England, even in regions where the HD version is identical to the SD version. It would be forced to do so under the plans, with the SD version moving near the bottom of the EPG. In regions where there isn't a like-for-like version, the SD version would remain on 103. Channel 4 would face a similar move affecting the London version of its main service, which mirrors the HD channel.
Providing there aren't any major objections, the new channel listing would come into force on 1st March 2018.
source : a516digital.com/2017/08/sky-gears-up-for-big-reshuffle.html
Sky is set for a major revamp of the channels on its Electronic Programme Guide (EPG)
Following consultation with broadcasters and other stakeholders (and probably online forums!), the changes are set for early 2018
The current EPG has a very mixed channel numbering system, with a mix of HD/SD simulcasts and +1s to find channels, with no discernible order applied to some parts of the guide following years of moves, launches, takeovers and closures of channels.
Reports say that Sky wants to merge entertainment and documentaries into one genre, following a similar move that brought lifestyle channels into the entertainment genre three years ago. The current proposal would see the likes of National Geographic, Discovery, Blaze and PBS America move up the EPG and appear among entertainment channels.
+1 channels would be grouped up and moved to their own section.
Children's channels would move to a channel range starting at 250. However, the order of children's channels on Sky has been a bone of contention with the BBC, who argue that CBBC and CBeebies should be listed first as public service broadcasting channels.
HD simulcasts of the main 5 channels would be forced to the top slots, providing the correct regional version is available in HD. ITV, for example, broadcasts multiple regional versions of ITV HD, but doesn't offer the channel on Sky channel 103 in England, even in regions where the HD version is identical to the SD version. It would be forced to do so under the plans, with the SD version moving near the bottom of the EPG. In regions where there isn't a like-for-like version, the SD version would remain on 103. Channel 4 would face a similar move affecting the London version of its main service, which mirrors the HD channel.
Providing there aren't any major objections, the new channel listing would come into force on 1st March 2018.
source : a516digital.com/2017/08/sky-gears-up-for-big-reshuffle.html
Wednesday, August 9, 2017
Sky set to retain live Football League rights in £180m-a-year deal
Sky set to retain live Football League rights in £180m-a-year deal
Sky is set to retain the rights to the Football League in a blockbuster bidding battle with BT that has seen the price as much as double to £180m a season.
The Football League is understood to have entered into exclusive talks with Sky for the live rights, in a three to five-year deal worth between £500m and £900m.
The official announcement, which could come as soon as Wednesday, will scupper any hope that the recent years of inflationary bids for the crown jewels of sport might be at an end.
ITV is heavily tipped to win the Football League highlights rights from Channel 5.
It is understood that the Football League, which decided not to take up an automatic one-year extension with Sky, although the broadcaster still has two years left on its current deal, had been expected to make a decision last Friday.
However, it is understood that bids from BT and Sky extended the auction timeline, vindicating the Football League’s decision to take its rights to the market early.
The deal, which will be for three or five years, is crucial for Sky to win as it has just embarked on a new strategy of scrapping its numbered Sky Sports channels in favour of themed ones focused on specific sports – led by football, golf and cricket.
With two football channels, the flagship focusing on Premier League matches, to lose the Football League would have been a hammer blow.
Bosses at the Premier League will be rubbing their hands at the outcome of the bid, with Sky and BT set to go head to head in a potential £6bn battle for the UK’s most expensive sports rights at the end of the year.
Later this year, Sky and BT will face off again for the biggest prize of all when the Premier League rights come up for renewal in what could be a £6bn sports rights auction. The pair could be joined by Amazon, which earlier this month poached the UK rights to the ATP men’s tennis world tour
Sky is set to retain the rights to the Football League in a blockbuster bidding battle with BT that has seen the price as much as double to £180m a season.
The Football League is understood to have entered into exclusive talks with Sky for the live rights, in a three to five-year deal worth between £500m and £900m.
The official announcement, which could come as soon as Wednesday, will scupper any hope that the recent years of inflationary bids for the crown jewels of sport might be at an end.
ITV is heavily tipped to win the Football League highlights rights from Channel 5.
It is understood that the Football League, which decided not to take up an automatic one-year extension with Sky, although the broadcaster still has two years left on its current deal, had been expected to make a decision last Friday.
However, it is understood that bids from BT and Sky extended the auction timeline, vindicating the Football League’s decision to take its rights to the market early.
The deal, which will be for three or five years, is crucial for Sky to win as it has just embarked on a new strategy of scrapping its numbered Sky Sports channels in favour of themed ones focused on specific sports – led by football, golf and cricket.
With two football channels, the flagship focusing on Premier League matches, to lose the Football League would have been a hammer blow.
Bosses at the Premier League will be rubbing their hands at the outcome of the bid, with Sky and BT set to go head to head in a potential £6bn battle for the UK’s most expensive sports rights at the end of the year.
Later this year, Sky and BT will face off again for the biggest prize of all when the Premier League rights come up for renewal in what could be a £6bn sports rights auction. The pair could be joined by Amazon, which earlier this month poached the UK rights to the ATP men’s tennis world tour
Tuesday, August 8, 2017
Sky confirms Spanish OTT plans for end of 2017
Sky confirms Spanish OTT plans for end of 2017
Sky is to move ahead with a direct to consumer service for the Spanish market. The long-anticipated OTT platform will launch before the end of 2017.
“We intend to launch a simple and affordable OTT service in Spain, the Eurozone’s fourth largest economy and the market which has the largest free-to-air (FTA) headroom in Europe outside of our existing footprint,” CEO Jeremy Darroch confirmed to analysts Thursday.
HBO launched its own streaming service in Spain, HBO España, last November, and Netflix, started in the country in 2015. Other streaming services competing in Spain are ones offered by operators Telefonica, Vodafone and Orange.
Sky now plans to follow suit by the end of this year. The move into Spain had been rumored. Darroch told analysts that the new service will target free-TV homes in Spain and that the investment required to launch it is “modest,” with a “small, agile” team overseeing the project.
Sky is to move ahead with a direct to consumer service for the Spanish market. The long-anticipated OTT platform will launch before the end of 2017.
“We intend to launch a simple and affordable OTT service in Spain, the Eurozone’s fourth largest economy and the market which has the largest free-to-air (FTA) headroom in Europe outside of our existing footprint,” CEO Jeremy Darroch confirmed to analysts Thursday.
HBO launched its own streaming service in Spain, HBO España, last November, and Netflix, started in the country in 2015. Other streaming services competing in Spain are ones offered by operators Telefonica, Vodafone and Orange.
Sky now plans to follow suit by the end of this year. The move into Spain had been rumored. Darroch told analysts that the new service will target free-TV homes in Spain and that the investment required to launch it is “modest,” with a “small, agile” team overseeing the project.
Amazon takes APT Tennis rights from Sky
Amazon takes APT Tennis rights from Sky
Tennis fans will now need an Amazon Prime subscription for full access to top flight men's tennis.
Internet giant Amazon has snapped the rights to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Masters 500 events from around the world, starting from 2019.
The current broadcasting deal is with Sky.
The end of year ATP World Tour Event in London, currently shown free-to-air on the BBC, is also at risk of moving to Amazon Prime Video, with the ATP currently in the process of bundling various tournaments into new, single broadcast rights packages. Both BBC and Sky rights deals with the ATP end in December 2018.
Rights to the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are unaffected by Amazon's move and will continue to be offered by traditional broadcasters.
Tennis fans will now need an Amazon Prime subscription for full access to top flight men's tennis.
Internet giant Amazon has snapped the rights to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Masters 500 events from around the world, starting from 2019.
The current broadcasting deal is with Sky.
The end of year ATP World Tour Event in London, currently shown free-to-air on the BBC, is also at risk of moving to Amazon Prime Video, with the ATP currently in the process of bundling various tournaments into new, single broadcast rights packages. Both BBC and Sky rights deals with the ATP end in December 2018.
Rights to the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are unaffected by Amazon's move and will continue to be offered by traditional broadcasters.
CBS Drama channel number change on Sky
CBS Drama channel number change on Sky
CBS Drama has a new channel number on Sky.
And ITVBe takes over its previous channel number, 149.
Effective 1st August, CBS Drama has moved from Sky channel 149 to channel 269, at the foot of the Entertainment section of Sky's EPG, putting it behind numerous +1 channels and HD/SD swap slots. CBS Reality, CBS Reality+1 and CBS Action remain in their current slots on channels 146-148.
In England, Wales, Scottish Borders and Northern Ireland, Sky channel 149 is now held by ITVBe. (In Central and Northern Scotland, ITVBe is on channel 131.)
CBS Drama has a new channel number on Sky.
And ITVBe takes over its previous channel number, 149.
Effective 1st August, CBS Drama has moved from Sky channel 149 to channel 269, at the foot of the Entertainment section of Sky's EPG, putting it behind numerous +1 channels and HD/SD swap slots. CBS Reality, CBS Reality+1 and CBS Action remain in their current slots on channels 146-148.
In England, Wales, Scottish Borders and Northern Ireland, Sky channel 149 is now held by ITVBe. (In Central and Northern Scotland, ITVBe is on channel 131.)
BBC announces free-to-air US PGA coverage
BBC announces free-to-air US PGA coverage
BBC Sport has announced coverage details for this year's US PGA Championships.
The BBC won the US PGA rights, previously owned by Sky, bringing live golf back to free to air TV.
This may come as a blow to Sky, who probably did not even bid for the rights, especially when they launched a dedicated golf channel on their newly rebranded sports channels.
Having obtained the rights to the event at short notice, and due to it clashing with pre-planned live coverage of the World Athletics Championships and BBC Proms, most of the live coverage will appear on BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online between 10th and 13th August 2017.
BBC Two will pick up the conclusion of each day's play during the late evening UK time. TV coverage will be presented by Eilidh Barbour, alongside the best known voices of the game; Peter Alliss and Ken Brown.
BBC Radio 5 live and 5 Live Sports Extra will also again broadcast live from the Championship, led by Iain Carter and Jay Townsend.
The US PGA joins the BBC’s golf portfolio which also includes live radio and extended TV highlights of the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns between 3-6 August.
BBC Sport has announced coverage details for this year's US PGA Championships.
The BBC won the US PGA rights, previously owned by Sky, bringing live golf back to free to air TV.
This may come as a blow to Sky, who probably did not even bid for the rights, especially when they launched a dedicated golf channel on their newly rebranded sports channels.
Having obtained the rights to the event at short notice, and due to it clashing with pre-planned live coverage of the World Athletics Championships and BBC Proms, most of the live coverage will appear on BBC Red Button, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Online between 10th and 13th August 2017.
BBC Two will pick up the conclusion of each day's play during the late evening UK time. TV coverage will be presented by Eilidh Barbour, alongside the best known voices of the game; Peter Alliss and Ken Brown.
BBC Radio 5 live and 5 Live Sports Extra will also again broadcast live from the Championship, led by Iain Carter and Jay Townsend.
The US PGA joins the BBC’s golf portfolio which also includes live radio and extended TV highlights of the Women’s British Open at Kingsbarns between 3-6 August.
Premier League Wins Blocking Injunction to Fight Piracy
Premier League Wins Blocking Injunction to Fight Piracy
The Premier League has announced its “biggest ever crackdown” on illegal football streams.
It has obtained a new High Court Order that will make it much harder for people to watch games on so-called Kodi boxes.
In common with an order obtained earlier this year, the new injunction will require ISPs to promptly block access to Internet servers illegally distributing Premier League content.
“This blocking order is a game-changer in our efforts to tackle the supply and use of illicit streams of our content,” said Premier League Director of Legal Services, Kevin Plumb.
“It will allow us to quickly and effectively block and disrupt the illegal broadcast of Premier League football via any means, including so called ‘pre-loaded Kodi boxes’.”
Although the details of the new injunction are yet to be published by the High Court, the EPL indicates that the injunction is very similar to the one obtained previously, which targets overseas servers streaming Premier League matches into the UK.
Upon notice from the Premier League, ISPs including Sky, BT, Virgin Media, Plusnet, EE and TalkTalk are required to block IP addresses quickly as matches are being streamed, all without any direct intervention from the court.
The order will be in place for the entire 2017/18 season.
The Premier League has announced its “biggest ever crackdown” on illegal football streams.
It has obtained a new High Court Order that will make it much harder for people to watch games on so-called Kodi boxes.
In common with an order obtained earlier this year, the new injunction will require ISPs to promptly block access to Internet servers illegally distributing Premier League content.
“This blocking order is a game-changer in our efforts to tackle the supply and use of illicit streams of our content,” said Premier League Director of Legal Services, Kevin Plumb.
“It will allow us to quickly and effectively block and disrupt the illegal broadcast of Premier League football via any means, including so called ‘pre-loaded Kodi boxes’.”
Although the details of the new injunction are yet to be published by the High Court, the EPL indicates that the injunction is very similar to the one obtained previously, which targets overseas servers streaming Premier League matches into the UK.
Upon notice from the Premier League, ISPs including Sky, BT, Virgin Media, Plusnet, EE and TalkTalk are required to block IP addresses quickly as matches are being streamed, all without any direct intervention from the court.
The order will be in place for the entire 2017/18 season.
Saturday, August 5, 2017
Game of Thrones Ep 4 leaks online
Game of Thrones Ep 4 leaks online
A copy of the next episode of Game of Thrones, to be shown on TV channels on Sunday, has been leaked online.
A low quality copy of the upcoming Game of Thrones episode “The Spoils of War” began to circulate on various file-sharing and streaming sites, including The Pirate Bay. While most copies are pulled offline quickly, presumably by HBO itself, the unreleased fourth episode of season 7 is still widely available.
The leak appears to be an internal copy, carrying a watermark of "Star India." Star India is a large media company owned by 21st Century Fox, which broadcasts the popular HBO series locally.
A copy of the next episode of Game of Thrones, to be shown on TV channels on Sunday, has been leaked online.
A low quality copy of the upcoming Game of Thrones episode “The Spoils of War” began to circulate on various file-sharing and streaming sites, including The Pirate Bay. While most copies are pulled offline quickly, presumably by HBO itself, the unreleased fourth episode of season 7 is still widely available.
The leak appears to be an internal copy, carrying a watermark of "Star India." Star India is a large media company owned by 21st Century Fox, which broadcasts the popular HBO series locally.
Thursday, August 3, 2017
Sky VIP offers rewards to loyal customers
Sky VIP offers rewards to loyal customers
Sky is launching a new VIP service, giving loyal Sky subscribers preferential access to some services, priority customer service and freebies.
Sky is launching the loyalty scheme, the first in the TV and broadband sector, as it looks to reward some of its longest-standing customers amid growing competition from the likes of BT and Netflix.
Launching today (3 August), Sky VIP app will reward customers for how long they have been with Sky, rather than how much they spend every year
The new loyalty programme will offer hundreds of thousands of free tickets to all customers, including top sports events such as the British Masters and the Premier League, exclusive preview screenings of the latest films and prize draws for money can’t buy experiences such as the chance to visit filming locations of Game of Thrones.
VIP members also gain access to new preview channel Sky Atlantic VIP (channels 994/995), giving access to new shows before the rest.
Other perks including free set-up for Sky Fibre, free Sky Go Extra and free Sky Q set-up, as well as priority customer service.
Sky VIP comes in four tiers, based on how long a customer has been with Sky: Silver (0-3 years), Gold (3-8 years), Platinum (8-15 years) and Black (15+ years). Each tier gives even more new benefits, as well as access to the rewards in the previous levels. Customers who’ve been with Sky the longest will be able to access all of the exclusive rewards and benefits on offer.
Access to Sky VIP is through the My Sky app.
Sky is launching a new VIP service, giving loyal Sky subscribers preferential access to some services, priority customer service and freebies.
Sky is launching the loyalty scheme, the first in the TV and broadband sector, as it looks to reward some of its longest-standing customers amid growing competition from the likes of BT and Netflix.
Launching today (3 August), Sky VIP app will reward customers for how long they have been with Sky, rather than how much they spend every year
The new loyalty programme will offer hundreds of thousands of free tickets to all customers, including top sports events such as the British Masters and the Premier League, exclusive preview screenings of the latest films and prize draws for money can’t buy experiences such as the chance to visit filming locations of Game of Thrones.
VIP members also gain access to new preview channel Sky Atlantic VIP (channels 994/995), giving access to new shows before the rest.
Other perks including free set-up for Sky Fibre, free Sky Go Extra and free Sky Q set-up, as well as priority customer service.
Sky VIP comes in four tiers, based on how long a customer has been with Sky: Silver (0-3 years), Gold (3-8 years), Platinum (8-15 years) and Black (15+ years). Each tier gives even more new benefits, as well as access to the rewards in the previous levels. Customers who’ve been with Sky the longest will be able to access all of the exclusive rewards and benefits on offer.
Access to Sky VIP is through the My Sky app.
Wednesday, August 2, 2017
Amazon take over ATP Tennis rights from Sky
Amazon take over ATP Tennis rights from Sky
Amazon has signalled its intention to enter the UK sports market with the acquisition of the rights to the ATP men’s tennis tour.
The internet giant has snapped the rights to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Masters 500 events from around the world, which includes tournaments in Monte Carlo, Madrid, Paris, Miami, Indian Wells and Shanghai, starting from 2019, after the current deal with Sky ends. The end of year ATP World Tour Event in London, currently shown free-to-air on the BBC, is also at risk of moving to Amazon Prime Video, with the ATP currently in the process of bundling various tournaments into new, single broadcast rights packages. Both BBC and Sky rights deals with the ATP end in December 2018.
It will make streaming service Amazon Prime Video the home for all men’s elite tennis outside of the four majors. In the process it will take Sky out of the tennis market – the broadcaster recently revamped its sports portfolio into thematic channels – tennis was excluded and can be found on the broadcaster’s mixed sports channels.
According to The Guardian, Amazon paid £10 million for the contract, with Sky failing to match the £8 million paid for the current contract that expires in 2018.
Sky has been gradually moving away from men's tennis in the past year. The broadcaster's strategic change became obvious when tennis was not given its own Sky Sports channel in the recent rebrand.
Rights to the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are unaffected by Amazon's move and will continue to be offered by traditional broadcasters.
All eyes will now turn to the renewal of Premier League rights early in 2018 with the possibility Amazon may put in a bid for one of the smaller packages.
Amazon has signalled its intention to enter the UK sports market with the acquisition of the rights to the ATP men’s tennis tour.
The internet giant has snapped the rights to the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and Masters 500 events from around the world, which includes tournaments in Monte Carlo, Madrid, Paris, Miami, Indian Wells and Shanghai, starting from 2019, after the current deal with Sky ends. The end of year ATP World Tour Event in London, currently shown free-to-air on the BBC, is also at risk of moving to Amazon Prime Video, with the ATP currently in the process of bundling various tournaments into new, single broadcast rights packages. Both BBC and Sky rights deals with the ATP end in December 2018.
It will make streaming service Amazon Prime Video the home for all men’s elite tennis outside of the four majors. In the process it will take Sky out of the tennis market – the broadcaster recently revamped its sports portfolio into thematic channels – tennis was excluded and can be found on the broadcaster’s mixed sports channels.
According to The Guardian, Amazon paid £10 million for the contract, with Sky failing to match the £8 million paid for the current contract that expires in 2018.
Sky has been gradually moving away from men's tennis in the past year. The broadcaster's strategic change became obvious when tennis was not given its own Sky Sports channel in the recent rebrand.
Rights to the Australian Open, French Open, Wimbledon and US Open are unaffected by Amazon's move and will continue to be offered by traditional broadcasters.
All eyes will now turn to the renewal of Premier League rights early in 2018 with the possibility Amazon may put in a bid for one of the smaller packages.
CBS Drama channel number change on Sky
CBS Drama channel number change on Sky
CBS Drama has been relegated to the bottom of Sky's entertainment section.
The home of dramas such as Bad Girls and CSI: Miami appears to have lost its previous high EPG slot which put the channel together with its sister services.
Effective 1st August, CBS Drama has moved from Sky channel 149 to channel 269. This places it at the foot of the Entertainment section of Sky's EPG, putting it behind numerous +1 channels and HD/SD swap slots.
CBS Reality, CBS Reality+1 and CBS Action remain in their current slots on channels 146-148.
In England, Wales, Scottish Borders and Northern Ireland, Sky channel 149 is now held by ITVBe. (In Central and Northern Scotland, ITVBe is on channel 131.)
CBS Drama has been relegated to the bottom of Sky's entertainment section.
The home of dramas such as Bad Girls and CSI: Miami appears to have lost its previous high EPG slot which put the channel together with its sister services.
Effective 1st August, CBS Drama has moved from Sky channel 149 to channel 269. This places it at the foot of the Entertainment section of Sky's EPG, putting it behind numerous +1 channels and HD/SD swap slots.
CBS Reality, CBS Reality+1 and CBS Action remain in their current slots on channels 146-148.
In England, Wales, Scottish Borders and Northern Ireland, Sky channel 149 is now held by ITVBe. (In Central and Northern Scotland, ITVBe is on channel 131.)
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