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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 12:27:31 GMT
www.bbl.org.uk/british-basketball-league-returns-to-sky-sports/I know we've started to discuss this in a existing tv coverage thread, but I though the news was so big it deserved it's own thread now that it's confirmed - a place to discuss all things Sky Sports coverage of the BBL. If mods disagree feel free to merge the threads. Some of you might have noticed I have 2 passions, the media (which I have some experience working in) and basketball (which I have absolutely no experience but have been a fan for 25 years). So when the 2 collide I get very excited. Some thoughts... Obviously great news for the BBL. Personally I'm a bit disappointed the coverage will be behind the Sky Sports pay wall, I'd have preferred coverage on the BBC or ITV4, but we know the league doesn't have broadcasters queuing up for their rights so for now I'll accept this is good news. I'm not too familiar with Buzz16 Productions, but hopefully they'll provide good quality coverage. What's been announced of the presentation team so far looks good, although I really hope Dan Routledge will be involved in commentating. Also, the coverage starts on 3rd December with a double header. A Thursday night. Could this be a sign that Thursday night games could become a fixture in this season, and perhaps why league fixtures haven't been announced yet?
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Post by fauxnicks on Nov 13, 2020 12:33:26 GMT
In all reality what sport isn’t behind some form of paywall?
TV Licence is a form of paywall - I think given the challenges of even getting the season started this is fantastic news.
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Post by chesterdonnelly on Nov 13, 2020 12:35:22 GMT
I hope Thursday night fixtures becomes a regular slot. No point in trying to compete for airtime and viewers with major sports.
Sky Sports broadcasting production is second to none, so I'm happy with the broadcaster.
The only part of the announcement that makes my heart sink is that the Commonwealth Games will be the 3x3 format only. I already knew that but I still hold out hope that the organisers will change their mind so we can see England and Scotland playing teams like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Nigeria.
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 12:39:13 GMT
Some subscription info for those who want it...
A Sky Sports subscription costs £30 a month (on top of a required standard Sky subscription). Although I've been told all BBL games will be on Sky Sports Arena, and you can subscribe to just one Sky Sports channel for £18 a month.
Also, Sky currently have a Black Friday deal allowing you to subscribe to all Sky Sports channels with a 50% discount, so that's all Sky Sports channels for £15 a month (minimum 18 month contract).
I'm also hearing from my sources that some BBL games will be available live and/or delayed on Sky Sports Mix, which is available to all Sky subscribers (even those without any Sky Sports subscription). This may include the opening double-header on 3rd December. I'll let you know when I get this confirmed.
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 12:43:11 GMT
In all reality what sport isn’t behind some form of paywall? TV Licence is a form of paywall - I think given the challenges of even getting the season started this is fantastic news. True. But an extra £18-30 a month just for Sky Sports channels is quite a premium 'pay wall' than many can't justify, especially right now. It'll be a shame if that's now the only way anyone can watch the Cup, Trophy and Play-Off finals at least. Nevertheless, I'm not letting that get in the way of what is undoubtedly good news for the BBL. |
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 12:47:54 GMT
I hope Thursday night fixtures becomes a regular slot. No point in trying to compete for airtime and viewers with major sports. Sky Sports broadcasting production is second to none, so I'm happy with the broadcaster. The only part of the announcement that makes my heart sink is that the Commonwealth Games will be the 3x3 format only. I already knew that but I still hold out hope that the organisers will change their mind so we can see England and Scotland playing teams like Australia, New Zealand, Canada and Nigeria. Sky Sports won't be producing the coverage, Buzz16 will be. But they've done work for Sky Sports before, and looking at their credits - including work for beIN sports, NBC and Amazon Prime, I'd say they're more than capable of producing quality BBL coverage. They've never partnered with the BBL before though for any coverage, so it'll be interesting to see how they approach it. Agree about Thursday night games... And I'm sure the BBL are happy to schedule games around Sky Sports requirements. I suspect Thursday night games are going to become a new thing, which I have no problem with.  |
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jumbo
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Post by jumbo on Nov 13, 2020 12:52:29 GMT
Fairly sure Dan is doing the commentary
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 12:54:38 GMT
Fairly sure Dan is doing the commentary It would be absolute madness if he wasn't. There's no better british basketball commentator in this country. Hopefully the Sky games won't clash with his existing commitments to Eurosport. EDIT: Dan Routledge now confirmed to be commentating by Buzz16 Productions. |
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 13:01:40 GMT
Sorry for the number of posts, I'm just posting new news as I get it...
Both games on the opening night of Sky Sports coverage (Thurs 3rd Dec) - Sharks v Phoenix (4:30pm) and Eagles v Lions (7:00pm), will take place at Newcastle Eagles’ Community Arena. Makes sense from a broadcasting perspective, and one of the best looking venues for television coverage, but does mean that either Sharks or Phoenix will be forfeiting home court advantage.
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Post by chesterdonnelly on Nov 13, 2020 13:25:28 GMT
The broadcaster is right to only use the best looking venues. What the broadcaster says goes. Welcome to professional sports.
There is something that isn't quite adding up in my mind though. Are the people who pay a premium to watch sports the same people who want to watch BBL? I think there is more to this than a simple 2 year deal to cover the BBL as it is. I think this could be the start of a bigger investment which would bring the BBL up to a professional European standard, and more European games for the top teams.
Or it could just be cheap filler for a Thursday. What do I know? I've only been following the sport for 7 months.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2020 13:33:48 GMT
Sorry for the number of posts, I'm just posting new news as I get it... Both games on the opening night of Sky Sports coverage (Thurs 3rd Dec) - Sharks v Phoenix (4:30pm) and Eagles v Lions (7:00pm), will take place at Newcastle Eagles’ Community Arena. Makes sense from a broadcasting perspective, and one of the best looking venues for television coverage, but does mean that either Sharks or Phoenix will be forfeiting home court advantage. Teams play each other 3 times. There's no reason that a couple of mathchups for each side can't be home/away/neutral. Give 14 home, 14 away, 2 neutral. |
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Post by connors on Nov 13, 2020 14:17:12 GMT
The broadcaster is right to only use the best looking venues. What the broadcaster says goes. Welcome to professional sports. There is something that isn't quite adding up in my mind though. Are the people who pay a premium to watch sports the same people who want to watch BBL? I think there is more to this than a simple 2 year deal to cover the BBL as it is. I think this could be the start of a bigger investment which would bring the BBL up to a professional European standard, and more European games for the top teams. Or it could just be cheap filler for a Thursday. What do I know? I've only been following the sport for 7 months. Actually Chester you seem to know quite a lot. I don't think there is much wrong with your assessment of the situation other than its probably a bit too optimistic (the but about it possibly being the start of bigger investment) for us on here......we prefer to lean towards jaded cynicism :-) Overall I think it is right to wonder what SKY Sports really get from it. Have they been inundated by people wanting more basketball? Are they feeling their offering is getting a bit light now that BT Sport and to some degree Amazon have chipped away at it? I guess there will be some BBL fans who don't currently have SKY who will sign up for this alone...particularly due to Covid. |
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 14:34:44 GMT
The broadcaster is right to only use the best looking venues. What the broadcaster says goes. Welcome to professional sports. There is something that isn't quite adding up in my mind though. Are the people who pay a premium to watch sports the same people who want to watch BBL? I think there is more to this than a simple 2 year deal to cover the BBL as it is. I think this could be the start of a bigger investment which would bring the BBL up to a professional European standard, and more European games for the top teams. Or it could just be cheap filler for a Thursday. What do I know? I've only been following the sport for 7 months. Actually Chester you seem to know quite a lot. I don't think there is much wrong with your assessment of the situation other than its probably a bit too optimistic (the but about it possibly being the start of bigger investment) for us on here......we prefer to lean towards jaded cynicism :-) Overall I think it is right to wonder what SKY Sports really get from it. Have they been inundated by people wanting more basketball? Are they feeling their offering is getting a bit light now that BT Sport and to some degree Amazon have chipped away at it? I guess there will be some BBL fans who don't currently have SKY who will sign up for this alone...particularly due to Covid. What do Sky Sports get from it? Basically some additional live sports coverage, that compliments their existing NBA/WNBA coverage, at very little cost. If they're paying anything for it at all. What do the BBL get from it? Exposure of the league, amongst subscribers who may already have an interest in the NBA/WNBA, in the hope it'll increase it's fan base. It's win/win, apart from the fact the BBL are likely paying for the majority (or all?) of the production costs - in which case it's a the long game for them in the hope they'll see the long term benefits of the initial cost. I doubt there's anything more to this deal than that. |
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Post by connors on Nov 13, 2020 14:46:51 GMT
I guess you are right LTFan. Just not used to being so pleasantly surprised!
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Post by stevetino on Nov 13, 2020 15:31:47 GMT
2 games on the same court makes sense, especially in the better venues
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Post by chesterdonnelly on Nov 13, 2020 16:33:30 GMT
Even if Sky Sports are getting this for free, do we think they are taking a risk? If they set the stage only for the BBL teams to put on a dismal display, doesn't that diminish their brand?
I think Sky Sports would want to see an improvement over the 2 years. Maybe they are not providing the investment themselves but I think they must have been assured more investment is coming for them to put their brand on the line.
If Britain's potential for basketball is unlocked, the joined up market across Europe will be massive.
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 17:21:12 GMT
Even if Sky Sports are getting this for free, do we think they are taking a risk? If they set the stage only for the BBL teams to put on a dismal display, doesn't that diminish their brand? I think Sky Sports would want to see an improvement over the 2 years. Maybe they are not providing the investment themselves but I think they must have been assured more investment is coming for them to put their brand on the line. If Britain's potential for basketball is unlocked, the joined up market across Europe will be massive. Sky Sports have been happy enough with the ‘product’ to give 5 hours of air time to coverage of the British Basketball All Stars Championship for the last few years. I suspect they’re more concerned with the coverage looking good on screen to the casual viewer than the quality of basketball being played to the avid basketball fan. |
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Post by chesterdonnelly on Nov 13, 2020 17:24:59 GMT
Even if Sky Sports are getting this for free, do we think they are taking a risk? If they set the stage only for the BBL teams to put on a dismal display, doesn't that diminish their brand? I think Sky Sports would want to see an improvement over the 2 years. Maybe they are not providing the investment themselves but I think they must have been assured more investment is coming for them to put their brand on the line. If Britain's potential for basketball is unlocked, the joined up market across Europe will be massive. Sky Sports have been happy enough with the ‘product’ to give 5 hours of air time to coverage of the British Basketball All Stars Championship for the last few years. I suspect they’re more concerned with the coverage looking good on screen to the casual viewer than the quality of basketball being played to the avid basketball fan. The avid basketball fan will already have his expectations, and might be pleasantly surprised, like I am right now. |
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Post by LTFan on Nov 13, 2020 23:15:39 GMT
Makes sense. Although I’m surprised Manchester isn’t on the list too. Maybe the list of arenas was based on how good they look on television AND how good the team that plays there are expected to be.
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Post by chesterdonnelly on Nov 13, 2020 23:41:55 GMT
LTFan I think you're right.
Manchester Giants: concerns about the strength of their team. Possibly could be added later?
Worcester Wolves: have already announced they will be broadcasting all of their home games free to view.
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Post by LTFan on Nov 14, 2020 0:21:16 GMT
LTFan I think you're right. Manchester Giants: concerns about the strength of their team. Possibly could be added later? Worcester Wolves: have already announced they will be broadcasting all of their home games free to view. Absolutely, if Giants prove to be a competitive team this season (or next) then I expect Manchester to be added to that list now that they’re in their new home. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2020 11:58:49 GMT
2 games on the same court makes sense, especially in the better venues It's like we ran a test event for them called the L Lynch Trophy When I met with Ron Scott to discuss his fantasy league, it was a suggestion I made because you get a second game for very little in the way of production costs. I'll be interested to see what they do with the 40 or so minutes between games, a decent highlights package from the previous show or even footage from clubs' coverage if the quality is good enough.
Anyway, I was bored so I pulled together the details of all games being streamed this weekend (except Raiders, help needed). There will be no need to leave the house.
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Post by baldereagle on Nov 14, 2020 13:12:21 GMT
Great news for Bball. Down the pub on a Thursday night could be a whole new regime for Bball fans, as I for one am not forking out Sky high fees.
Mind you if they’re going to Mike up Drew Lasker to commentate while he’s playing I could be persuaded!
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Post by RaidersFan92 on Nov 14, 2020 14:16:35 GMT
2 games on the same court makes sense, especially in the better venues It's like we ran a test event for them called the L Lynch Trophy When I met with Ron Scott to discuss his fantasy league, it was a suggestion I made because you get a second game for very little in the way of production costs. I'll be interested to see what they do with the 40 or so minutes between games, a decent highlights package from the previous show or even footage from clubs' coverage if the quality is good enough.
Anyway, I was bored so I pulled together the details of all games being streamed this weekend (except Raiders, help needed). There will be no need to leave the house.
I’m sure I read that raiders is on their YouTube channel |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2020 14:23:40 GMT
Cheers. Updated
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