Sports channels on Tivo

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cafeg

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Topic # 57000 31-Jan-2010 08:52

Are there any plans for pay per view sports channels on Tivo.
I would have paid per view for the Australian Open if it had of been available on Tivo via broadband..

It seems like you have to have SkyTv to get any sports at all on TV now :-(

compost

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Reply # 295583 2-Feb-2010 23:04

In theory this would be offered via caspa. In practice, Sky tries to monopolise all worthwhile rights on all media, and sports bodies seem to be shortsighted enough to sell online rights to the highest bidder regardless of whether they are actually used or if anyone is watching. Way to build a following.

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cafeg

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Reply # 295611 3-Feb-2010 06:22

yes, it would be great if it came through caspa.
It is only here in NZ that sky monoplises all the sport as well.
I was over in brisbane at xmas and there was plenty of sport on the FTA channels there including the tennis being played in brisbane at the time.

sbiddle

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Reply # 295614 3-Feb-2010 07:21

The key difference in Australia is that there is a greater population base. While there are laws saying that FTA broadcasters must have access to some content the reality at the end of the day if money.

FTA broadcasters only get revenue from advertising. NZ is a small country, has small viewer numbers therefore advertising revenue for some sports can be low. They can't go spending money buying sports and making a loss all the time!

Sky on the other hand charge a subscription and larger revenue streams to pay for sport.

ockel

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Reply # 295617 3-Feb-2010 07:37

cafeg: yes, it would be great if it came through caspa.
It is only here in NZ that sky monoplises all the sport as well.
I was over in brisbane at xmas and there was plenty of sport on the FTA channels there including the tennis being played in brisbane at the time.

Australia has anti-siphoning laws that prevent PayTV from buying certain sports. The anti-siphoning list is being reveiwed this year and (surprise, surprise) FTA wants it retained, PayTV wants it changed.
One of the biggest detriments for viewers is that FTA doesnt have to make a decision on rights until 14 days before broadcast. And thats too late for PayTV to acquire the rights so some events have been known to lapse. For example Bledisloe Cup played in Melbourne one year was delayed on FTA - Seven decided that repeats of Sound of Music would draw a bigger audience and viewers missed out.
It would be fair to say that in Australia there are certain areas monopolised by FTA and scraps picked up by Pay. Its improved in the last few years with joint bids by FTA and Pay for events (eg NRL, AFL). All about the economics.

Skolink

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Reply # 295698 3-Feb-2010 13:03

Is CASPA technically able to deliver live streaming events? I have Telstra cable, and therefore no CASPA, so I haven't had a look (or taken much interest).

cafeg

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Reply # 295776 3-Feb-2010 17:20

it doesn't have to be live, it could have a small delay before broadcasting,
but at least we would get to see some of the main sports..

ockel

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Reply # 295926 4-Feb-2010 07:46

cafeg: it doesn't have to be live, it could have a small delay before broadcasting,
but at least we would get to see some of the main sports..

Delayed rights may or may not be "owned" by the live broadcaster. And if they are sold separately then the length of the delay is usually stipulated clearly so that both the live broadcaster and the delayed broadcaster can assess the value of the rights they are acquiring.

A new entrant in the purchase of delayed rights in NZ would be good. Stratos was the last one - they got live or delayed rights to cricket. None of the major FTA's are interested in cricket given it displaces a lot of content and advertising inventory.
Last time the delayed rights to rugby were sold TV3 let them go as the cost of the rights compared to the revenue earned didnt add up. So Prime (before they were bought by Sky) acquired the rights.

For Caspa to pony up $$$ for delayed rights they need to build the business case that shows either subscription (PPV) revenue and/or advertising revenue exceeds the cost of the rights. Thats a tough ask compared to the revenue share models associated with movies or series content.