I heard a few weeks back that Sky plan to put Sky Sports 1 & 2 on Freeview as a Top-Up option.

yeah the annoying thing is you used to be able to get SS1 and 3 and they only ever had rugby on those two channels, then they started gradually putting them on 2 from time to time and now apart from the big games its pretty much a lottery especially when Guinness Premiership season starts when they'll have some crap rah rah game on SS1 on a Friday night. I think our Magic Weekend game was on SS4 which you can only get when you have both SS1 and 2. It wouldn't annoy me as much if they had a decent Rugby programme on like the footy show in Aus but since Boots n All became two programmes it just seems even more rushed for some reason. I also hate the fact that they choose games like Harlequins v Crusaders all the time, there was a long period where most of the games seemed uninspiring. They didn't even show Saints home game v Wire this year for some strange reason, I know they have to show so many games for each team but surely that'd have been near top of the list for a 'must show' game beforehand?

sky told me this morning that it is part of the sky sports package. Anyone else been told the same?

no as far as I'm aware they're doing an all in deal with ESPN at the moment but not MSK. I rang a few and told Sky I was cancelling and got a month free on all 4 sky sports and ESPN followed by 2 months at £8 a month. I know people who have worked at Sky and its always worth trying it on with them but don't tell them you only watch Rugby League or your offers will come in the offseason

Got some stuff about that in the post yesterday - rolling one-month contract, first month free, though there was mention of a £20 connection fee that may apply in the small print. Something like £23 a month for SS1 or £32 a month for SS1 and SS2, plus a bit extra for ESPN on top if you want that. Seems quite an expensive way to do it, but you're not tied into a lengthy contract, I guess.

BT are going Sky Sports 1 for £6.99 after the recent monopoly pricing ruling, might suit you circumstances although i'm not sure what phone package you might also need to buy........

Sky also have a clever habit of swapping what channels sports are beamed out on which might increase now they have another competitor !?!?!?

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It's 34p a game if they are showing five games a week like they are doing for the next 3 at least.

Sky are putting SS1 and 2 on all other platforms as a solution to being challenged about it.

SS News is going to be on pay Sky only and in HD.

Only Sky will have all 5 HD SS Channels, Virgin getting 1 and 2.

I wouldn't mind betting the most watched content will shift to 3 and 4, with token gestures to 1 and 2.

They won't get away with doing that to Premier League action but the Carling Cup for example will be solely on Sky Sports 3 for example. They'll be clever to do a few more switches like that without being too obvious.

You're keener than I am if you get up for the Sunday morning game.

Mind you, I'm only rolling in at that time most Sunday's so might be worth it.

Sky + = genius invention!

Only ever bettered by the dishwasher.

True!

But she gets every Wednesday and Sunday off..............

Blowing your own trumpet, eh Rogues?

He's not as flexible as he used to be.

Don't know about that - mine's always nagging me so she's being replaced by a Bosch.

That's me going without lunch. Thanks a lot.

All MSK/Premier ar edoing is using up what is left of Setanta's tv rights. I asked SKY several months ago and they suggested that once the rights ran out, sometime this year they will consider going after them again.
I also asked the NRL and it seemed that they were possibly in negotiations with a broadcaster about the coverage.

Here's hoping

Premier Sports/MSK/Setanta are taking liberties!!!

My wife signed up straight away as we record and watch every NRL game they show. Per game, per month, thats great value IMO.

HOWEVER, she phoned them today to ask why we couldn't get MSK in our bedroom and they said we needed to pay the same again to have it on a 2nd box, although we already pay SKY for multi-room!!! Not happy!

Somebody asked about that on the Premier Sports Facebook page, this is their reply:-

Well thats Sky's fault probably more than theirs. Can you not just swap the viewing cards round as and when?

Surely if you want to see an "up and under" in your bedroom you will need to subscribe to the adult channels?

Thats not true. Setanta had a 3 year deal of which they were 2 and a half years into when they collapsed last year. If Premier Sports were using up Setantas rights they'd have had the Origin and Grand Final to show. The current deal is a two year effort I believe which continues next year. They are offering a better amount of games that Setanta ever did and have said on their facebook page that once they get some subscription money in they'll look to add the Footy Show and programming from Fox Sports next year.

Thats what Sky and the NRL told me.
They (sky) gave the impression that the state of origin and grand final came under seperate licensing agreements.

In any case whether you say its true or not I sincerely hope that it is and we get rid of the "small" fry trying to con everyone into paying extra.

Anyway Bilko even though I don't know you please keep up the good work you do with stats and info etc. You should get a job with SKy and put the two muppets in their place