View Full Version : FOX and Directv??
skish
14 Jan 2004, 03:58 PM
Anyone know if News Corps purchase of Directv will change the lineup, and make FSW available without the additional Sports Package subscription?
I'm hopeful that it will.
The pending sale is one of the reasons I picked Directv.
billf
15 Jan 2004, 02:34 PM
I'd doubt it. There are a number of people that get DirecTV just for FSW, the Golf Channel, etc. It would be pretty bad business to offer people, for free, something they are willing to pay for. Let's say for simplicity's sake that 1000 subscibers bought the sportspack just for FSW. If it is given away for free, people will cancel that premium service and DirecTV will lose the $8 - $12 a month they get from each of those 1000 subscribers.
You'll have to either buy the sportspack or call DirecTV and see if you can work out a deal to get FSW without it.
DAGSports
15 Jan 2004, 11:42 PM
What MIGHT happen is that NewsCorp may make some EPL games exclusively available on DirecTV PPV, or on a DirecTV only channel.
In any event, they will continue to charge for FSW as they need as much subscriber revenue as they can get.
Dave141
16 Jan 2004, 08:29 AM
DAG,
As a DirecTV subscriber, I would welcome that, but it is not possible.
One of the primary conditions of the government’s approval of the deal is that NewsCorp must make available any of its owned content equally to other providers. I even think it specifically mentions Murdoch's international sports programming.
DirecTV can still bid for and win exclusivity for content from independent providers (such as NFL Sunday Ticket, etc.)
billf
16 Jan 2004, 09:11 AM
Originally posted by Dave141
DAG,
As a DirecTV subscriber, I would welcome that, but it is not possible.
One of the primary conditions of the government’s approval of the deal is that NewsCorp must make available any of its owned content equally to other providers. I even think it specifically mentions Murdoch's international sports programming.
DirecTV can still bid for and win exclusivity for content from independent providers (such as NFL Sunday Ticket, etc.)
The problem with this restriction is that it is not applied to cable companies as well. Comcast, for instance, has quite a bit of exclusive content. The difference may be that there is more than one or cable companies, but most consumers only have one cable choice. They would have two DBS choices no matter what. It boggles my mind.
Dave141
16 Jan 2004, 10:20 AM
billf,
I couldn't agree more. The restrictions that they put on mergers often look silly when compared to what has been allowed through evolving business practice.
skish
19 Jan 2004, 09:59 PM
I guess I figured they might make it free just to immediately boost their subscriber numbers.
Wouldn't that mean more advertising $$.
I really have no idea if they'd make more money from subscriptions or from advertising.
sregis
21 Jan 2004, 11:25 AM
i'm a newbie at all this (i'm a cable guy considering moving up in the world)- w/ directv, are you getting epl w/ the $269 package or on FSW, or both?
Originally posted by sregis
i'm a newbie at all this (i'm a cable guy considering moving up in the world)- w/ directv, are you getting epl w/ the $269 package or on FSW, or both?
For the $269 EPL package you get live matches Sat. & Sun. morning. To get FSW, you need to buy the sports pkg. for an extra $12/month. If you don't mind knowing results and don't want to pay $269, FSW shows the ppv matches about 3 - 4 days late
DAGSports
23 Jan 2004, 09:52 PM
The biggest fault in FSW is that they do not show the EPL Highlights show until Tuesday Night at 11 p.m. Eastern. FSW Canada and FSN New York show it in Primetime on Sunday Night (if FSNY has no live game that night), and MSG Network in NY usually carries it on Monday or Wednesday either at 3:00 p.m. or 7:00 p.m.
Also, I wish FSW would provide some kind of real EPL pre-game, half-time, maybe even post-game shows from their current studios (i.e. the one used for MLS Wrap). The current coverage is a little bland.