Possible bad news for Warren regarding BT Sport.

Remember when some on here claimed BT was overtaking sky sports lol

 

Damn!

Few weeks back the chief executive got the sack and shareholders were unhappy with the results

Looks like BT sport going through tough time.

They lost Serie A football rights also.

Frank recently signed new contract so I am guessing it depends on the break of contract stipulations BT put in.

Saying that though they recently only just won UFC rights and they have dropped it

 

They watched the fury comeback and pulled the plug

 

UFC is huge for them why would they drop it ?

 

What I will say is the ft report does say at the end that BT say the ratings winners for them are football, Boxing and rugby union so I think the boxing is safe for now.

Things like NBA basketball and ufc are more complimentry sports to have alongside the core sports.

This country isn't big on basketball and while mma has an audience its a lot smaller than a lot of people believe it to be. It probably doesn't help that the majority of ufc events are early hours from America either.

 

I don't think it is huge. Mma is still very much a minor sport in Europe. Yes it has its audience here but huge it isn't.

Sky would take ufc if it was huge but they don't.

 

Yes i guess UFC shows being so late do count against it.

Though saying that SKY were battling for it at one stage also, so whats changed ?

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-45000791

So looks like BT walked away as eleven sports over paid for the rights.

The days of BT sport spending big on sports is well and truly over.

Investors already unhappy with spending on football

 

Its not that they dont take it, its the case that they didnt win the contract with thier bid/offer

 

Very interesting news for sure. But for what it's worth, I don't think the boxing output on channel would be in danger.

They only just recently extended their contract with Warren and along came with that was the announcement of 'BT box office'.
I'm also sure the boxing does well for them - Tyson Furys comeback did huge numbers for example.

But having said that, if the cancellation of the UFC output deal is true, then it does make you think...Warren said there would be 20 shows a year and that has not been delivered. Billy Joe Saunders the "Face of BT" about to fight on another platform as well. Does make you think.

 

Yeah they won't pay big money for it as its not a sport which will drive subscriptions for them.

 

Sky definitely bidded for the rights in 2016. Not sure if they were interested this time though.

 

I fully expect SKY to snap up UFC deal, ill 100 percent be telling BT to ram it when they try to sell me a new phone and internet contract

 

Eleven sports have won the UFC rights. All makes sense. They recently hired a guy who previously worked for the UFC and NBA.

Eleven sports also took La Liga and Chinese super league from sky sports.

https://www.thedrum.com/news/2018/0...r-scott-fenton-it-readies-uk-streaming-launch

They won't be paying big money for anything at the moment.

They showed no interest in top pick premiership football rights. I am guessing they will drop champions league when that contract ends also.