Wouldn't be surprised to see it eventually given on freeview too as a way to enter the Free-To-Air market. Can start bidding for much more then offering parts/all of it for free (World Cups, Euros, Wimbledon, Olympics, etc - obviously when their contracts expire).
http://www.digitalspy.com/tv/news/a...o-sky-sports-in-new-exclusive-deal-from-2019/ And days later, first move made. They have exclusive rights based on showing some of the races on free-to-air. They could now do the same with other rights (BT currently do this showing occasional Champions League and Europa League games for free).
Will it not have the opposite effect ? customers dumping the Sky Sports subscription and taking out the cheaper option ?
It'll only be some of the games/races live. To get the whole amount you'll still need the full sports package. It's kinda like a taster channel.
It's not really the first move there. They were always going to get exclusive coverage of F1 when the deal came up for renewal, the only reason they don't already have it is because initially the BBC weren't prepared to relinquish all the rights when they couldn't afford to maintain their contract, and then when the BBC decided to axe it completely, partial coverage was worth more to Channel 4 than stopping them have partial coverage was worth to Sky so the BBC sold their remaining rights to Channel 4. Ecclestone couldn't give a **** about any races being free to air, in some countries it's already all on subscription TV, and even the British GP isn't on either of the "Crown Jewels" lists.
