Sky Sports launches new line-up with flexible prices
David Farnor | On 11, Jul 2017
Sky Sports has launched a new line-up, with channels dedicated to individual sports and the option for new flexible, customised pricing.
Sky Sports has long been the dominant force on premium, pay-TV sports, competing with rivals such as BT TV for the rights to Premier League football matches and more. The result has been an exclusive, inaccessible platform for many, as lots of people in the UK don’t necessarily want to subscribe to the whole Sky package just to get Sky Sports.
In response, Sky introduced NOW, its cord-cutting VOD service, which offers streaming access to the whole of Sky Sports with no contract, for £8.99 a for Day Pass, £14.99 for a Week Pass and £33.99 for a Month Pass. Now, Sky customers are getting a similar deal, with the relaunch of Sky’s entire sporting service.
From 18th July, Sky Sports will expand its service to 10 sports channels, including new channels dedicated to the Premier League, football, cricket, golf and F1. Two channels, Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports Arena, will offer rugby union, rugby league, boxing, netball, darts, NFL, tennis, WWE, GAA and more. Sky Sports Main Event channel will host the biggest events in one place, while Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Mix will give news and a glimpse of sporting action to all Sky customers, with or without a Sky Sports subscription.
The new package of 10 channels will be available for the same price of £27.50 per month, which will remain frozen for 12 months. Existing customers will receive the new Sky Sports package automatically and the new channels will replace the existing line-up. The full range of digital platforms are also being brought together onto one Sky Sports app.
However, Sky is also taking a leaf from its NOW book, and will offer something for fans not looking for the full breadth of sports: they will be able to subscribe to individual channel packages for £18 per month, two channels of their choice for £22 a month, and three channels for £26.
Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports says: “Sky Sports is giving customers even more choice and channels at the same price for another 12 months, while opening up new ways for sports fans to join. If you love Premier League, you can enjoy it for as little as 60p a day or you can have the full Sky Sports package for less than £1.”
Stephen van Rooyen, Sky UK and Ireland Chief Executive, comments: “Sport has been a major part of Sky for 26 years and we’re improving our service even further, super-serving existing customers and providing flexibility to a whole new generation of sports fans. We are making sport more accessible and offering even more choice; all part of our continued investment in offering Sky customers an unrivalled service.”
NOW customers will be able to purchase the new Sky Sports line-up at no additional cost. Virgin Media and TalkTalk customers will also benefit from the channel changes.
The new line-up of channels* and Sky EPG channel numbers are:
Sky Sports Main Event (401)
Live Premier League football plus international qualifiers and the biggest games from EFL and La Liga, F1®, Ryder Cup and Major golf, England Test cricket, international Rugby Union, World Darts Championship and more
Sky Sports Premier League (402)
126 live Premier League matches per season. Brand new shows including a new nightly debate show. Dedicated On Demand sections for every Premier League club, including match highlights, interviews and documentaries.
Sky Sports Football (403)
127 Sky Bet EFL matches per season, EFL Cup including semi-finals and final, SPFL Premiership & Scottish Cup, 300 La Liga matches a season, MLS, Eredivisie and more.
Sky Sports Cricket (404)
Exclusive live coverage of every home England Test, ODI and T20 match. The widest range of domestic cricket including County Championship, T20 Blast and more. The ICC Champions Trophy, Cricket World Cup, World Twenty20 and Women’s World Cup liv
Sky Sports Golf (405)
The only place to see every day of The Open Championship and US Open live. Home of the European Tour, PGA Tour, Ladies European and Ladies PGA Tour. This year’s Solheim Cup and The 2018 Ryder Cup.
Sky Sports F1 (406)
Exclusive coverage of the FIA Formula 2 Championship, GP3, Porsche Supercup and Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Sky Sports Action / Sky Sports Arena (407 / 408)
The home of rugby union (England, European and domestic rugby union, the British & Irish Lions), rugby Super League, ATP tennis, PDC darts (including World Championship), world championship boxing, NFL, WWE, GAA, netball and more
Sky Sports News (409)
Regular news and feature programmes where studio guests provide an in depth look at upcoming sporting events, combined with the latest stories as they happen from around the world. Cameras and reporters stretch across the country, and the globe, taking viewers to the heart of sport.
Sky Sports Mix (121)
Regular live football including La Liga, MLS and international qualifiers as well as a select number of Premier League and EFL matches. As well as support programming that will appeal to kids and family audiences, viewers can also enjoy live golf from Europe and the US, international cricket and much more.