Well Mediaguardian has caught on to Sky’s usual domineering fun and games with this year’s UEFA Champions’ League.
The format of the competition means that half the teams play on a Tuesday and half on a Wednesday. The following week, the all the play on the other night. So last night Man Utd, Chelsea and Rangers all played, and tonight it’ll be the turn of Arsenal (I’ll be there!) and Celtic.
This is where it gets confusing so pay attention.
ITV get to choose two games on a Tuesday, one on ITV1, and the other on ITV2, although it should be noted that STV and Grampian showed the Rangers game last night in Scotland, while it wasn’t shown in England. Sky show the other 6 games on a Tuesday, showing one of them on Sky Sports 2 and the others on their interactive channels.
Then on a Wednesday, Sky show all 8 games – one on Sky Sports 2, and the other 7 interactively. The problem comes when you subscribe to Sky via cable. You can only watch the game on Sky Sports 2 which is ordinarily the main game. Tonight it’s Arsenal v Inter Milan, but if you’re a Celtic fan with cable then you miss out altogether. There aren’t any highlights aside from on Sky Sports Xtra – a channel unavailable on cable.
In a fortnight on the next Champions’ League matchday, the Arsenal game is on a Tuesday night and will be on ITV1 (at 17.15 since it’s in a cold dark Moscow), and Celtic will be on ITV2. But come Wednesday, Sky Sports 2 will have one match (probably Man Utd’s), but you’re stuffed if you want to watch Chelsea or Rangers without Sky Digital.
Sky’s argument is that it’s not their fault that the other operators don’t have the capacity for the extra games, but it’s not like there isn’t space for them on the Sky Channels. Sky Sports 1 will be showing Gillette Soccer Special, which will also be on Sky Sports News – a free channel (so everyone can watch that), and Sky Sports 3 has no live sport at all. Of course Sky like to move their programming around between the varying Sky Sports channels to ensure that football fans need to subscribe to both Sky Sports 1 and 2 for top flight action (now that the BBC has most International and FA Cup football that was the staple of Sky Sports 2 in football terms), but clearly this is abuse of power with the supply and distribution sides of the Sky platform sewing things up, and shutting other multi-channel suppliers out.
Sky really does need to be broken up if they’re going to abuse their position in this way. And until someone stops them, they’ll continue to do it. Why shouldn’t they? They’re in a competitive position.
Of course I blame UEFA in this matter too. They’ve short-sold British football fans. There are no highlights of Wednesday fixtures either, so you simply can’t see the Arsenal goals from tonight, unless the news carries them.
Maybe some of the big UEFA sponsors might want to consider the loss of coverage they’re getting as a result. I hope they’ve had their fees reduced commensurately!