Virgin Media Community

[garypjackson]

At present I pay my £7.99 a month (no contract) to watch tennis on Amazon Prime.

I hear that they aren't bidding for it after 2023 and that it's likely to go to Sky.

I know it's a way off but contract negotiations take place well in advance, so my question is - 

Is Virgin likely to be able to offer such an add on should Sky get it, and am I being realistic in thinking it will cost considerably more?

Thanks 

[newapollo]

Hi @garypjackson 

I would expect the tennis to be part of the normal Sky Sports channels and as such you would need to subscribe to the channels. They wouldn't release an app just for the tennis. 

 Amazon Prime is now £8.99 a month for new customers - the annual sub is now £95.

Amazon said the rise in fees, will be implemented as current members’ contracts come up for renewal from 15 September.

If you don't want the free delivery etc then you would be better taking out Prime Video which is only £5.99 a month.

[Roger_Gooner]

Sky has bid for the ATP and WTA Tours which Amazon has given up but we have to wait to find out what happens. It seems as if Sky has got back the US Open and if Sky does get all the tennis rights it wants there may even be enough for a tennis channel to add to the existing 14 (seven HD and seven SD) which are dedicated to specific sports. The bad news, however, is that you have to subscribe to all the Sky Sports channels and this will cost more than paying Amazon for Prime Video.

[japitts]

It will likely be time to do what I've been doing since many years - negotiate to have the Sky Sports portfolio as part of your package permanently, and get a promotional discount in exchange for that lock-in.

I don't make use of SS every weekend during the year, but sufficient that it's cheaper (and easier) to keep the portfolio on all-year round than add & remove continually.

[garypjackson]

I might have a look at the Tennis Channel when the time comes as that's in the UK now at £2.49 a month. Anything than be held to ransom by Sky for loads of sports I don't want.  

Thanks for the replies. Interesting stuff

Gary

[Jomodu]

Another option if Sky take on the tennis is to use NOW TV to buy a Sky Sports package for the months that tennis is televised. I do this when Sky has rugby internationals such a the World cup.