Viaplay pull out of UK market

[artie fufkin]

How does Viaplay pulling out of UK market affect URC coverage?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/scotland/66256891

[liveinhope]

Enormously-means that in effect no URC coverage at all!
Obviously need to find a new broadcaster for next season asap.

[Impega]

The statement is a bit ambiguous, stating they are 'downsizing, partnering or exiting our other international markets' - which includes the UK. So not necessarily ditching all coverage.

There's also no timeline given, although it does sound pretty imminent given the severity of their financial plight.

It's a shame, as £80 a year for every single URC match is a great deal. I've found the coverage to be perfectly adequate.

[The Feral Goat]

This is the time for CVC to start having some greater influence. They are in it to make money tv deals are the biggest part of that.

With BT now TNT and part of the Discovery/eurosport group surely it is an opportunity to start building the rugby "channel", if they can commit air time or red button access type thing.

Alternatively Amazon have been dipping their toe with internationals, Sky only have rugby championship I think, perhaps opportunity for one of them to potentially pick up the rights off viaplay.

[Pitfitter1105]

Wife has seen a comment on twitter re Viaplay, Scottish football to be canned but URC to continue as before, will wait till I get this email to be happy.

[The Chiel]

I'd be really surprised if the footie was just being canned, UNLESS they've unloaded it somewhere. I wonder if DAZN are in the game for this.
My feeling is they're trying to contract out all the sports they don't fancy. But I'm sure they will have to honour the specific sports contracts if they can't.

That said, I've not renewed yet and my subscription expires at the end of this week ( I have definitely cancelled ! ). Nothing from Viaplay about renewing, which is surprising. Sky and BT don't leave me alone for the last three months or so of a contract.

For me, especially having seen some of the app / website streaming quality criticism, part of the issue is whether Viaplay or whoever takes their contracts on will still pay for the Sky channel access.

( This site didn't accept this post as a reply to Pitfitter for the first few tries, so it's also on the Glasgow site. Seems to have accepted it now without the reply element )

[dolf_lundgren]

it does seem to be the case of not renewing the contract, rather then an immediate withdrawal.

I doubt we will get another parttner who will televise every game live. Having said that the cameras are there anyway so there is not a huge incentive not to. Even if it was with no, or reduced commentary.

[bignose]

Has anyone managed to get in touch with Viaplay? Their contact form seems broken. I'm happy to renew at the price they just quoted me by email if they have URC for the season but I've no interest in any of their other offerings.

[Pitfitter1105]

Even if it was with no, or reduced commentary.

In some cases that would be a blessing, save me having to mute some of them.

[bignose]

Conversation via webchat today...

Can you please confirm that you will be broadcasting the URC rugby matches for the 2023-2024 season as you have done for the 2022-2023 season. There are reports that you are pulling out of the UK market but there is no detail of what that means in practical terms

Hey Andy! Yes, we have announced a new strategic plan where Viaplay Group’s focus going forward will be in the Nordic markets, in the Netherlands and on our Viaplay Select business. We have initiated a strategic review for our other International markets, including UK, where we will seek optimal solutions for our operations, including partnerships. Until then it is business as usual, what our customers can watch on Viaplay today will be there tomorrow too. As soon as we have any updates, we will of course communicate.

If I sign up for another year with you and then you subsequently don't broadcast the URC, what guarantees do I have that I'll get a refund. The rugby is the only reason I subscribe

Right now I can not give out any guarantees or promises, based on the information we have right now. But if there is going to be any changes in the future, then it will be informed then, and handled differently of course.

So I have to subscribe and just hope that you deliver?

Well, one way to do it, is to not subscribe and wait until everything starts and check again then.
Or just go for the regular subscription, that doesn't bind you for 12 months

The regular subscription would cost more for 7 months than the annual subscription though. Basically I'm looking for some reassurance that if I sign up in August for 12 months on the basis that we'll get the full URC season (which is what you've advertised in the past) that I have some recourse if you subsequently don't broadcast those games. Thanks for your time and responses though

I understand, and totally reasonable to ask those questions. I just can not answer them with anything that is set to stone unfortunately.

[dolf_lundgren]

Thats a really odd repsonse. A lot of words used to tell you nothing at all!

I dont understand how they dont know. Unless they are losing a fortune on the URC surely it makes no sense to hve to buy your way out of a contract rather than just deliver it? The also seem to be showing no interest in having subscribers from the UK, again why not just move things at the end of the contract?

I really hope the URC havent let them have a break point in the contract with no penalty. There is very little time to get a new partner and we will be scraping around probably for very little money.

[liveinhope]

Hmm.Whilst extremely frustrating have to say the Viaplay response was at least completely honest.
So basically we have to just take the risk that they may broadcast some or all of the season.
Surely this is where the URC have to step in and provide some reassurance to supporters otherwise they are in danger of losing a huge amount of exposure (and goodwill.)?

[Croft_No.6]

This is the URC you are talking about. Fat Chance. All will be well for TV in SA and they will have Ireland covered irrespective if it all goes to pot, so don't really give a monkeys

[bignose]

My subscription is due at the end of August so I'm going to bin it for now because the season doesn't start until October. Maybe by then they will have sorted themselves out.

[The Chiel]

Probably doesn't apply to many ( OK, probably just me ! ), but if you got Viaplay through Sky, anything left on series link will actually continue to record*. But then if you try to access it you get a message saying you're not allowed to watch the recording !

*Swedish speedway, since you ask, Dolf !