31-03-2023, 09:02 PM
Does the blackout apply to streaming explicitly though? Could DAZN get around it by offering the 3pm games via streaming only perhaps in an updated version of the iFollow arrangements.
(02-04-2023, 02:12 PM)TMD_24 Wrote:(02-04-2023, 02:09 PM)NI92 Wrote: Pien Meulensteen leading the commentary today on Sky Sports for West Ham v Southampton, is this the first time Sky have used a female on a men's Premier League match?
She did Southampton V Leicester City for Sky on the 4th March.
(02-04-2023, 05:26 PM)RhysJR Wrote: And it has been confirmed the mega-pools of 12 teams have been scrapped for next season, with a more traditional set-up of smaller pools (rumoured to be six groups of four a la the old ERC Heineken Cup) said to triumphantly return. There will be four rounds of pool matches (two in December, two in January), Round of 16 and quarter-finals in late March/April, then semi-finals and finals in May. There are so many reason why this year's format is bad, most notably that it was impossible to explain and understand and teams could qualify for the knockout stages with only one win (there was a mathematical possibility in the Challenge Cup ahead of the final round of the pool stage of one team qualifying without even one win) so it hopefully will be a positive step forward to return to a more traditional format. Here's hoping UEFA see sense and do similar for their equivalent competitions.
Quote:Ridley will detail any alterations at his traditional press conference on the eve of the tournament. By then it will be clear if the BBC has cut ties with the major that it first broadcast 56 years ago. Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed in January that no agreement had been made between the club and corporation and it is known that BBC TV is not sending over a commentary and presenting team.www.telegraph.co.uk
However, there is a possibility that an 11th-hour deal could be struck to show highlights via the world feed, perhaps only from the final two rounds. When asked on Tuesday, a BBC spokesperson cryptically replied: “We don’t comment on discussions so we don’t have anything to say whilst they are ongoing.”
(03-04-2023, 08:30 PM)Brekkie Wrote:Do think the ship has sailed for 2024 concerning the Champions League format with everything sold already as you said. At least we'll have to endure it with increased profile through BBC highlights and Amazon Prime coverage. If they have any sense, some rowback for 2027 should happen though.(02-04-2023, 05:26 PM)RhysJR Wrote: And it has been confirmed the mega-pools of 12 teams have been scrapped for next season, with a more traditional set-up of smaller pools (rumoured to be six groups of four a la the old ERC Heineken Cup) said to triumphantly return. There will be four rounds of pool matches (two in December, two in January), Round of 16 and quarter-finals in late March/April, then semi-finals and finals in May. There are so many reason why this year's format is bad, most notably that it was impossible to explain and understand and teams could qualify for the knockout stages with only one win (there was a mathematical possibility in the Challenge Cup ahead of the final round of the pool stage of one team qualifying without even one win) so it hopefully will be a positive step forward to return to a more traditional format. Here's hoping UEFA see sense and do similar for their equivalent competitions.
That's good news - it just doesn't create any excitement in the group stage at all having these massive groups where not everyone competes. FIFA did U-turn on the World Cup 2026 group phase plans so a chance UEFA will think again, though with broadcast rights already locked in it may be messy if any change resulted in less games. I do think with 36 teams that 4 groups of 9, each playing 4 home and 4 away games, would be the compromise solution.
As for the rugby yes back to back knock out rounds make things tricky - and pretty odd considering this is the same sport that held it's World Cup draw three years ahead of the tournament to give teams and fans time to make plans.