Just a few things I wanted to know about the US market as I don't know much about it.
1) Over here subscribing to a TV package including main Sports channels (Sky Sports) costs about £36 per month, about $67. This will get you all the terrestial channels and the satellite ones. Without this you don't get to see any live fights from the US.
How much does a similar TV subscription cost in the US? And do you have to subscribe to both Showtime and HBO seperately? Do HBO have a few sports channels and what other sports do they concentrate apart from boxing? Same question for Showtime too. Is ESPN a free to view channel?
2) PPVs are not very common over here, but when they are on they cost £15, about $28. In the US, I know they are generally $50 (apart from some of those on ESPN) - but at least you guys always have the option of watching them. Also, do you need to be a HBO / Showtime subscriber to order the PPV?
3) Is HD TV completely mainstream in the US, and do you get charged extra if you want it? Is it really as good as it's claimed to be and does it make watching sports much better? They are only introducing it over here so apart from demos in the shops, I haven't seen anything of it.
4) Do they have other PPV sports in the US apart from boxing/wrestling?
A few questions for those in the US of A...
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punchers chance
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 693
- Joined: 12 Jul 2005, 18:37
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Rich
- Heavyweight
John
I'm a Brit living in the States and will try answering your questions as best I can having "knowledge" of both countries' TV viewing.
I have the DirecTV system (equivalent of SKY) viewed via satellite as opposed to cable which is still in the majority here. Major downside in Florida, with the tropical climate and therefore heavy rainfall in summer, is that we can often lose signal when the clouds come in.
I pay $99 a month for the full terrestrial package, plus, HBO, Showtime & Stars. Basically I have access to around 350 channels including some international programming. Basic packages start at about $43 but dont include HBO etc or any local channels or sports package. These are added at $13 for the first package, $12 for the next and so on up to a maximum of 5. Once you pick all 5 you go onto a flat rate of $99. This way you get to see all the live fights (Wednesday & Friday Night fights, etc etc.) The only ones you dont get to see are "sdpecial PPV's" such as DLH the other night. The Hatton fight is free to air on HBO on Saturday though.
You pay for each individual receiver at a cost of $6 for standard receivers, $8 for DVR (same as SKY +) and $10 for a HD receiver, on top of you subscription price.
You dont need to be an HBO subscriber to view PPV's and as mentioned, some of the PPV's for non subscribers are actually free to view if you do. An example was the Calzaghe/Lacy fight, which was $25 for PPV but free if you subscribed. I wasnt a subscriber at the time so simply added the relevant package for $12 per month (only 1 month commitment if I chose to scrap it afterwards) and watched the fight for "free".
ESPN is free to view.
HDTV is becoming more common. You just need to get the HD box to replace the standard box and pay about $10 per month. I havent got it but its supposed to be excellent. To be honest, I have a 42 inch plasma TV and everything looks fine as it is.
PPV's are mainly boxing and wrestling, but they also charge for big UFC events and Pride fighting as well as a seperate package for international cricket.
That took a while but I hope it answers some fo your questions.
I'm a Brit living in the States and will try answering your questions as best I can having "knowledge" of both countries' TV viewing.
I have the DirecTV system (equivalent of SKY) viewed via satellite as opposed to cable which is still in the majority here. Major downside in Florida, with the tropical climate and therefore heavy rainfall in summer, is that we can often lose signal when the clouds come in.
I pay $99 a month for the full terrestrial package, plus, HBO, Showtime & Stars. Basically I have access to around 350 channels including some international programming. Basic packages start at about $43 but dont include HBO etc or any local channels or sports package. These are added at $13 for the first package, $12 for the next and so on up to a maximum of 5. Once you pick all 5 you go onto a flat rate of $99. This way you get to see all the live fights (Wednesday & Friday Night fights, etc etc.) The only ones you dont get to see are "sdpecial PPV's" such as DLH the other night. The Hatton fight is free to air on HBO on Saturday though.
You pay for each individual receiver at a cost of $6 for standard receivers, $8 for DVR (same as SKY +) and $10 for a HD receiver, on top of you subscription price.
You dont need to be an HBO subscriber to view PPV's and as mentioned, some of the PPV's for non subscribers are actually free to view if you do. An example was the Calzaghe/Lacy fight, which was $25 for PPV but free if you subscribed. I wasnt a subscriber at the time so simply added the relevant package for $12 per month (only 1 month commitment if I chose to scrap it afterwards) and watched the fight for "free".
ESPN is free to view.
HDTV is becoming more common. You just need to get the HD box to replace the standard box and pay about $10 per month. I havent got it but its supposed to be excellent. To be honest, I have a 42 inch plasma TV and everything looks fine as it is.
PPV's are mainly boxing and wrestling, but they also charge for big UFC events and Pride fighting as well as a seperate package for international cricket.
That took a while but I hope it answers some fo your questions.
That's great, cheers Rich!Rich wrote:John
I'm a Brit living in the States and will try answering your questions as best I can having "knowledge" of both countries' TV viewing.
I have the DirecTV system (equivalent of SKY) viewed via satellite as opposed to cable which is still in the majority here. Major downside in Florida, with the tropical climate and therefore heavy rainfall in summer, is that we can often lose signal when the clouds come in.
I pay $99 a month for the full terrestrial package, plus, HBO, Showtime & Stars. Basically I have access to around 350 channels including some international programming. Basic packages start at about $43 but dont include HBO etc or any local channels or sports package. These are added at $13 for the first package, $12 for the next and so on up to a maximum of 5. Once you pick all 5 you go onto a flat rate of $99. This way you get to see all the live fights (Wednesday & Friday Night fights, etc etc.) The only ones you dont get to see are "sdpecial PPV's" such as DLH the other night. The Hatton fight is free to air on HBO on Saturday though.
You pay for each individual receiver at a cost of $6 for standard receivers, $8 for DVR (same as SKY +) and $10 for a HD receiver, on top of you subscription price.
You dont need to be an HBO subscriber to view PPV's and as mentioned, some of the PPV's for non subscribers are actually free to view if you do. An example was the Calzaghe/Lacy fight, which was $25 for PPV but free if you subscribed. I wasnt a subscriber at the time so simply added the relevant package for $12 per month (only 1 month commitment if I chose to scrap it afterwards) and watched the fight for "free".
ESPN is free to view.
HDTV is becoming more common. You just need to get the HD box to replace the standard box and pay about $10 per month. I havent got it but its supposed to be excellent. To be honest, I have a 42 inch plasma TV and everything looks fine as it is.
PPV's are mainly boxing and wrestling, but they also charge for big UFC events and Pride fighting as well as a seperate package for international cricket.
That took a while but I hope it answers some fo your questions.