Digital TV Guides

Digital TV and sports

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

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If you’re an avid sports fan then you’re going to want a digital TV package that meets your needs and offers the best coverage without costing the earth. Updated on 08/09/2009.

Virgin TV + Phone + Broadband Over 100 channels Up to 10Mb broadband Only £23.50 a month

Sky TV + Freetime + Broadband 1 Sky TV pack + Sky+HD box Base broadband + Talk Freetime From just £18.00 a month

Footy fans can watch the Barclays Premier League on Sky Sports (www.sky.com) and ESPN. Two thirds of the matches are being shown on Sky Sports, while the remaining 46 games are being broadcast on ESPN. BT Vision (www.btvision.bt.com) also shows “near live” games.

With a range of subscriptions and add-ons available showing live and delayed matches and sporting events, choosing the right package for you can be a little confusing. The package that you choose all depends on the type of viewer you are, and how much you want to spend. Below is information on a number of options available…

Digital TV for super sports fans

Because Sky no longer shows every match of the Premier League live - ESPN has the rights to 46 games - super sports fans who don’t want to miss a minute of the action will have to buy both Sky Sports 1 and 2, and ESPN.

To get all three channels - Sky Sports 1 and 2 and ESPN - from Sky will cost £27 a month, plus the cost of your Sky packs. These cost from £17.50 for one pack, up to £22.50 a month for all six packs.

For Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com) customers, the Sky Sports Collection, which includes Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Sky Sports Xtra costs an additional £26 a month for Size M customers, £24 a month for M+ and L customers, and is £19 a month for customers on the Size XL package.

To then add ESPN to your Virgin Media subscription costs £8 a month for customers on the M and L packages. Customers on the XL package can watch ESPN for free.

Digital TV for keen sports fans

If you’re willing to watch a selection of matches as “near live” then customers have the option of going for a far cheaper package from BT Vision (www.btvision.bt.com). BT Vision packs start from £7.34 a month (for the first three months, £14.68 thereafter).

ESPN is free providing you sign up to a monthly pack, but a one-off activation fee of £9.78 applies.

Digital TV for casual sports fans

If you want to get a little bit more than the free coverage available on terrestrial TV, such as Match of the Day and Live Champions League, but are not willing to sign up to monthly contract, there are a few ways you can still watch games and fixtures, though they may not necessarily be live.

The SkyPlayer, an online catch-up service from Sky, lets you watch highlights from previous Premier League matches, Uefa Europa League fixtures and action from other sports such as rugby, golf and cricket.

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