MSE News: BT Sport: is its 'free' offer any good?

scaifea

I was excited when I first heard about the BT Sport offer; but the more I look into it the weaker it gets as a propositon for me. Overall, not good from BT IMHO.

fraserB_3

:jI have a sky box and BT broardband I renewed my contract 2 months ago £10 for 16mb speed. called them yesterday and I can have same price £10 and have BT sport, just needed to start my contract again. no problem I will be able to watch On sky HD box when it starts.:T

Cyril392

Excellent posts, particularly by Colin_London!

Here's my two penn'orth: already got BT phone/Bb/TV + BT Vision box + BT Vision card (not much choice where I live); so when BT announced BT Sports, I started rubbing my hands. However....

1. As Colin_London says, with my connection's 6.5-7.0Mbps ADSL capability, it can't support Infinity.

2. Not too bothered about HD - I mean, how good does it need to be - watched Dave Whelan break his leg in super stunning Black & White; so PC/laptop access will be OK for me.

3. It was then I noticed that the tariff for my "Total Bb/calls option 2" service, which I have only had for 18 months, had increased around the start of the year to £20.50/month. This service is also restricted to 40GB download/month. After researching the well-structured (!) BT Web-site for about half a lifetime, I discovered that BT are now offering (Totally) "Unlimited Broadband" packages for as little as £16.00/month. I feel a haggle coming on!

4. According to a URL on its web-site, BT seem to be CLAIMING that using BT TV and other BT-sponsored services won't impact on any restricted Bb connection. However, elsewhere on the Web-site, there is a suggestion that BT Sport is a quite distinct service from BT TV, so it's not clear whether BT Sport will or won't impact on restricted Bb connections. Breath-holding not essential. Of course, if I can re-negotiate my £20.50/40GB restriction/month contract to £16.00/unlimited/month, this won't matter anyway.

Perhaps the BT web-site could be re-named, or simply re-directed by a couple of simple changes to alias files, to confused.com

visidigi

fraserB wrote: »

:jI will be able to watch On sky HD box when it starts.:T

How? The free through BT option is on computer through the web only. To watch on your sky box is £12 a month with £15 activation fee.

dave76

Cyril392 wrote: »

1. As Colin_London says, with my connection's 6.5-7.0Mbps ADSL capability, it can't support Infinity.

If you are in an Infinity enabled area and getting 7Mbps over ADSL then your line should easily support an infinity connection! When I moved house my ADSL speed would have been 1Mbps, I got Infinity installed and get just under 40Mbps now :T

WunderfulBBC

38 matches is not many and you don't know which ones they'll get (are they picking up from ESPN?) and you would need Sky Sports as well if you are a serious sporting viewer.

But the big issue for people who want more than 1 STB (Set Top Box) is that BT don't (or didn't) offer this as an option.

So, if you need to watch sport while others want to watch East Enders, I don't think BT are going to be much use.

Not sure on the tech spec of the BT STB either.

For me, Virgin is still a good deal, provided you live in a good cable area e.g. the old Nynex franchise.

MartinSpoon

visidigi wrote: »

How? The free through BT option is on computer through the web only. To watch on your sky box is £12 a month with £15 activation fee.

This is incorrect. If you are a BT Broadband customer with more than 12 months left on your contract, or you are willing to recontract, you can add BT Sport for free to BT Vision, OR, to watch via Sky. BOTH receive access to the app/web streaming service. If you don't have BT Vision or Sky, you still get the app/web streaming access, also free. HD is free if you sign up before 1st August. There is no activiation fee if you have BT Broadband and have more than 12 months on your contract.

MartinSpoon

WunderfulBBC wrote: »

38 matches is not many and you don't know which ones they'll get (are they picking up from ESPN?) and you would need Sky Sports as well if you are a serious sporting viewer.

But the big issue for people who want more than 1 STB (Set Top Box) is that BT don't (or didn't) offer this as an option.

So, if you need to watch sport while others want to watch East Enders, I don't think BT are going to be much use.

Not sure on the tech spec of the BT STB either.

For me, Virgin is still a good deal, provided you live in a good cable area e.g. the old Nynex franchise.

You're right BT have 38 matches and Sky have over 100, but, BT have 18 'top pick' matches, and Sky have 20. BT didn't just pick up ESPN's games, ESPN never had any 'top pick' games.

You're right, there isn't multiroom support yet, but, you could watch it on the app or via the web streaming option whilst someone else watches Eastenders!

visidigi

MartinSpoon wrote: »

This is incorrect. If you are a BT Broadband customer with more than 12 months left on your contract, or you are willing to recontract, you can add BT Sport for free to BT Vision, OR, to watch via Sky. BOTH receive access to the app/web streaming service. If you don't have BT Vision or Sky, you still get the app/web streaming access, also free. HD is free if you sign up before 1st August. There is no activiation fee if you have BT Broadband and have more than 12 months on your contract.

Where is this documented that they add it to your sky service for free? This is what I'm talking about with this launch its a complete minefield and what your saying is not shown anywhere easily viewable or on the faq's or on twitter where they simple ignore any questions they haven't written in an FAQ.

I'm not sure they even know what's going on.

Edit I see bt sport have updated their web page yet again. Talk about farce.

If only I could get infinity. I'm not giving up vm cable for adsl - apologies for Getting it wrong earlier...

Robbo-bot

Beware !! BT Sport is not Free to BT Business Broadband customers ! Even if you have BT Broadband and a Sky Box and Viewing Card !
Their advertising is false and I have reported them to the Advertising Standards Authority.
If anyone finds fault with their adverts etc
Please do the same !!!

jamesg123 wrote: »

Can someone clarify as BT have left me confused?

After a long conversation with BT it appears on the surface that BT Sports is free for all BT Broadband customers HOWEVER i cant watch it through my television. I will explain

I cant get infinity in my area. So i am limited to BT Broadband
because of this we can only view on our laptop or iphone but not our tv.
I can opt for BT Vision box which i can view it through but only after launch (date to be confirmed.)
If i opt for a youview box at sign up in my opinion better than a bt vision box (both free on sign up with bt) i cannot watch bt sports as it will only be available on bt vision boxes!!

Can anyone clarify this?? Please as this does not make sense. I have 7mps broadband and want a youview box from bt and free sports. ???
Many Thanks and look forward to clarification as it will help others who cannot get fibre in their area