The Sport Thread

[Newshound47]

Does anyone know if any broadcaster or streaming service in the UK is showing the World aquatics Championships?

[excel99]

At the end of the Diamond League last night, it was mentioned it would be on the iPlayer

[Brekkie]

Shame as the last couple have got decent linear treatment, but being in tennis season isn't ideal. Even a delayed 7-9pm slot on BBC3 though would be OK. Not even any coverage on the final weekend with highlights of the week.

C4 seem to have given up covering the Para equivalent too.

[Newshound47]

Shame as the last couple have got decent linear treatment, but being in tennis season isn't ideal.  Even a delayed 7-9pm slot on BBC3 though would be OK.  Not even any coverage on the final weekend with highlights of the week.

C4 seem to have given up covering the Para equivalent too.

After the ongoing one the next Para World Swimming Champs are in Glasgow so I would imagine Channel 4 would consider showing that and if not the BBC might be interested.

[RhysJR]

Shame as the last couple have got decent linear treatment, but being in tennis season isn't ideal.  Even a delayed 7-9pm slot on BBC3 though would be OK.  Not even any coverage on the final weekend with highlights of the week.

Evidence points to this being almost an eleventh hour agreement which also would partly explain the lack of linear coverage. As late Monday (maybe Tuesday), the Fina website was listing coverage in the UK being on their own streaming service All Aquatics only, but was updated to be on the BBC too. In 2019 of course there was no live linear rights in the UK and in other countries due to Fina's extoriante valuing of rights. BBC had extended highlights daily and it was all available to view via PPV from Fina. Can't find much info on the UK ste-up of Fina's 2019 coverage, but it was $40 for the week in Australia, with Seven amongst those not paying the high fees.
https://au.sports.yahoo.com/swimming-wor...wpmif2HLuH

It seems Fina have seen sense this year with many FTA broadcasters across Europe showing it. Whilst it's understandable but disappointing  that the BBC will have little linear coverage, it is worth noting that it is on paper a weakened British team due to injuriy and there being three major championships this year over six weeks, which may have helped influence the decision for lack of linear BBC coverage.

From what I can gather, every session from every sport (water polo, diving, swimming etc.) appears on the schedule for All Aquatics in the UK. It appears to be run by Eurovision Sports and is I believe free after logging in. I almost added my birthday as 199 AD when signing up, but apart fro that looks quite a decent system. Worth noting there will be commmentary on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra of most evening session too.

[Brekkie]

Yes, I'd forgot FINA had these grand ideas about doing it all themselves. Thought it was odd nothing was scheduled on Eurosport either.

It could slot in live on BBC2 from 5.15pm but as you say the jam packed schedule for many sports this year means choices have had to be made and as much as we question the value of the Commonwealths nowadays that is a wise choice for most British athletes to favour a home games scheduled at the peak of the season. I do think though as more sport is just streamed live online with no bells and whistles the argument for the sort of curated round up at the weekend Grandstand used to provide actually becomes relevant again.

[Brekkie]

Just stumbled across this on the EPG but ITV are showing the documentary on last years Lions Tour over the next three nights. They're usually good value, and this time it goes behind the scenes of both camps rather than just The Lions. Didn't expect it to turn up on ITV - it's previously been a DVD then an outing on Sky.

[RhysJR]

Other rugby news, and the England v. Barbarians match at 15:00 is on Prime Video. Build-up has just started, and looks like they're using the original Autumn Nations Cup graphics (also used last summer).

[RhysJR]

[thebigdog2022]

[Brekkie]

Hasn't it already happened this year?

[eyeTV]

Hasn't it already happened this year?

No it's been moved to October now.

[Rdd]

Other rugby news, and the England v. Barbarians match at 15:00 is on Prime Video. Build-up has just started, and looks like they're using the original Autumn Nations Cup graphics (also used last summer).

Miles Harrison called the game too. 

No sign of Stuart Barnes making any return to commentary at the moment it appears - he and Harrison had been a double act at Sky for about 30 years before Sky got out of the sport (as a host broadcaster at any rate, they still cover Sanzaar). Maybe England’s tour of Australia next month?

[OboeShoes]

Other rugby news, and the England v. Barbarians match at 15:00 is on Prime Video. Build-up has just started, and looks like they're using the original Autumn Nations Cup graphics (also used last summer).

Miles Harrison called the game too. 

No sign of Stuart Barnes making any return to commentary at the moment it appears - he and Harrison had been a double act at Sky for about 30 years before Sky got out of the sport (as a host broadcaster at any rate, they still cover Sanzaar). Maybe England’s tour of Australia next month?

If he didn't commentate for Sky during the Lions tour, I doubt he's going to start again now.

There's far too many recently retired pros working freelance across multiple broadcasters now for him to be anywhere near the top of the pecking order. David Flatman is everywhere, Nolli Waterman is everywhere, Habana is everywhere (including S4C), Ugo Monye is everywhere. And they're just the tip of the iceburg. Even the lead commentators are all over the place. Miles works for Amazon, Channel 4, ITV and Sky, Eddie Butler: BBC and Premier, Nick Mullins: BT & ITV.

[Brekkie]

That's the nature of sports broadcasting now though - the days of exclusivity are long over and it generally means whereever the match you get the best commentators and pundits available.