
RobMcCaffery
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Everything posted by RobMcCaffery
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I'd be very surprised if it differs from the standard Premier/Freesports coverage, just with a different logo in the top right of the screen. With Eurosport only having two channels I suspect we'll be seeing a lot of 'overflow' on the likes of Quest when the speedway conflicts with the major events that Eurosport are acquiring rights to, notably the Olympics. At least with Sky and BT there were plenty of sports channels for us to fit into, even though we still ended up on the dreaded red button at times.
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It's a marketing deal where Box Nation is included in Premier Sports packages on various TV platforms and on the online Premier Sports Player. Thus, with one notable exception anyone with the full Premier Sports package will have access to Box Nation. Therefore it can be used for "overflow". The exception is Virgin Media where it is still an 'extra'. Not all operating relationships are based on ownership. For example the Murdochs ran Sky for years without ever having anything more than a minority financial stake.
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Precisely. At present Sky are showing football on their Pick channel in order to make the games that they are showing for free available on Freeview. There are very few truly independent channels. Most are owned by groups so if the main sports channels are full there are always factual, entertainment or even other sports channels normally dedicated to other sports that can be 'borrowed' within the group. Most aspects of TV can be explained, even if the explanation isn't always what you want to hear. There's too much money at stake for random decision-making. Some of these groups are very powerful multinationals. Not Premier though which was probably better known in its previous existence as Setanta Sports.
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Unfortunately I can't access Freesat right now but none of my media sources show it returning. Are you sure you aren't talking about Freeviw rather than Freesat geoff58? They are two completely different services.
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It may be back now - I haven't had time to check but it was most definitely pulled from Freesat on Tuesday June 30th due to a dispute over the Freesat epg charge. This is well documented in media sites and forums. This explains. https://rxtvinfo.com/freesports-departs-freesat
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Everything about Premier Sports/Freesports is 'on the cheap'. There's only so much income you can get from charging £9.99 a month for the main channels and nothing for Freesports. You get what you pay for. I'm delighted they could be bothered to pay out for the Polish contract. They only picked up Italian and Spanish football when Eleven Sports UK operation failed. In turn they've had to give up much of their ice hockey coverage to BT because they couldn't afford it. Ultimately it is ALL about money. I worked for a channel where the subscription was voluntary! In other words they couldn't afford to pay Sky for their encryption technology. We used to carry ads asking viewers to send money in. I think you can see why it went bust.... As for getting what you pay for - the viewers got me... I occasionally got a co-commentator, but usually only if the producer saw a likely victim in the pits and talked them into doing it. Thankfully I didn't have to talk for twenty minutes while nothing was going on like Dave has to.
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This often happens. It may be just temporary. Freesports will still be there, just not visible in the programme guide and should still be available on the "Add channels" feature, if anyone has the tuning details. Re today's schedule the speedway IS starting now. The programmer that Mimmo uses seems not to have been updated. Schedules on the minor sports channels like Premier/Freesports and Eurosport are notoriously flexible and TV/online schedules and programme guides often struggle to keep up.
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Sweden has not been included in the UK Government's 'Air Bridges' whereby quarantine restrictions are ended between selected countries, 59 in total, from next Saturday, July 11th. So anyone travelling between Britain and Sweden continues to be required to quarantine for 14 days. Presumably while, for example, Poland to the UK is now open, Sweden remains isolated internationally.
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The formula's first nine heats are the first half of the old 18 heat test match formula - and the early league formula in the 1930s in the UK, followed by three 'mixed' heats. It seems like a workable solution. I wonder if a rider will be nominated as a reserve to cover tapes or time exclusions, or will they just go with three rider races when they occur? The other consideration is what happens if a rider has to withdraw through injury? Injured Rider Replacement as in the UK?
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Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
Today's Air Bridge announcement by the UK Government will mean from July 11th people arriving in the England from 59 countries will no longer have an obligation to quarantine for two weeks. This deal is reciprocal so it has an impact on Poland's relationship with England. Poland, Denmark and Germany are on the list so it should now be possible for riders formerly exiled in Poland to be able to travel to England. Poland will no longer be able to claim a monopoly on speedway riders racing there. This excludes Scotland, Wales and Norther Ireland whose devolved governments have yet to follow suit. This does have an admittedly minor effect on the Ekstraliga and far more impact on England's potential to restart racing it would normally be better placed in the main forum section but given the uncontrolled behaviour in that section it's better left alone. It will also have an impact o the two lower Polish leagues in freeing up talent to ride in those leagues as well as any English activity. Unfortunately Sweden is not on the list so their isolation is set to continue for the forseeable future. -
Assuming that that grid is in rider order I make it: (Order R-B-Y-W, not the UK system) 1 - 1,2 v 1,2 2- 3,4 v 3,4 3- 5,6 v 5,6 4- 3,4 v 1, 2 5- 5,6 v 3,4 6- 1,2 v 5,6 7- 5,6 v 1,2 8- 1,2 v 3,4 9- 3,4 v 5,6 10- 5,2 v 1,4 11- 1,4 v 3,6 12- 3,6 v 5,2 13-15 Nominated but I suspect based on actual scoring of riders. One other observation from that grid is that the Polish system regarding helmet colours may be in use, with yellow being used by the heat leaders/senior riders rather than white. If not you'll need to swap round the away riders in the above.
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Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
Box Nation is not included in the Premier Sports add-on to Virgin Media which is rather annoying. I'll just have to record and watch the two matches in HD on Monday. -
Are YOU missing British Speedway?
RobMcCaffery replied to Robinh88's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
Don't worry, with luck there'll be no speedway and you can reflect in the glory of being 'right'. Shame about everybody else. -
I just avoid the score until I've watched the match.
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Speedway On Tv And The Internet In 2025
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in Speedway News and Discussions
Free on all platforms, I believe, hence the name. -
A lower standard of riding does not ensure a lower standard of racing as any Championship or NL supporter will confirm - if anyone's listening.....
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Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
It's going to take more than Logachev though, isn't it? -
Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
I sympathise greatly with Dave having to fill in those large gaps without live action. At least it's better than in Sweden where he only had a locked-off wide-angled picture to support him during the many breaks. It's a shane that the interviews conducted in English couldn't be included on the international feed but then there are long sequences as the presenter translates from English. Premier Sports are obviously working to a very tight budget. Thankfully Dave has the resourcefulness to make it work. There is only so much that you can do and bear in mind I think this is is first foray into Polish speedway with his stock car commitments having clashed with Premier's previous Polish coverage. It's hard enough commentating remotely off a screen without having huge gaps to fill...alone. -
Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
Things could change if Drabik can't postpone his case until after the season. Being able to replace his points scoring at reserve was essential and thanks to a passport they have. -
Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
Something tells me Miedzinski won't be getting a second chance....Will Batchelor? There's too much money at stake to allow Rybnik to flounder all season. -
Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
You are right this year about the team strengths, but the problem is with two sides, I feel. Lublin gambled on only small changes to their promoted side last year and it paid off. Having Pawel Miesiac progress from second tier second string to Ekstraliga heat leader after investing in machinery did help. The progress seemed to have reversed in his absence on Friday but Wroclaw are a very strong side with Drabik's progress and Chugunov filling his place at reserve. Rybnik haven't been able to strengthen their promoted side to anywhere near the required level. The match at Gorzow was far more typical of Polish speedway. Don't be put off buy those first two matches or you will miss a lot of great speedway, but do allow for the fact that it is very different over there and a lot of familiar comforts won't be there. The racing should make up for it. -
Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
It does suggest a behind the scenes row. Odd for Sportowe Fakty not to sensationalise it. -
Polish Extraleague 2020
RobMcCaffery replied to racers and royals's topic in International World of Speedway
Do they have many headless horses over there? -
Poole Pirates 2021
RobMcCaffery replied to Pirates Of Poole's topic in SGB Championship League Speedway
I took a look at the Torquay United forum a while back. They'd picked up on their speedway record.