Sky aren’t getting another red cent out of me.

I suppose one could say that we’ve had a bit of a cushy number over here, getting every WWF pay-per-view on Sky since 1991 without having to pay an extortionate amount. But the fact remains that Sky Sports is a premium service that we pay quite a lot for, so it’s not like we’ve been getting them for free (except for the ones that Channel 4 showed, but their contract has expired so that’s over), and from now on Sky will no longer broadcast pay-per-views on Sky Sports. Instead, we’ll have to shell out €22 to see it on Sky Box Office, at 1am.

Not only is €22 too expensive for a transmission that isn’t even guaranteed (Sky have a history of live transmission breaks at the most inopportune moments), but for an event that’s on in the middle of the night it’s just too far over the line. Sure, one might say, the Yanks pay the same, but at least they get the live show at a sensible hour. I can wait a couple of months and buy the video for around the same price, guaranteed that I’ll get the whole thing, and I can watch it whenever I want. Whether it’s live or not doesn’t matter, since we’re talking about a sport where the results are largely predetermined anyway.

But the most annoying thing is that Sky can easily afford to broadcast these events without charging €22 a go. They’ve been doing so for the last ten years! Their annual profits are usually in the millions, and they haven’t lost money in years, but they still want more.

You broke the proverbial camel’s back. You’re not getting any from me you’re not, Mr. Murdoch. Not any more.

Sat 12 Jan 2002 at 16:34   ·