Sky Sports Revamp, Channel Changes and Price Slashes: Sky Sports is overhauling its pay TV offering, scrapping the numbered channel system it has used for years and introducing cheaper package options and new homes for its football, F1, golf, cricket and rugby coverage, as well as extending the new system to its Now TV streaming service. Here’s what you really need to know.
Back in June, The Guardian reported that the iconic UK sport broadcaster was preparing to retire the Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 brands in favour of dedicated new homes for popular sports.
Now, we can reveal that the switch is set to arrive in the near future, after Sky confirmed its plans, as well as revealing that the rebrand will also extend to its OTT Now TV streaming service.
Both Sky TV subscribers and Now TV users can expect the changes to land automatically on or around July 18, according to the company.
Announcing final details of the revamp, Sky revealed that it would now be featuring 10 sporting channels (previously, Sky Sports offered seven), adding that it would be freezing prices for a full fat sport bundle at £27.50 for 12 months.
More importantly for consumers, Sky will now also be price slashing its cheapest Sky Sports package, which will cost just £18 a month – cheaper than a month pass for Sky Sports on NOW TV – and give you access to a single Sky Sports channel, which could appeal to those with narrow sporting tastes.
Two Sky Sports channels will cost £22 a month, while three will be available for £26, though by that point, you might as well just shell out for the whole banana.
In addition, Now TV Sky Sports Passes will enjoy access to all 10 revampled channels at no additional cost – a Day Pass costing £6.99, a Week Pass £10.99, and a Month Pass £33.99.
Gidon Katz, Director of Now TV, commented: “We’re delighted to be adding the all new Sky Sports channels to NOW TV, even more sporting action on the same flexible and affordable passes.”
The move is understood to be party inspired by the success of the standalone Sky Sports F1 channel, which will remain unchanged, as well as being a reaction to slipping subscriber figures. Sky Sports News HQ and Sky Sports Mix will be unaffected.
As well as the aforementioned Sky Sports F1, the new range of dedicated single-sport channels will include Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Cricket, and Sky Sports Golf.
Sky Sports Main Event will essentially replace Sky Sports 1, featuring all the biggest live events (key Premier League, EFL and La Liga clashes were mooted, as was Test cricket, rugby internationals, and golf’s Major Championships).
The new Sky Sports Arena will pick up the rest of Sky’s existing coverage, including Rugby Union and Rugby League, tennis, darts, boxing, American football, WWE, Gaelic sports and more.
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What do you make of the Sky Sports revamp? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
