skysports.com
Sky Sports is one of the most popular sports channels in the UK and Ireland. It is the go-to channel for fans who follow cricket, football, rugby, golf, and any other sport. This network has been around for over thirty years and has changed how people consume sports content. From cable TV to satellite channels to its own streaming network, Sky Sports has come a long way.
Overall, the network offers ten channels which include the dedicated Sky Sports News channel along with Sports F1 channel, exclusive Premier League coverage, and rugby and cricket.
What does Sky Sports offer?
Sky Sports provides premium channels that offer exclusive broadcasts of sporting events across the UK. The channels from the network are available as subscription services added on either the Sky TV network or BT TV, TalkTalk TV or Virgin media. In order to watch Sky Sports without a contract, you can do so via the NOW TV mobile app.
History
Since 1991, Sky Sports has been at the center of the commercialization of British sport. It has earned rights to broadcast some of the leading sports competitions, including the Premier League, which broke away from the Football League back in 1992.
Sky Sports is the most popular league in England for over three decades. The network's success attracted interest from over the globe a few years ago, and Comcast acquired it a few years ago.
Sky Sports offers a variety of sports programming as part of its basic package. Some of these sports include Cricket, Golf, Action and Arena, F1, and the Premium League. You can access all of these sports through the Sky Sports Racing, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Mix channels.
Design
Sky Sports website is a part of the bigger Sky Network and thus reflects the network's color combination. The red and purple palette is present throughout the website and can be seen on banners on the homepage as well as in the inner categories.
Hero Section
The static banner on the right has videos of different sports playing on the TV. The text placement and graphics are brilliantly done, making it quite intuitive. It's quite interesting and makes you stick around watching the hero section for a while. On the homepage banner, the prices are made clear along with other features on the network, so you don't have to visit any other page for more information.
Body
If you scroll down, you'll find seven vertical thumbnails highlighting different channels which include Sky Sports, Sky Sports Football, Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports F1, Sky Sports Action, and Sky Sports Golf. If you scroll further, you'll find the same banners with pricing on the right with the CTA suggesting "Add Complete Sports?" in the button.
As you scroll further, you'll find upcoming sports events with schedules underneath which are further complemented by immersive banners that highlight the USPs.
Content
The meatiest part of the network is Content. The emergence of BT Sport has enabled Sky Sports to dig deeper in terms of their broadcasting prowess. Sky is looking to expand its content portfolio every year, so in this section I'd like to discuss the seven major reasons why sports lovers tune into Sky Sports.
Main Event
The Sky Sports Main Event channel is a great way to see highlights and other pieces of content from across the network. If you want to watch these things, this channel is the best place to go.
Premier League
The Premier League is one of the most popular sports leagues in the world. It has a dedicated channel on television that broadcasts live matches. The network has the rights to 124 Premier League matches this season, all of which are available in 4K quality.
Football
Unlike the Premier League, which only covers 138 English Football League games, along with 15 English Football League play-off matches, football channel covers a wider range of content - including EFL Trophy, the EFL Cup, UEFA Nations League, International friendlies and MLS. This makes it a more comprehensive option than the Premier League, which primarily covers the first division.
Cricket
Sky Sports has a dedicated cricket channel that broadcasts exclusive matches happening in the country. It covers all forms of the sport, from international tournaments to domestic competitions. Thus, this channel is truly comprehensive in its coverage of cricket.
F1
Sky has become the exclusive broadcaster of Formula 1 races in the UK. All races are available in 4k resolution and Sky even offers race highlights, pre and post-race analysis along with other featured documentaries.
Golf
Sky Sports Golf offers live coverage of golf events, including the popular Ryder Cup, PGA, European Tours, The Open and the US Open. This coverage allows viewers to watch all of the major Golf tournaments happening across the globe.
Action and Arena
This channel features a variety of sports, including wrestling, rugby league, rugby union, basketball, tennis, darts, swimming, boxing and even motorsports.
Apart from these major channels, there are other supporting channels such as Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports News, and Sky Sports Racing which offer dedicated programs and highlights from other channels throughout the day.
Desktop/Mobile experience
All of the Sky Sports channels are available in HD. HD is the best quality, however, most of the major coverage offers you to watch content in 4K if your device is compatible. If you want a middle ground between HD and 4K, you can even opt for Ultra HD given you have suitable equipment. For pure 4K experience, you need 4K TV along with the Sky Sports package and Sky Q box as that's the standard box through which 4K viewing is possible.
Mobile Experience
Sky Sports on mobile is an amazing experience. Using the Sky GO app, you can access all the channels available in the package. The user interface is visually stunning and streaming is of great quality. I stream Premier League on the go on my Pixel 3a and I have no complaints about the quality. It's simply top-notch.
Many people ask if there are inexpensive ways to watch Sky Sports? Yes, I can understand your question. Sky Sports as a network is expensive, compared to BT Sport. Thus, there's nothing wrong with you wanting to find alternative ways. Below are certain ways in which you can access Sky Sports:
I really enjoy the NOW TV network because it provides the Sky Sports Pass which allows me to access all of the Sky Sports channels without any contract. The pass operates automatically if I forget to cancel it, and I can choose the duration of the pass, which can be for a month or even a single day. This is perfect for a one-day event.
Compatibility
Sky Sports is available on a wide range of platforms, such as iPhones, Amazon Fire tablets and Android phones. I would recommend you go for Mini Q boxes if you don't have a 4K TV, as they are a great way to tie down all TVs in your home with one main connection and tiny supporting connections.
Plans & Pricing
As mentioned earlier, Sky Sports is expensive and much of it is due to billions of dollars that the network spends on broadcasting rights. For those who want to start their Sky Sports journey with an 18-month contract, the cost is £23/month. Alternatively, for those who want no contract, the price is £30/month. Apart from this, if you want to pay less, you can pay for a single channel dedicated to a certain sport. So, if you want customized content per your needs, you can do this. However, I don't feel that individual channels offer better value when compared to paying for all channels at once or subscribing to a longer term contract.
Suggestions I have for Sky Sports
I do not have any specific advice on how to best serve the network as it seems they are doing well in most areas. However, I do not like their pricing model, which is probably affecting their subscription rates.
Conclusion
BT Sport is a tough competitor, and its recent coverage has fostered a deeper connection with its audience. So, if you're looking for quality sports coverage, you might want to reconsider using BT Sport. Sky Sports is the best option for those who want one-stop-shopping, but BT Sport is still a viable option for those looking for high-quality sports coverage.
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