My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.

She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.

So, what is the simplest way to get what she wants? That's 'simplest'
both from the installation point of view and from the use point of
view. She lives with us so getting WiFi, Internet, whatever sorted
out isn't too difficult but extra boxes hanging around under the
television are less welcome.

I guess she could move from PlusNet to BT but that would increase the
cost somewhat, I think. How does 'BT Sport' compare with Sky sport
nowadays? Is there anything else available to provide what she wants?

.... and as I said 'easy to use' is important, the BT Sport on Plusnet
was just about as complex as she could manage easily.

--
Chris Green
·

In message <7dn2bi-e0ga.ln1@esprimo.zbmc.eu>, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net>
writes
>My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
>
>She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
>this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
>the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
<snip>

According to my newspaper, Eurosport has the 2022 live TV rights for the
UK. It doesn't say anything about BT Sport. (Maybe BT Sport had the
rights last year but not this?):

"250 hours of live coverage will be broadcast with Eurosport 1 and
Eurosport 2 dedicated to showing the very best matches on Rod Laver
Arena. All courts and all matches will be accessible via discovery+, the
Eurosport App and Eurosport.com."

Eurosport 1 and 2 are also carried by Sky. (But possibly not if you
don't take their sport package rather than just the basic Sky package?)
--
John Hall
"Home is heaven and orgies are vile,
But you *need* an orgy, once in a while."
Ogden Nash (1902-1971)

John Hall <john_nospam@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
> In message <7dn2bi-e0ga.ln1@esprimo.zbmc.eu>, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net>
> writes
> >My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
> >
> >She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
> >this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
> >the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
> <snip>
>
> According to my newspaper, Eurosport has the 2022 live TV rights for the
> UK. It doesn't say anything about BT Sport. (Maybe BT Sport had the
> rights last year but not this?):
>
> "250 hours of live coverage will be broadcast with Eurosport 1 and
> Eurosport 2 dedicated to showing the very best matches on Rod Laver
> Arena. All courts and all matches will be accessible via discovery+, the
> Eurosport App and Eurosport.com."
>
> Eurosport 1 and 2 are also carried by Sky. (But possibly not if you
> don't take their sport package rather than just the basic Sky package?)

Thanks, that's useful.

We've just discovered/realised that she has a Smart TV (bought quite
recently), can that access Eurosport?

--
Chris Green
·

On 12/01/2022 11:32, Chris Green wrote:
> John Hall <john_nospam@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
>> In message <7dn2bi-e0ga.ln1@esprimo.zbmc.eu>, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net>
>> writes
>>> My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
>>>
>>> She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
>>> this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
>>> the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
>> <snip>
>>
>> According to my newspaper, Eurosport has the 2022 live TV rights for the
>> UK. It doesn't say anything about BT Sport. (Maybe BT Sport had the
>> rights last year but not this?):
>>
>> "250 hours of live coverage will be broadcast with Eurosport 1 and
>> Eurosport 2 dedicated to showing the very best matches on Rod Laver
>> Arena. All courts and all matches will be accessible via discovery+, the
>> Eurosport App and Eurosport.com."
>>
>> Eurosport 1 and 2 are also carried by Sky. (But possibly not if you
>> don't take their sport package rather than just the basic Sky package?)
>
> Thanks, that's useful.
>
> We've just discovered/realised that she has a Smart TV (bought quite
> recently), can that access Eurosport?
>
I believe newer Samsung smart TVs have a Eurosport application. Of
course you'll have to subscribe to Eurosport. Other smart TVs may have
it as well.

Mark Undrill <spam@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 12/01/2022 11:32, Chris Green wrote:
> > John Hall <john_nospam@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
> >> In message <7dn2bi-e0ga.ln1@esprimo.zbmc.eu>, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net>
> >> writes
> >>> My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
> >>>
> >>> She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
> >>> this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
> >>> the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
> >> <snip>
> >>
> >> According to my newspaper, Eurosport has the 2022 live TV rights for the
> >> UK. It doesn't say anything about BT Sport. (Maybe BT Sport had the
> >> rights last year but not this?):
> >>
> >> "250 hours of live coverage will be broadcast with Eurosport 1 and
> >> Eurosport 2 dedicated to showing the very best matches on Rod Laver
> >> Arena. All courts and all matches will be accessible via discovery+, the
> >> Eurosport App and Eurosport.com."
> >>
> >> Eurosport 1 and 2 are also carried by Sky. (But possibly not if you
> >> don't take their sport package rather than just the basic Sky package?)
> >
> > Thanks, that's useful.
> >
> > We've just discovered/realised that she has a Smart TV (bought quite
> > recently), can that access Eurosport?
> >
> I believe newer Samsung smart TVs have a Eurosport application. Of
> course you'll have to subscribe to Eurosport. Other smart TVs may have
> it as well.
>
It seems to be a bit of a can of worms, or at least a can of random
wriggly things. Whether any particular TV app will work on any
particular TV seems to be mostly down to luck/chance and, even if it
does whether it will work in a few months time is also not very
certain.

If a service like Eurosport doesn't have an app that works on one's TV
what are the alternatives? As I understand it (and I'm not at all
convinced I do) the possibilities are:-

Use an app on your phone - more likely to be available as there's
only Apple and Android to provide apps for. No good for M-I-L,
she struggles with her Android phone and the screen is too small.

Can you use a smartphone somehow to display on TV? Again probably
no good for M-I-L as it's too complicated.

Can you got to the eurosport.com web site and show pictures in the
web browser? Better than via 'phone but still a bit messy,
especially as the SmartTV interface to the web is hardly quick and
easy to use.

Same as above but using a computer to go to eurosport.com, much
easier to use interface, use TV to display output.

.... and if you subscribe to Eurosport it's odds on they won't have
tennis next year!

I have to say I hate the current heavily commercialised and 'popular'
tennis with a minute of noisy applause after every rally so I'm not
personally interested, but M-I-L wants it.
--
Chris Green
·

On Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:33:43 +0000, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote as
underneath :

>My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
>
>She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
>this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
>the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
>
>
>So, what is the simplest way to get what she wants? That's 'simplest'
>both from the installation point of view and from the use point of
>view. She lives with us so getting WiFi, Internet, whatever sorted
>out isn't too difficult but extra boxes hanging around under the
>television are less welcome.
>
>I guess she could move from PlusNet to BT but that would increase the
>cost somewhat, I think. How does 'BT Sport' compare with Sky sport
>nowadays? Is there anything else available to provide what she wants?
>
>... and as I said 'easy to use' is important, the BT Sport on Plusnet
>was just about as complex as she could manage easily.

"sport" covers a million types, no single combo gets more than a small
proportion! Amazon Prime (yearly sub) and a cheap firestick gets her a
lot of tennis.

On 13/01/2022 06:57, Charlie+ wrote:
> On Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:33:43 +0000, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote as
> underneath :
>
>> My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
>>
>> She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
>> this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
>> the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
>>
>>
>> So, what is the simplest way to get what she wants? That's 'simplest'
>> both from the installation point of view and from the use point of
>> view. She lives with us so getting WiFi, Internet, whatever sorted
>> out isn't too difficult but extra boxes hanging around under the
>> television are less welcome.
>>
>> I guess she could move from PlusNet to BT but that would increase the
>> cost somewhat, I think. How does 'BT Sport' compare with Sky sport
>> nowadays? Is there anything else available to provide what she wants?
>>
>> ... and as I said 'easy to use' is important, the BT Sport on Plusnet
>> was just about as complex as she could manage easily.
>
> "sport" covers a million types, no single combo gets more than a small
> proportion! Amazon Prime (yearly sub) and a cheap firestick gets her a
> lot of tennis.

Also, Eurosport is available as an add-on channel to Amazon Prime.

On 12/01/2022 16:53, Chris Green wrote:
> Mark Undrill <spam@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> On 12/01/2022 11:32, Chris Green wrote:
>>> John Hall <john_nospam@jhall.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> In message <7dn2bi-e0ga.ln1@esprimo.zbmc.eu>, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net>
>>>> writes
>>>>> My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
>>>>>
>>>>> She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
>>>>> this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
>>>>> the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
>>>> <snip>
>>>>
>>>> According to my newspaper, Eurosport has the 2022 live TV rights for the
>>>> UK. It doesn't say anything about BT Sport. (Maybe BT Sport had the
>>>> rights last year but not this?):
>>>>
>>>> "250 hours of live coverage will be broadcast with Eurosport 1 and
>>>> Eurosport 2 dedicated to showing the very best matches on Rod Laver
>>>> Arena. All courts and all matches will be accessible via discovery+, the
>>>> Eurosport App and Eurosport.com."
>>>>
>>>> Eurosport 1 and 2 are also carried by Sky. (But possibly not if you
>>>> don't take their sport package rather than just the basic Sky package?)
>>>
>>> Thanks, that's useful.
>>>
>>> We've just discovered/realised that she has a Smart TV (bought quite
>>> recently), can that access Eurosport?
>>>
>> I believe newer Samsung smart TVs have a Eurosport application. Of
>> course you'll have to subscribe to Eurosport. Other smart TVs may have
>> it as well.
>>
> It seems to be a bit of a can of worms, or at least a can of random
> wriggly things. Whether any particular TV app will work on any
> particular TV seems to be mostly down to luck/chance and, even if it
> does whether it will work in a few months time is also not very
> certain.
>
> If a service like Eurosport doesn't have an app that works on one's TV
> what are the alternatives? As I understand it (and I'm not at all
> convinced I do) the possibilities are:-
>
> Use an app on your phone - more likely to be available as there's
> only Apple and Android to provide apps for. No good for M-I-L,
> she struggles with her Android phone and the screen is too small.

Fire stick?
>
> Can you use a smartphone somehow to display on TV? Again probably
> no good for M-I-L as it's too complicated.

Yes and yes.
>
> Can you got to the eurosport.com web site and show pictures in the
> web browser? Better than via 'phone but still a bit messy,
> especially as the SmartTV interface to the web is hardly quick and
> easy to use.

Unlikely a TV based web browser would be up to it.
>
> Same as above but using a computer to go to eurosport.com, much
> easier to use interface, use TV to display output.

Most computers these days have an HDMI output. Connect this to the TV.
>
> ... and if you subscribe to Eurosport it's odds on they won't have
> tennis next year!

You can always unsubscribe.
>
> I have to say I hate the current heavily commercialised and 'popular'
> tennis with a minute of noisy applause after every rally so I'm not
> personally interested, but M-I-L wants it.

Mark Undrill <spam@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 12/01/2022 16:53, Chris Green wrote:
> >
> > If a service like Eurosport doesn't have an app that works on one's TV
> > what are the alternatives? As I understand it (and I'm not at all
> > convinced I do) the possibilities are:-
> >
> > Use an app on your phone - more likely to be available as there's
> > only Apple and Android to provide apps for. No good for M-I-L,
> > she struggles with her Android phone and the screen is too small.
>
> Fire stick?

We're looking into a Fire Stick, it seems as if it may be the easiest
way to go.

> >
> > Can you use a smartphone somehow to display on TV? Again probably
> > no good for M-I-L as it's too complicated.
>
> Yes and yes.
> >
> > Can you got to the eurosport.com web site and show pictures in the
> > web browser? Better than via 'phone but still a bit messy,
> > especially as the SmartTV interface to the web is hardly quick and
> > easy to use.
>
> Unlikely a TV based web browser would be up to it.

I guess not, they're not Firefox/Chrome/Safari are they!

> >
> > Same as above but using a computer to go to eurosport.com, much
> > easier to use interface, use TV to display output.
>
> Most computers these days have an HDMI output. Connect this to the TV.

That's what I was meaning.

> >
> > ... and if you subscribe to Eurosport it's odds on they won't have
> > tennis next year!
>
> You can always unsubscribe.

Yes, but M-I-L likely won't unless we remind here and we're not all
that good at keeping up with this sort of thing.

Thanks for all the comments though, they're helpful.

--
Chris Green
·

Mark Undrill <spam@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On 13/01/2022 06:57, Charlie+ wrote:
> > On Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:33:43 +0000, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote as
> > underneath :
> >
> >> My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
> >>
> >> She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
> >> this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
> >> the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
> >>
> >>
> >> So, what is the simplest way to get what she wants? That's 'simplest'
> >> both from the installation point of view and from the use point of
> >> view. She lives with us so getting WiFi, Internet, whatever sorted
> >> out isn't too difficult but extra boxes hanging around under the
> >> television are less welcome.
> >>
> >> I guess she could move from PlusNet to BT but that would increase the
> >> cost somewhat, I think. How does 'BT Sport' compare with Sky sport
> >> nowadays? Is there anything else available to provide what she wants?
> >>
> >> ... and as I said 'easy to use' is important, the BT Sport on Plusnet
> >> was just about as complex as she could manage easily.
> >
> > "sport" covers a million types, no single combo gets more than a small
> > proportion! Amazon Prime (yearly sub) and a cheap firestick gets her a
> > lot of tennis.
>
> Also, Eurosport is available as an add-on channel to Amazon Prime.
>
Does that mean that a TV that can 'see' Amazon Prime can see, via
that, Eurosport? If so that might well be the best way to get what
M-I-L wants as it involves no extra hardware at all.

In addition I'm pretty sure *our* quite old unSmart LG TV can access
Amazon Prime (via the FreeView box?) so we could access it too. This
might well be helpful in making us a bit familiar with how it works so
we can help M-I-L.

--
Chris Green
·

On 13/01/2022 10:58 am, Chris Green wrote:

> Mark Undrill <spam@invalid.invalid> wrote:

[ ... ]

>> Also, Eurosport is available as an add-on channel to Amazon Prime.
>
> Does that mean that a TV that can 'see' Amazon Prime can see, via
> that, Eurosport? If so that might well be the best way to get what
> M-I-L wants as it involves no extra hardware at all.

The way that this works is that you get into the Firestick [HDMI]
channel on the TV and thence into the Amazon Prime app. Prime add-on
subs are manifested as "channels" within the Prime menu. Britbox is
another (available within the Prime app). So is iMDB TV, though that one
is free (powered by ads).

> In addition I'm pretty sure *our* quite old unSmart LG TV can access
> Amazon Prime (via the FreeView box?) so we could access it too. This
> might well be helpful in making us a bit familiar with how it works so
> we can help M-I-L.

I know there are some Freeview boxes with that feature (we have a Humax
which uses its internet connection in order to let you go "back in time"
on the TV guide page. They usually refer to it as "Youview".

JNugent <jennings&co@fastmail.fm> wrote:
> On 13/01/2022 10:58 am, Chris Green wrote:
>
> > Mark Undrill <spam@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>
> [ ... ]
>
> >> Also, Eurosport is available as an add-on channel to Amazon Prime.
> >
> > Does that mean that a TV that can 'see' Amazon Prime can see, via
> > that, Eurosport? If so that might well be the best way to get what
> > M-I-L wants as it involves no extra hardware at all.
>
> The way that this works is that you get into the Firestick [HDMI]
> channel on the TV and thence into the Amazon Prime app. Prime add-on
> subs are manifested as "channels" within the Prime menu. Britbox is
> another (available within the Prime app). So is iMDB TV, though that one
> is free (powered by ads).
>
Yes, thanks. We have an Amazon Fire Stick that hasn't been used for
ages but I have just resuscitated it and I think I can see how one
gets access to Eurosport using it. We'll have to set up an Amazon
account for M-I-L but that's OK. She'll have to learn how to switch
inputs on the TV but I think that will probably be OK too.

> > In addition I'm pretty sure *our* quite old unSmart LG TV can access
> > Amazon Prime (via the FreeView box?) so we could access it too. This
> > might well be helpful in making us a bit familiar with how it works so
> > we can help M-I-L.
>
> I know there are some Freeview boxes with that feature (we have a Humax
> which uses its internet connection in order to let you go "back in time"
> on the TV guide page. They usually refer to it as "Youview".
>
Yes, I think you're right, it's via the YouView box that one can get
to this. We have only FreeView on our television but M-I-L has a
YouView box so I'll have a dig around in that to see what I can find.

Thanks.

--
Chris Green
·

On 13/01/2022 10:58, Chris Green wrote:
> Mark Undrill <spam@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> On 13/01/2022 06:57, Charlie+ wrote:
>>> On Wed, 12 Jan 2022 10:33:43 +0000, Chris Green <cl@isbd.net> wrote as
>>> underneath :
>>>
>>>> My M-I-L had BT Sport via Plusnet but that has been discontinued.
>>>>
>>>> She wants to watch (among other things) tennis in the Australian Open,
>>>> this is more of an ongoing want than 'I want it now', it's just that
>>>> the Australian Open has brought the issue up again.
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> So, what is the simplest way to get what she wants? That's 'simplest'
>>>> both from the installation point of view and from the use point of
>>>> view. She lives with us so getting WiFi, Internet, whatever sorted
>>>> out isn't too difficult but extra boxes hanging around under the
>>>> television are less welcome.
>>>>
>>>> I guess she could move from PlusNet to BT but that would increase the
>>>> cost somewhat, I think. How does 'BT Sport' compare with Sky sport
>>>> nowadays? Is there anything else available to provide what she wants?
>>>>
>>>> ... and as I said 'easy to use' is important, the BT Sport on Plusnet
>>>> was just about as complex as she could manage easily.
>>>
>>> "sport" covers a million types, no single combo gets more than a small
>>> proportion! Amazon Prime (yearly sub) and a cheap firestick gets her a
>>> lot of tennis.
>>
>> Also, Eurosport is available as an add-on channel to Amazon Prime.
>>
> Does that mean that a TV that can 'see' Amazon Prime can see, via
> that, Eurosport? If so that might well be the best way to get what
> M-I-L wants as it involves no extra hardware at all.

Yes I believe so although I've never actually done it myself. When I
fire up Amazon Prime I can see the add-on channels I've just never
wanted any of them (yet). What I'm not sure of is if you need to
subscribe to Prime before you can subscribe to the add-on channels. If
you find out please post back as I'd like to know :)
>
> In addition I'm pretty sure *our* quite old unSmart LG TV can access
> Amazon Prime (via the FreeView box?) so we could access it too. This
> might well be helpful in making us a bit familiar with how it works so
> we can help M-I-L.
>
Sounds like win-win ;)

Chris Green wrote:

> Does that mean that a TV that can 'see' Amazon Prime can see, via
> that, Eurosport? If so that might well be the best way to get what
> M-I-L wants as it involves no extra hardware at all.

Not sure about Eurosport itself, but certainly ATP tennis, I have Amazon Prime,
it says ...

"Which tournaments can I watch on Prime Video?

Prime members in UK & Ireland have exclusive access to WTA (Women's),
ATP Tour (Men's) and US Open Tennis Championships.

Do I have to pay extra to watch ATP, WTA and US Open on Prime Video?

Prime customers in UK and Ireland can watch Tennis matches on Prime
Video for no additional fees.

<https://www.amazon.co.uk/b/ref=sxts_spkl_2_2_357d41e5-8c5a-402a-b295-644ac0743098?node=16184708031&pf_rd_p=357d41e5-8c5a-402a-b295-644ac0743098&pf_rd_r=BYNC8F9KJH7XADE3H5QQ&pd_rd_wg=1ixyf&pd_rd_w=qqnQI&qid=1642237539&pd_rd_r=b35cf401-a047-4c75-b687-054b6dace230>