skysports.com
Sky Sports is the most popular sports network in the UK and Ireland. It's the go-to channel for fans who follow cricket, football, rugby, golf, and any other sport. Sky Sports has been around for 30 years and has changed the way people consume sports content. From cable TV network to satellite channels to its own streaming network, Sky Sports really has come a long way.
Overall, the network offers ten channels, most of which include the dedicated Sky Sports News channel and Sports F1 channel. Apart from these two crucial offerings, there's exclusive Premier League coverage and rugby and cricket.
What does Sky Sports offer?
Sky Sports offers a variety of premium sports channels which include exclusive broadcasts of sporting events. You can access these channels either through the Sky TV network or BT TV, TalkTalk TV, or Virgin Media. All these streaming services work on a contract basis, but you can bypass this by using the NOW TV mobile app.
History
Since 1991, Sky Sports has been the center of British sport's commercialization. Over the years, it has earned rights to broadcast some of the leading sports competitions, including the premier league which broke away from the Football League in 1992.
Sky Sports is a long-standing provider of sports programming in the UK, and its popularity has caused interest from other countries. A few years ago Comcast bought the network, which continues to be popular with sports enthusiasts.
Sky Sports is a great provider of sports programming. Their portfolio includes Cricket, Golf, Action and Arena, F1, and Premium League packages as part of the basic package. With these services, you can watch Sky Sports Racing, Sky Sports News and Sky Sports Mix.
Design
Sky Sports website is part of the larger Sky Network, and so the color combination is used throughout the website. The red and purple palette is visible on banners on the homepage as well as on the inner categories.
Hero Section
You can find a static banner with videos of different sports playing on the TV under the hero section on the homepage. The text placement and graphics are brilliantly done, making you stick around watching the hero section for a while. On the prices page, you can find out how much each channel costs as well as other features on the network so you don't have to visit any other page for more information.
Body
If you scroll down, you will 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 will find the same banners with pricing on the right with the CTA suggesting "Add Complete Sports?" in the button.
As you scroll further down, you'll find upcoming sports events with schedules below which are further complemented by immersive banners that highlight the USPs.
Content
In this section, I would like to discuss the seven major reasons why sports lovers tune into Sky Sports. First and foremost, BT Sport has emerged as a formidable competitor to Sky Sports in terms of broadcasting prowess. The BT Network is catching up quickly, and Sky is looking to expand its content portfolio every year. Second, Sky Sports broadcasts a wide variety of sports including cricket, American football, rugby union, and tennis. Third, the commentators for Sky Sports are some of the best in the business. Fourth, the Sky Sports apps are incredibly user-friendly and provide access to all of their programming whether you are at home or on the go. Fifth, there is always something happening on Sky Sports that you won?t want to miss. Sixth, although it may not be number one on the list,Sky Sports has a massive viewership compared to other networks such as BT Sport and BBC Sport. Seventh and finally, if you don?t have cable or satellite TV then turning to Sky Sports is your best bet for live sporting events.
Main Event
The Sky Sports Main Event channel offers high quality highlights of events happening on the network. If you want to watch great footage and other pieces, this channel is a good place to start.
Premier League
The Premier League is the star attraction on the network. So, there's a dedicated channel that broadcasts Premier League matches live. As for the current season, Sky has the rights to telecast 128 matches with 124 of them being available in 4K quality.
Football
Unlike the Premier League, there are 128 football matches covered by this channel. This includes 15 EFL play-off matches and other tournaments such as the EFL Trophy, the EFL Cup and UEFA Nations League. In addition to this, you can watch MLS games on this channel as well. Thus, you have more content from lower division leagues than from the Premier League.
Cricket
Sky Sports has a dedicated cricket channel that broadcasts exclusive matches that are happening in the country. It covers ODIs, Tests, T20s, County Championship, One-Day Cup, T20 Blast, Women's Super League, Caribbean Premier League, and ICC Cricket World Cup. Thus, the cricket channel is truly comprehensive.
F1
Sky has become the exclusive television channel for Formula 1 coverage in the UK. All of the races are now available in 4k and Sky also 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 Ryder Cup, PGA, European Tours, The Open and the US Open. Thus, it gives viewers an inside look at all the major golf tournaments happening around the world.
Action and Arena
This channel has a variety of sports, including wrestling, rugby league, rugby union, basketball, tennis, darts, swimming, boxing and motorsports.
Apart from the major channels, there are other supporting channels such as Sky Sports Mix, Sky Sports News, and Sky Sports Racing which have dedicated programs and highlights from other channels throughout the day.
Desktop/Mobile experience
All of the Sky Sports channels are available in high definition. High definition is the standard 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 high definition given you have suitable equipment. For pure 4K experience, you need a 4K TV along with 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. The user interface is really well designed and the streams are of great quality. I love to watch Premier League games on my Pixel 3a while on the go, and I have never had any complaints about the quality. It's simply top-notch.
Many people have asked if there are any cheaper ways to watch Sky Sports. I can understand that, as the network is quite expensive when compare to BT Sport. There is nothing wrong with you wanting to find alternate ways of watching Sky Sports, so below are a few ways you can access them:
I like the NOW TV network because it provides the Sky Sports Pass, which allows you to access all of the Sky Sports channels without any contract. The pass operates on a monthly basis and renews automatically if you forget to cancel it. You can choose how long the pass lasts, for a month or for a single day-- perfect for an event like a sporting event.
Compatibility
Sky Sports is available on a wide range of platforms, including iPhones, Amazon Fire tablets, and Android phones through the app. I would recommend you go for Mini Q boxes if you don't have a 4K TV because they are a great way to tie down all TVs in your home with one main connection and tiny supporting connections.
Plans & Pricing
Sky Sports is expensive and a lot of it is due to billions of dollars that the network spends on broadcasting rights. You can start your Sky Sports journey with an 18-month contract for £23/month or you can pay £30/month for no contract. 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 to customize as per your needs, that's possible. However, I don't feel that individual channels will help save a considerable amount or offer better value.
Suggestions I have for Sky Sports
I don't think the network has much to offer me specifically. They're doing well in most areas, but the pricing bothers me. But given how much they charge for broadcasting rights, that must translate into high subscription rates.
Conclusion
If you're looking for a one-stop-shop that satisfies your sports content needs, Sky Sports is the ideal option. However, BT Sport has become a tough competitor in recent times and is fostering a deeper connection with its audience thanks to better quality coverage. So, if you want to watch wrestling or UFC, you might want to think twice before making a decision.
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