Tennis Coverage

[Loreli]

Can someone tell me what the tennis channel is like as I've been told you have to watch it live as there isn't any catch up/on demand matches.   I can't believe this is true as it seems like a return to the dark ages, the US Open matches are often played when I'm asleep so if there's no catch up there's no point getting it.  Thanks,

[nigea99]

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@Loreli wrote:

Can someone tell me what the tennis channel is like as I've been told you have to watch it live as there isn't any catch up/on demand matches.   I can't believe this is true as it seems like a return to the dark ages, the US Open matches are often played when I'm asleep so if there's no catch up there's no point getting it.  Thanks,

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hi @Loreli 

I have moved your post to the What's on Group as I think you may get better answers in this cross platform group

@Loreli note the SKY Tenniis channel can only carry a single match at any point and does allow you to record from it, however, many games are also shown in the SKY Sports app but I believe this needs subscription to the full Sports pack - this is where other matches and catch up are likely to be. 

A note to other responders - please note @Loreli has SKY Q which has the SKY Tennis Linear channel but may also has access the SKY Sports app (if suitably subscribed - please advise)

[Loreli]

I thought if I added Sky Sports I would get all sports channels and streaming included, so whats the SKy Sports App?

[nigea99]

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@Loreli wrote:

I thought if I added Sky Sports I would get all sports channels and streaming included, so whats the SKy Sports App?

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hi @Loreli 

The SKY Sports app is a supplementary service only available to SKY Full Sports subscribers (which I have had confirmed) which uses streaming to show additional games, particularly where multiple matches are on at the same time and also gives access to highlights and catch up

Thus subscribing to SKY Tennis alone would be very restrictive

[SKY1992bf]

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@Loreli wrote:

I thought if I added Sky Sports I would get all sports channels and streaming included, so whats the SKy Sports App?

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@Loreli  you do get all channels but some of the content is only streamed online by pressing the red button on the tennis channel when there is live action you will be able to access the other matches currently being played 

[SKY1992bf]

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@nigea99 wrote:

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@Loreli wrote:

I thought if I added Sky Sports I would get all sports channels and streaming included, so whats the SKy Sports App?

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hi @Loreli 

The SKY Sports app is a supplementary service only available to SKY Full Sports subscribers (which I have had confirmed) which uses streaming to show additional games, particularly where multiple matches are on at the same time and also gives access to highlights and catch up

Thus subscribing to SKY Tennis alone would be very restrictive

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@nigea99 for reference in case you are unaware new subscribers can no longer get single channel options , it is all or nothing (the only exception is SS F1)

legacy single channel customers are ok until they cancel, after which it is all or nothing to re subscribe exception being F1

[Loreli]

Thank you for clarifying, thought it was strange I couldn't see a way of getting the tennis channel as a stand alone.  Still would like to know what matches are on catch up though, is it all of them?

[lettice]

All the WTA and ATP (Grand Slams (except Roland Garros and Wimbledon) 1000, 500, 250...) are available to watch live via the two linear channels, Sky Sports Tennis and Sky  Sports +.

All live matches will be shown on the the Sky Sports app on Sky Stream/Glass, Sky Q and via the mobile Sky Sports app for Android/Apple phones/tablets.

Currently with last month, this month and next month, with the North American run of the tours, they will be live to watch from 4pm to about 3am our time.

You can record the linear channels.

I have been doing this and both the linear channels above have cloud recorded fine on my Sky Stream.

The semi and finals generally do not clash, so play out in full on those linear channels.

Quarter finals and previous rounds are mixed depending on what Sky wish to show, but they do fairly well ( certainly improved of late too)  jumping between other live matches (during the game breaks)  showing other game set and game points etc. Sky do tend to focus on GB participation in live matches.

The quarter/semi and finals do generally end up in Sky On demand under the Sports/Tennis rail.

Sky also, add most of the GB matches in the earlier rounds to the Sky On demand under the Sports/Tennis rail.

That gives you a fair bit of many of the full matches.

Ive had no issues adding any of the above to my playlist and watching back at a later time, but I generally do watch most of the matches live via my Sky Stream using the Sky Sports app and flick between matches, all very easily within the app.

The reasons why all matches are not added to 'on demand' is we assume Sky did not at this time negotiate or were offered some kind of broadcast rights deal for that content with the ATA/WTA tours.

Probably not a good day to be watching today, as North America has had some heavy rain passing through.

Looking good for tomorrow and rest of week 😀 Well fingers crossed.

The US Open proper does not start until the 24th August.

This week until then is the US Open qualifiers, still broadcasting on the above.

The mixed doubles semis and final (a new format and played earlier in the tournament to engage more interest) were due to play from midnight to the early hours of tomorrow, our time. But with the weather not looking good for New York for their Wednesday ( five hours behind) they may not happen now and will probably get pushed out a day.

[nigea99]

Many thanks for your detailed reply @lettice , however, as I believe @Lorelihas SKY Q, I am not sure how easy it is to watch games not shown on the linear channels afterwards  - Playlists/cloud recording isn't available via the SKY Sports app AFAIK

When I looked in the SKY Sports App earlier today, I couldn't see anything other than the planned live games for today & limited highlight clips but as I don't follow Tennis I don't know if that typical or is just beacuse coverage has not started in earnest    

[lettice]

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@nigea99 wrote:

Many thanks for your detailed reply @lettice , however, as I believe @Lorelihas SKY Q, I am not sure how easy it is to watch games not shown on the linear channels afterwards  - Playlists/cloud recording isn't available via the SKY Sports app AFAIK

When I looked in the SKY Sports App earlier today, I couldn't see anything other than the planned live games for today & limited highlight clips but as I don't follow Tennis I don't know if that typical or is just beacuse coverage has not started in earnest    

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The On demand catch-up rails on Sky Q, Sky Go and Now TV  reflects the same as Sky Stream/Glass.

Look under Sky Q, Sky Go or Now TV rails under Sports/Tennis.
You will need to subscribe to Sky Tennis or the complete Sky Sports to see that content, depending on how your Sky Sports was offered. At the moment when subscribing to Sky Tennis, it's only available via a full Sky Sports subscription.

On demand for the above is in the Sky Q, Sky Go and Now TV rails, not within the Sky Sports app.

The Sky Sports app for any sport only shows short approx 3 to 5 minute highlights of selected moments, News and interviews, not full match or event replays.

[nigea99]

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@lettice wrote:

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@nigea99 wrote:

Many thanks for your detailed reply @lettice , however, as I believe @Lorelihas SKY Q, I am not sure how easy it is to watch games not shown on the linear channels afterwards  - Playlists/cloud recording isn't available via the SKY Sports app AFAIK

When I looked in the SKY Sports App earlier today, I couldn't see anything other than the planned live games for today & limited highlight clips but as I don't follow Tennis I don't know if that typical or is just beacuse coverage has not started in earnest    

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The On demand catch-up rails on Sky Q, Sky Go and Now TV  reflects the same as Sky Stream/Glass.

Look under Sky Q, Sky Go or Now TV rails under Sports/Tennis.
You will need to subscribe to Sky Tennis or the complete Sky Sports to see that content, depending on how your Sky Sports was offered. At the moment when subscribing to Sky Tennis, it's only available via a full Sky Sports subscription.

On demand for the above is in the Sky Q, Sky Go and Now TV rails, not within the Sky Sports app.

The Sky Sports app for any sport only shows short approx 3 to 5 minute highlights of selected moments, News and interviews, not full match or event replays.

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Many thanks indeed @lettice  - as I don't watch the Tennis , I didn't think to look for catch up from SKY Sports+ on SKY Q, so I have found the Catch up section under Sports - Tennis  & see there several matches there @Loreli  I think you should be able to see the  thumbnails even if you don't yet subscribe

@ 

[Loreli]

Thank you that's really helpful, I think I'll forego watching the US Open and stick with tennis tv and TNT for French and Australian open their coverage is brilliant all matches are on demand. 

[Ali810]

Will the coverage be any better? I don't think so...Their coverage is hot garbage. They won't show immediate full match replays of any matches unlike eurosport/ amazon etc. They will only show a selected portion of about 3 matches of their choosing - these won't include the good night matches most of the time, but mainly some British players' matches. You will also need to wait almost 48 hours after the match to see the condensed replay. On demand is almost non existent. Even the semi finals and finals will only be replayed after about 48 hours and condensed , you won't get the entire match. You cannot rewind and play from the start if you come in late to a live match, as they curtail this as well.

[Tennisway]

It's still deeply disappointing that Sky cannot offer a competitive package to TNT / Disco+ etc after 2-3 years!

They have a Wishlist feature and you can put night matches / any matches in the wishlist but it is exactly that a wish - you might as well throw some pennies or ££'s in this case, in a wishingwell. None of them are available to watch next morning! 48 hours later - what's the point of that. I'll be watching the 2nd / 3rd rounds by then.

The big match shown the day after - today was the Djokervic match. It's timeslot limited so after a set ot 2 you know who's going to win as they cannot possibly go 4 or 5 sets. 

This takes all the excitement out of watching a replay where you don't know the result!

They really don't seem to understand tennis!

Is it really so hard to get with it and offer a service like the competition?

To make matters worse they charge the same as TNT for a much worse service and then ram the breaks full of adverts.

RIP OFF!

[Loreli]

Thank you for that, I'm glad I made the right decision not to sign up.  I started looking at Now TV first and mistakenly thought Sky would be better.  I'll save my money and continue with tennistv and TNT and forego the US Open, let's hope Sky lose it  when the contract ends.