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Changes to Sky Poker TV
Hi all
We just wanted to let you know about changes coming soon to Sky Poker TV.
Following the recent news that Sky Betting & Gaming is to become an independent company, we have been reviewing the Sky Poker channel. Although we will still be part owned by Sky and will still work closely with them, effectively we will be a separate company and that affects how we can run the channel commercially and legally.
Here’s a quick summary of the changes:
- The first thing to say is that we will be keeping Sky Poker TV going, but it will operate under a new model
- In the very near future, we will cease to operate the 24/7 channel (ch.861 on Sky) and online live stream. This will happen sooner than we anticipated, maybe even this week, but that can’t be avoided unfortunately
- The shows on Sky Sports will continue on a Tuesday in a new format and we have exciting plans for them
- We will be focusing more on producing pre-recorded TV content so expect to see more of this. Including things like cash games, UKPCs, educuational content, interviews, features etc. This will likely be shown on Sky Sports, Challenge TV, skypoker.com and social media, including youtube
- We are also working on some new ideas which we will share at a later date
It’s obviously a period of change for the channel, but Sky Poker TV is continuing. We have some exciting plans for it and the Sky Poker community will still be a big part of it. We have deliberately made this announcement here first.
We’ll post more on here as and when we are able to but until then, thanks for your continued support.
Thank you.
Comments
1) I really hope there is an aggressive and continuous marketing campaign for however this new model will work. The description is far too vague for us to know now but without a base like ch. 861, a successful business will really have to bang out the advertising to attract new players. And obviously not via just Twitter or facebook, those people already follow you so already know you and just marketing there is clearly pointless. Losing the base channel is losing the biggest method of attracting new players, I really hope the marketing plan is already in place.
2) Please follow through with 'some new ideas which we will share at a later date' and 'some exciting plans for it and the Sky Poker community will still be a big part of it.' Claims like these over the years to a cynic could be described as a fob off as it has not always been clear these things ever arrived.
3) Losing this alongside a long absence of a regional affordable tour feels like a break away from grass roots poker, an area Skypoker was easily the UK leader in and frankly what made this site a lot more fun than many others. I hope future plans are focussed on this and what gave Skypoker such a great niche isn't lost in the shuffle.
I'm actually gutted. If I've read that right? No more five hour live shows? The five hour live shows are one of the few things I look forward to on the tele! (and the Sky Sport portions on a Thursday, as was, were my least favourite segments as they had to 'get serious' during those).
And I'm with Geldy on this, overall it doesn't sound good at all
Hope the channel can continue in whatever capacity, reduced or otherwise!
I was a guest on the live show three or four times. I have watched it for a number of years. May I just say a quick thank you and well done to all of the crew who have worked on the 861 and 865 shows through the years. It's staggering the production quality they attained over the years. All the camera operators, floor managers, gaffers, sound and visual engineers, producers, researchers, production staff, directors and on screen talent as well as everyone I forgot to mention, very well done indeed.
A few points in reply.
The decision was not really connected to many of those things you mention, it was more connected with this line in the OP.....
"....and that affects how we can run the channel commercially and legally....."
Thats the crux of it.
861 was the biggest was of atracting new players?
The experience with the UKPC & Cash Game Shows has shown that Sky Sports & Challenge TV are far, far, more effective, & by a long long way.
Hope there is a Marketing plan in place?
Pretty sure the Management have everything lined up, we need to give them credit for being aware of the data, (you & me can never know that), why the need to change, & how it will work down the line.
Change, evolution, has to happen all the time. Few of us like it, that's only natural. We'd all prefer everything to stay the same, but they have to move on.
Worth bearing in mind that Sky Poker is on a growth trajectory unmatched by any other Online Poker site, & that's down to the Team who run it, & the loyal players who support it. Your site is in good hands.
"Vague future plans"
Fair comment, but I'm party to some of them as to Sky Poker TV, & I'm excited, such as someone of my age can be.
People were surprised (& the demand suggests VERY pleased) to see VLV return, but it did. Now the discussions are well advanced as to Sky Poker TV going to Vegas this Summer, both to support the qualifiers, & get a ton of forward Content.
SPT? Point taken, but there are so many plates they can spin. For now, UKPC has exceeded their wildest expedtations, viewing figures have been wonderfully high. The price of success......
I've no idea if SPT will return, but I knmow it's not been ruled out.
Any other questions, fire away.
Yes Alan, a regular Show, & another on Thursday.
The bad news is Next Tuesday you've got Orford & me. All change & no change.
We are hoping that tonight & Thursday will be fun Shows, and then the new adventure begins.
Interested to see where it goes from here, hopefully onwards and upwards.
Others have also suggested "cost cutting", but it's a lot wider than that, its not just cost, it's more about the legal difficulties & being cost-effective.
The Team who run Ch 861 - Dan, Chan & Louis - remain in place & are all revved up, chomping at the bit, to do Sky Poker TV. Remember, it matters to them as much as it does to anyone.
Easy enough mistake to make, right?
Onwards & upwards? You bet. SB&G as a whole is stunningly successful, despite what you may read from time to time, & Sky Poker is very much part of that success, & will continue to be.
Yes, the TV channel helps, but it's a whole lot of other things, too, TV is just a part of a far larger jigsaw.
I can't comment on rake structures because I have no idea of their thinking on such things, but the overall results of Sky Poker suggest that they have the right demand v cost v value ratios in place. That's a separate discussion, really.
We can debate the logic of how adjusting prices adjusts demand all day & never reach concensus. Of course people would prefer rake to be less, but they seem to have pitched it right so far. If they had not, then they would have adjusted already, imo. They review numbers in frightening detail, & all the time, it is a non-stop process of self-examinatation to help build a better business. They measure, every day, hundreds of metrics & review them every week..
Happy to answer any questions.
It's amazing this place, that the customers care so much, (by replying & commenting so constructively) you don't see that much elsewhere.
The existing Live Stream wil be discontinued.
Twitch?
My oh my, you are going to get me in a world of hurt with Suit City, because this is currently under the radar as to their plans, but yes, Twitch is very much in the thinking. We discussed it at length recently, the tentative first steps have now been put in place, some briefings have already happened, & it will happen very soon. It was actually due to start this week, but some aspects of how Sky Poker approach it still need some work. It needs to be done "just so".