Live sport on TV: Want to see the big picture? We Samaritans will help you

Luca Fontana

25.1.2018

Translation: machine translated

Nothing loses as much of its fascination as sport when it is consumed out of time. So it's not surprising that you have to pay for many broadcasts. I've done some research for you.

Live TV is an affair of the heart for me: if I happen to stumble across a live programme, it almost triggers nostalgic feelings in me. Thanks to Netflix, YouTube and the replay function, I've got used to consuming content when I want it and where I want it.

With sport, it's completely different.

I like football. I love following my favourite team on TV: screaming at the top of my voice, cheering and crying. In good times and bad. And before you tell me "Oh, you can record certain things and watch them later. It's exactly the same": No. Just no. End of discussion.

Okay, I admit it: it doesn't happen to me all that often that I "accidentally stumble into a live programme", as I described it so beautifully above. It would be more correct to use the words "intention" and "with full intent" instead of "coincidence". After all, I know where I get my dose of live sport from. For you, I've dived headfirst through the maze of football, ice hockey and monthly fees. So all you have to do is choose the best overall package for you - you're welcome!

Teleclub with sports package

Teleclub suffered a huge loss in the battle for broadcasting rights. Nevertheless, the Swisscom subsidiary still has one of the largest and most comprehensive sports offerings in Switzerland. It flexes its muscles particularly in the areas of football (Swiss and Italian football), motorsport and tennis.

All Swiss Super League and Challenge League matches (some even in UHD) as well as all Italian Serie A, Tim Cup and Supercoppa matches are currently only available on Teleclub. You can also watch all UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and all German DFB Cup matches via Sky Deutschland. You can only watch the Premier League with French commentary - unfortunately only one match per matchday is live, the other matches are shown in the replay. Other popular leagues from which Teleclub shows selected top games include Friday matches from the German Bundesliga 1 and 2, the French Ligue 1 as well as the Spanish Copa del Rey and the Supercopa.

The ice hockey programme used to be one of Teleclub's flagship disciplines. Not to the same extent today. At the moment, you can watch all Champions Hockey League matches and twelve Swiss Ice Hockey Cup matches exclusively. Except for the final, which is also shown by SRG. Teleclub also shows top games from the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship, with the exception of the Swiss group games. Last but not least, the private broadcaster shows selected top games from the American NHL.

Tennis fans should be happy with this offer: All tournaments of the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 can be seen here, as well as most of the ATP World Tour 500.

And the Grand Slams? Unfortunately, they are currently off on Teleclub.

Motorsport is making up for it: thanks to a partnership with Sky Germany, all Formula 1 World Championship races, including training and qualifying sessions, will be broadcast - live, of course.

Update 26 January 2018: Not even minutes after I published this article, Sky announced that it was pulling out of Formula 1 after 22 successful years. Why? Sky wants to focus more on exclusive formats that do not run in parallel on free TV. It remains to be seen how Teleclub will react to the new circumstances (thanks @User Swizzair for the tip!).

• 55.70 francs per month via cable TV or UPC Switzerland
• 35.80 francs per month via Swisscom TV
• 52.60 francs per month via Sunrise TV
• Additional HD option for Movie package: 3.90 francs per month
• Cancellation period: 3 months
• Accessories required: Set-top box or CI+ module from Teleclub. If you have Swisscom TV, Teleclub runs directly via the Swisscom TV box

• Link to the supplier: Click!

My opinion on Teleclub

The plan prices are high, but they also include the basic movie package (excl. Movie HD option for 3.90 francs per month). You need the basic package to be able to subscribe to the sports package at all. Tedious. On the other hand, the sports offering is lavish, especially for fans of the Super League and Italian football. As far as Formula 1 is concerned, it remains to be seen how Teleclub will position itself following Sky's decision to stop broadcasting Formula 1. Tennis coverage is okay, but without Grand Slams it lacks that certain something. Only the ice hockey offering is really bad - considering the cost of the plan.

DAZN - "Da Zone"

DAZN is to sport what Netflix is to TV series. In other words, it's not a channel on which a programme runs continuously. Everything you watch, you select first and then stream it live and directly. Just like Netflix.

In Switzerland, DAZN is primarily known for its football programmes. And it has a lot to offer: in this country, DAZN is the only place where you can watch all English Premier League and Spanish La Liga matches. However, not all of them are live; some matches are only available as replays two to three hours after the final whistle (thanks @User Godstone for the tip!). The programme also includes all matches from the English Carabo Cup and the Spanish Copa del Rey. Fans of the 1st and 2nd German Bundesliga can only watch highlights and match summaries. These are only available 40 minutes after the final whistle, in a short (two minutes) or long (six minutes) format.

DAZN is less well positioned when it comes to tennis: matches from the Davis Cup, Fed Cup and the WTA Tour are available, but nothing more. Meanwhile, American football is becoming increasingly popular in Europe - including in Switzerland. Here too, DAZN has exclusive rights to all American NFL games, including the pre-season, regular season, playoffs and the Superbowl. Basketball is a little less popular, but at least all American NBA games are included in the streaming service.

• Cost point: 12.90 francs per month
• Cancellation period: 1 month
• Special feature: 1 free month with a new plan
• Accessories required: Nothing, DAZN is completely app-based and is available via Smart TV, smartphone, tablet or laptop
• Link to the supplier: Click!
• Link to the app: Android and iOS

My opinion on DAZN

DAZN is growing and will soon have a monopoly position in Switzerland too. At the latest when the UEFA Champions League can no longer be watched on free TV (a creeping process), but instead for 12.90 francs per month on DAZN. The direction seems to be set, as James Rushton, head of the sports streaming channel, admits: DAZN should be a pay-TV solution that is affordable. How long can Teleclub, SRG and the like hold out against it?

As things stand today, DAZN is a must for Premier League and La Liga fans in particular. The streaming channel also has an attractive offering when it comes to American sport. In other words, American football, basketball and baseball are all on board. The plan price is moderate and the cancellation period is fair. The free month tempts you to try it out. So everything is buttered up? Almost. Only those who want to watch ice hockey are left out in the cold.

UPC Switzerland with MySports Pro package

The largest cable network operator in Switzerland is probably known to you under its former name UPC Cablecom. With "MySports Pro", UPC customers enjoy the only sports package that includes all Swiss National League games - ice hockey fans, this is something for you. The package also includes games from the American NHL, the Russian KHL and the Swedish SHL.

Football fans can watch a full programme of the German Bundesliga 1 and 2 thanks to the integration of Sky Sport (more on this below). The programme also includes matches from the Portuguese, Russian and Dutch leagues.

• Cost point: 25 francs per month
• Cancellation period: 3 months
• You need: A Decoder Box or a DigiCard
• Link to the supplier: Click!

My opinion on MySports Pro

MySports Pro and ice hockey - a perfect match. The only problem is that non-UPC customers don't get anything out of it. If you call Swisscom or Sunrise your home, you can't subscribe to the additional package separately from your other TV offerings. There's only one thing to do: change your supplier. Either to UPC or to another cable network operator. Admittedly, this was only marginally better in the past when the league rights were held by the Swisscom subsidiary: if you didn't have access to Teleclub, you could get a Swisscom mobile plan. This meant that all games could at least be watched from the internet portal on a mobile, tablet or laptop - for a steep 5 francs per game.

UPC doesn't offer a comparable solution - I think that's weak. And Swiss households located in deep valleys where there is no cable connection - for example a not insignificantly large patch in Graubünden, the canton of record champions Davos - feel cheated of the theoretical chance to watch ice hockey. It's probably not just me who would describe this as a step backwards.

Sky Sport App

Since August 2017, you can now also find the Sky Deutschland programme via the Sky Sport app. What has changed compared to before? Actually only that Teleclub is no longer the "sole ruler" of the popular Sky signal. Sky Deutschland is so popular in this country because it has one of the highest quality, most informative, most comprehensive and most entertaining sports programmes in the German-speaking world - and I say that so wholeheartedly because I have been keeping a close eye on the sporting TV landscape for almost ten years out of pure self-interest.

"Stop kneeling and tell me what the app offers now!" I hear you exclaim. All right then. As a fan of the 1st and 2nd German Bundesliga, you'll be happy here because you can watch all the games. Also included are all German DFB Cup matches and all UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League matches. Including a sports studio with illustrious studio guests.

In terms of ice hockey, there's not much to see here, unless you're interested in the German ice hockey league. On the other hand, tennis is a little more enjoyable: You can watch the ATP Finals in London and Wimbledon as well as all the matches from the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 and 500 tournaments. Last but not least, you can also watch all the matches from the popular Laver Cup, which is co-organised by Roger Feder. The mode there is: Europe against the rest of the world. Where else can you get a tournament where Roger, Nadal and Murray join forces and team up in doubles under competitive conditions?

The motorsport section is also very well served here: all Formula 1 world championship races, from the first day of training to the final finish, can be seen live here.

Update 26 January 2018: Same as above: Sky has announced that it is pulling out after 22 successful Formula 1 years because the pay-TV channel was unable to obtain the Formula 1 television rights exclusively.

• Cost point: 19.90 francs per month
• Cancellation period: 1 month
• Accessories required: Nothing, Sky Sport is completely app-based and is available via Smart TV, smartphone, tablet or laptop
• Link to the supplier: click!

My opinion on Sky Sport

You can download and play the app on almost all media: Cable providers such as UPC, Swisscom or Sunrise are on board and offer the app on the corresponding TV boxes. TV manufacturers Samsung, LG and Panasonic have also integrated Sky Sport into their Smart TV offerings. Smartphones can also use the app: The Android app and iOS app are both up and running.

You'll be especially happy with Sky Sport if you're a fan of German football. Only when it comes to ice hockey will you have to queue - as with many other suppliers apart from UPC. On the other hand, the tennis offer is much more extensive than that of the competition.

Luca Fontana

Senior Editor

Luca.Fontana@digitecgalaxus.ch

I'm an outdoorsy guy and enjoy sports that push me to the limit – now that’s what I call comfort zone! But I'm also about curling up in an armchair with books about ugly intrigue and sinister kingkillers. Being an avid cinema-goer, I’ve been known to rave about film scores for hours on end. I’ve always wanted to say: «I am Groot.» more

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