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So, Premiere lost their Bundesliga broadcasting rights and now there comes up a pay-TV channel called Arena. Arena is showing every game of the 1st and 2nd Bundesliga for a monthly fee of 14.90 EUR. The problem is that Premiere is still showing the Champions League games, the World Cup games, other football leagues, etc. so normally I need both because I am also very interested in the Champions League, the World Cup and the other European leages, but this is getting a bit expensive actually.

What do you other guys do? Anyone here already ordered Arena or anyone planning to order it?

Patrick

So far no idea what to do. Normally there is no money to have them both, but I wouldn't wanna miss either. Bundesliga of course is the main interest, except for that, Premiere still has the overall better package, with Champions League, the, leagus from Spain, England, Italy, Austria, other sports like Formula one, and out of personal non-sport interest, Animal Planet and Discovery Channel.
Arena so far also still has me in doubts as to whether they can actually pull everything off without problems.
Oh well, the next season is still some time away, and at least the season opener will be on free-TV anyway, so my dad and me would only have to decide by day 2 of next season  .
Although, Arena does have on MAJOR advantage over Premiere:
NO MARCEL REIF!!!

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 1): Premiere still has the overall better package, with Champions League, the, leagus from Spain, England, Italy, Austria, other sports like Formula one

Exactly, I am not really interested in F1 but the Champions League and the other European leagues are a good argument for keeping Premiere.

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 1): Arena so far also still has me in doubts as to whether they can actually pull everything off without problems.

I am also wondering if they manage everything without problems. I mean, they need to pull 20 or more commentators out of the hat as well as some moderators for the "magazine" after the game (similar to "Alle Spiele, alle Tore"). Where are these people coming from? I would definitely hate it to have a commentator who has no clue what he is talking about and who was only hired because they need staff as soon as possible.

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 1): Although, Arena does have on MAJOR advantage over Premiere: NO MARCEL REIF!!!

Maybe he will switch from Premiere to Arena.  


I just looked on www.arena.tv and I am not really impressed. When you order it before May 31 you only pay 9.90 EUR per month but you also have to pay for the digital receiver, it costs 49 EUR with a one year subscription and 99 EUR with a two year subscription.

Damn, this is a difficult decision.

Patrick

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 2): I am also wondering if they manage everything without problems. I mean, they need to pull 20 or more commentators out of the hat as well as some moderators for the "magazine" after the game (similar to "Alle Spiele, alle Tore"). Where are these people coming from?

No idea, most current commentators are staying with Premiere. Because after all, even without Bundesliga, there are still enough other leagues that require comments, plus of course national games.
Haven't read any reliable rumors about commentators for Arena, but the unreliable ones have mentioned names like Steve Gätjen (very competent, yes indeed   ).

That's easy: Premiere!!

If you want football, watch CL on Premiere...what do you need that frigging Arena for...go to the Ruhrstadion, for Chrissakes!! They'll need every support they can get!

That's the very reason I NEVER got Premiere...because I go to the arenas live, be that GDS or the away games, go there, it's much more fun and you don't have to listen to that stupid ravings of asswipes such as Waldi Hartmann.

Quoting Andreas (Reply 4): go to the Ruhrstadion, for Chrissakes!! They'll need every support they can get!

Pah, 1 year 1. Bundesliga, and next year it will be 2. Liga again, not really worth the support   .

Quoting Andreas (Reply 4): That's the very reason I NEVER got Premiere...because I go to the arenas live, be that GDS or the away games, go there, it's much more fun and you don't have to listen to that stupid ravings of asswipes such as Waldi Hartmann.

Well, let's see:
-Chance to get tickets in the Allianz-Arena: Slim to none, since not an official FCB member.
-Costs for travel to MUC: 17x �99 plus taxes for flights, taxi from/to the airports; or around �150 per person via car
Hmm, I guess I have a reason why I choose TV over going to the stadium.

Neither, better get out more instead. My TV is only collecting dust, and you would have to tie me to the couch to watch a football match. The ladies like it this way, btw.

Quoting NoUFO (Reply 6): you have to tie me to the couch. The ladies like it this way, btw.

Aha, I knew there's something wrong with you...well, you're well located in Berlin, if that's your cup of tea!   

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 5): Pah, 1 year 1. Bundesliga, and next year it will be 2. Liga again, not really worth the support

Spoken like a real Bayern fan...low character, needs a winning team in order to compensate for his low life, unable to cope with the REAL necessities in life...that's the reason why Bayern keeps winning: They have to in order to keep all those lowlives called fans from committing suicide!! 

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 5): Chance to get tickets in the Allianz-Arena: Slim to none, since not an official FCB member

Well I'm sure you'll understand that my pity for you remains close to zero...right?   

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 5): I guess I have a reason why I choose TV over going to the stadium.

So you're a real expert I take it.....  

Quoting Andreas (Reply 7): They have to in order to keep all those lowlives called fans from committing suicide!!

Pah, the only thing that would make me contemplate suicide is if 1860 manages to win the Championship, and we all know how realistic that is right now  .

Quoting Andreas (Reply 7): Well I'm sure you'll understand that my pity for you remains close to zero...right?

Just reading your signature alone makes it clear to me that you need all your pity just to pity yourself   .

Quoting Andreas (Reply 7): So you're a real expert I take it.....

Only once going into the AOL-Arena aka Volksparkstadion with your friends in between the hardcore HSV fans is enough experience that you'll ever need to be an expert   .

Quoting Andreas (Reply 4): what do you need that frigging Arena for...go to the Ruhrstadion, for Chrissakes!! They'll need every support they can get!

A friend and I were thinking of buying a season-ticket but it is quite expensive (270 EUR for the cheapest seat) and I am sure that we will see rather crappy football games from the VfL in the Ruhrstadion next season.

But you will definitely see me frequently in the Ruhrstadion next season, I will make sure that I see at least Bayern, Dortmund, Asozial04, VfB, Bremen, and Frankfurt live in the stadium (Frankfurt is a must, three other A.netters - bloody Frankfurt fans - already said that they will join me).

By the way, shoot me an eMail when you are interested in watching VfL-VfB in the Ruhrstadion, I'll definitely join you and afterwards I will invite you for a real Bochumer Currywurst, you will be surprised how good it tastes compared to the crappy Berliner wannabe Currywurst.  

Quoting NoUFO (Reply 6): Neither, better get out more instead.

Get out more? A weekend without football? You can't be serious!

Seriously, I am pretty pissed because there is no 2nd league game today, all teams played yesterday so there is no Monday night game. Damn, Monday night without football... what am I going to do in the next two hours?   

Patrick

Quoting Sabena332 (Thread starter): pay-TV channel called Arena

Not yet available in my hometown´s cable network.
-HT

EDIT: And seeing that I don´t want to buy a bunch of new settop-boxes (due to the fact that Arena uses Cryptoworks, while Premiere uses Nagravison) I rather surely will refrain from sunsribing to Arena. The positive effect is that I will be able to use my Saturday afternoons for other things now ...
-HT

[Edited 2006-05-08 22:34:03]

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 2): When you order it before May 31 you only pay 9.90 EUR per month but you also have to pay for the digital receiver, it costs 49 EUR with a one year subscription and 99 EUR with a two year subscription.

Am I reading it wrong or would it actually cost you more (per year) to take up a two-year subscription (49.50€), compared to a one-year subscription (49€)  

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 9): Damn, Monday night without football... what am I going to do in the next two hours?

Spend two additional hours on getting stoned   .

Quoting Andreas (Reply 7): Aha, I knew there's something wrong with you

Something? Do you want me to make a list?   

Quoting Andreas (Reply 7): well, you're well located in Berlin, if that's your cup of tea!

Coincidentially I'm back from four hours outside strolling trough Prenzlauer Berg and Mitte. I love sitting outside with a coffee or wine and watch the passbyers - the small, the tall ugly the beautiful. Some look arrogant, others appear to be nice, some seem to be excited, and I wonder how their life looks like. Then there is the light and maybe the distant sound of a musical instrument. Winter is finally over.

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 9): Get out more? A weekend without football? You can't be serious!

Without football and without washing the car.

Quoting NoUFO (Reply 13): Without football and without washing the car.

Impossible!

Signed,

The Ruhr Area

Quoting HT (Reply 10):

During the night I came to the conclusion that I will revert back to listening to "Bundesliga Konferenz" on the radio from season 2006/2007 on ...
-HT

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 2): When you order it before May 31 you only pay 9.90 EUR per month but you also have to pay for the digital receiver, it costs 49 EUR with a one year subscription and 99 EUR with a two year subscription.

But with Premiere, didn't you also have to pay a (possibly refundable) fee for the decoder/digital receiver? I recall that when Premiere only required the decoder, you had to pay a 120 Mark deposit for it. Thankfully, when my neighbour went on vacation a few times, he borrowed us his decoder so we could watch the Bundesliga though Astra satellite. 

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 12): Spend two additional hours on getting stoned

        

Or how about going to a Schalke game and make fun of the Schalke fans?  

Have you now got the same situation we have in England? The European Commission decided that it was somehow anti-competitive for Sky to win all the rights to the football in a fair auction and forced the league to accept a second channel.

As a result, instead of having to pay a subscription to watch Premier League matches, we now have to pay TWO subscriptions to watch Premier League matches. Their stunningly stupid, idiotic, crass, blind, cretinous decision to supposedly increase competition has dramatically pushed the price UP, not down. As everyone here told them it would.  

Quoting Banco (Reply 17): stunningly stupid, idiotic, crass, blind, cretinous

Have you been cutting and pasting from one of your replies to Kirkie again ??   

Quoting Banco (Reply 17): As a result, instead of having to pay a subscription to watch Premier League matches, we now have to pay TWO subscriptions to watch Premier League matches. Their stunningly stupid, idiotic, crass, blind, cretinous decision to supposedly increase competition has dramatically pushed the price UP, not down. As everyone here told them it would. Yeah sure

Well up here we have to pay a subscription to Sky AND Setanta Sports to watch Scottish Premier League games  
About time you lot down south had to as well     

Quoting Gkirk (Reply 19): Well up here we have to pay a subscription to Sky AND Setanta Sports to watch Scottish Premier League games

You PAY to watch Scottish League matches ??  

Shouldn't they be paying you to watch ?  

Quoting Cornish (Reply 18): Have you been cutting and pasting from one of your replies to Kirkie again ??

I wouldn't have used "cretinous". Three syllables and all that. Don't want to give the poor lad a headache.  

Quoting Gkirk (Reply 19): Well up here we have to pay a subscription to Sky AND Setanta Sports to watch Scottish Premier League games

  Sky don't have the rights to SPL games, do they? I thought it was only Scottish Cup matches.

Quoting Banco (Reply 21): Confused Sky don't have the rights to SPL games, do they? I thought it was only Scottish Cup matches.

No but you have to pay Sky (or someone else) to get a the Setanta Channels, then you have to pay Setanta to show the games.
Of course, pubs with Sky in get Setanta for free

Quoting Gkirk (Reply 22): No but you have to pay Sky (or someone else) to get a the Setanta Channels, then you have to pay Setanta to show the games.

Ah. I see what you're getting at.

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 9): By the way, shoot me an eMail when you are interested in watching VfL-VfB in the Ruhrstadion, I'll definitely join you and afterwards I will invite you for a real Bochumer Currywurst, you will be surprised how good it tastes compared to the crappy Berliner wannabe Currywurst.

I will...and I can assure you I'll be there, I watched the 3 last games of Stuttgart at Ruhrstadion, last time together with 3 (!!!) Polish VfL-Fans...Christ, how did I ever get out of this alive??? 

Quoting DAL767400ER (Reply 8): you need all your pity just to pity yourself

You don't get it, who's talking about pity....that is hard character-building stuff that'll make you a MAN   

Quoting NoUFO (Reply 13): Something? Do you want me to make a list?

Erm no, thanks...I get the picture 

Quoting LTU932 (Reply 16): Or how about going to a Schalke game and make fun of the Schalke fans?

I already did that, and will do it again next Saturday in one of the VIP lounges...I got an invitation from a client...and believe it or not, I'm still alive 

*wir singen sie-ben Millionen......*

Quoting Banco (Reply 17): Have you now got the same situation we have in England

No, not quite....and fees are still lower than in England, which drives Mr. Hoeness totally apeshit!!

basically we just have another winner of the auction, that's all. The funny thing is, Arena, as the name of the winner is, is completely new and never did Football live Broadcasting before...so this is going to be fun to watch, if they'll manage!!

Quoting Cornish (Reply 20): You PAY to watch Scottish League matches ?? Shouldn't they be paying you to watch ?

Actually I was wondering, too....one of the great mysteries of marketing, I guess... 

Quoting Andreas (Reply 24): Actually I was wondering, too....one of the great mysteries of marketing, I guess...

It's not that surprising. Tell the Scots that it requires money to keep the Magic Light Box in the corner going and they're bound to pay up. Now, where they get the money from....

Quoting Banco (Reply 25): Now, where they get the money from....

From that other funny little country...just South of Scotland...I guess!   

Quoting Banco (Reply 25): It's not that surprising. Tell the Scots that it requires money to keep the Magic Light Box in the corner going and they're bound to pay up

Its also part of a major crime prevention initiative. While the Magic Light Box is on, they're less likely to be out in the streets starting a fight  

Quoting Cornish (Reply 27): they're less likely to be out in the streets starting a fight

I'm not sure if that really counts...they'll start fighting indoors then...

Quoting Andreas (Reply 28): I'm not sure if that really counts...they'll start fighting indoors then...

That's true - statistics show that Domestic Violence has increased by about 300% while Street Crime has fallen by a similar amount  

Quoting Andreas (Reply 28): I'm not sure if that really counts...they'll start fighting indoors then...

Yes, but each other, old chap. Each other.

Saves us having to cull them every few years, doesn't it?

Quoting Banco (Reply 30): Yes, but each other, old chap. Each other.

True, but that wouldn't be a problem if you guys would finally stop travelling there all the time...one could get the impression you WANT to fight Scots...  

Quoting Andreas (Reply 31): True, but that wouldn't be a problem if you guys would finally stop travelling there all the time...one could get the impression you WANT to fight Scots...

English going to Scotland.....

Mmm. No, sorry you've lost me.    

Quoting Banco (Reply 32): No, sorry you've lost me.

 

Quoting Andreas (Reply 24): I will...and I can assure you I'll be there

Cool, I am looking forward!

I am sure that fellow A.netter DTManiac will show up as well since he lives very close to Bochum.

Patrick

And then...off to the Bermuda Triangle, unfortunately I can't really remember my last visit...at least the latter part of the night *LOLOL*.

I woke up in Linden around 3 p.m. the following day in a large bed and not alone...somehow I got the impression it was a cool night   

Quoting Andreas (Reply 35): And then...off to the Bermuda Triangle

Definitely, we have to celebrate the Bochum victory with at least 12 large Fiege Pils and a few Red Bull-Jägermeister.

Quoting Andreas (Reply 35): unfortunately I can't really remember my last visit...at least the latter part of the night

This is normal when you are visiting the Bermuds Triangle, I never left this place in a sober condition. 

Quoting Andreas (Reply 35): I woke up in Linden around 3 p.m. the following day in a large bed and not alone...

So one of the aforementioned three Polish Bochum fans way laying next to you?     

Patrick

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 36): So one of the aforementioned three Polish Bochum fans way laying next to you?

No, as a matter of fact, it was a completely different person!!!  

Jeeez, no...two of those are married to each other and the third one is a lady on the search for a guy to marry...thanks, but no thanks!!   

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 36): a few Red Bull-Jägermeister

I'll leave those out...otherwise the night would be over for me...spending the rest of it hanging on the loo vomiting!

As for Fiege...well...after the third one or so it doesn't matter anyway... 

Quoting Andreas (Reply 37): As for Fiege...well...after the third one or so it doesn't matter anyway...

If you don't like Fiege you can also buy a pitcher of Miller for 20.99 EUR like all the kids who hang out there. For some reason do they think that it is cool when you are drinking overpriced American beer from pitchers.

Patrick

I would say Premiere!

A lot better in my opinion!

WILCO737
  

I have heard Premiere is giving good deals for people who stay at Premiere. Lets face it, the Bundesliga has become crappy, Champions Legue is much better... So if Premiere is cheap, I would keep it...

Quoting Sabena332 (Reply 36): at least 12 large Fiege Pils

Fliegenpilz?   

Quoting WILCO737 (Reply 39): I would say Premiere! A lot better in my opinion!

Hey, that's off topic! Moderator ...!

Quoting NoUFO (Reply 41): Fliegenpilz?

Actually a pretty usual word in Bochum at night after a few beers...."Hey waiter, bring us another round, two Alt, four Jägi-Red Bull and two Fliegenpilz". 

Patrick

This morning, Professor Groenemeier...yes, the one with that funny brother...had an appearance on MoMa...to show some exercises that'll help people to stay fit during those long TV football sessions ....and he used Fiege Pils!! 


btw: Very funny exercises   

Well, looks like in light of them losing the Bundesliga, Premiere is losing customers and more money, as reported today ( http://www.n-tv.de/666320.html ), but something (hopefully) positive is that Premiere is still in talks with some partner to manage to still show the Bundesliga next year. Hope this is true, would certainly make any decision easier   .