RobMcCaffery

Free Sports is NOT a copy of Premier Sports. It shows a mixture of repeats from Premier, plus matches that there aren't room for on Premier and occasionally, but very occasionally before Premier, as with an ice hockey match on opening night. Premier showed a Cardiff match, FS a Nottingham match which was then repeated on Premier later on. I would have thought it obvious that no TV channel would be stupid enough to take money off people for a channel while also showing exactly the same channel's contents for free on another. Later on they will be showing 15 ice hockey matches live per week. 12 will be on Premier and the other three will be on Free Sports - you hopefully get the idea of what's going on. If you want to watch the speedway live then you'll need to pay for Premier. If you can wait for repeats then FS is an option. But I doubt you could be certain that all speedway matches will end up being repeated on Free Sports long term. The safest long-term bet is the Premier Sports subscription.

Sadly although the channel is SD you do have to have Freeview HD to receive it, either built into the set or set-top box. Mind you, Argos are doing a Freeview HD box for just £35. The reason why you need an HD TV or box to receive an SD channel like this is that it's being broadcast on a cheaper, modern system to the original Freeview that makes it more affordable for the smaller channels like Free Sports or Talking Pictures to use it. Even then not all the transmitters carry these extra stations. If you're on a local relay they tend to have 'Freeview Light' with far fewer stations. It's a mess and expecting the general public to understand is like trying to explain guests and tacical rides to your mate down the pub

Far from it. In the sports that they have contracts for they certainly don't skimp - hiring Gary Lineker to front their Champions' League football coverage is far from a cheap option and there is certainly no skimping on the coverage of rugby or other sports. The difference with speedway is that they seem not to hold the contract and are actually helping speedway out by televising the matches that Sky have already paid for in their contract but don't want to incur the actual additional costs of actually televising them. So, the last-minute speedway 'stand-in' role this season has naturally seen them cut costs to the bone. Hopefully after this test season what they have seen and themselves achieved with limited resources will encourage them to take on the contract for themselves and make a firm financial commitment in future years, at least in terms of coverage costs. I suspect the 'facilities fee' and sponsorship gravy train of the peak Sky days has long derailed for the sport. Don't fall for Sky's propaganda about the 'inadequacies' of BT's coverage of sport - it gets everywhere, and they are clearly running scared of BT. As for Monday's second match, the chances of it being an entertaining, close contest are pretty slim so it's surely wiser to avoid all the overtime costs and just be satisfied with what should be a great first match rather than pay a crew to cover a run of 5-1s between 10 pm and 11 and spoil the memory of the earlier match and those in the series? When you take an objective view of the matches shown on BT so far the sport's managed to behave itself with minimal guests and r/r and matches staged in front of reasonable crowds. I think it's come over well with the disasters thankfully happening well away from the cameras. In fact a casual BT viewer would probably be shocked to see the view of a sport on its deathbed given by the sport's supposed supporters in this forum.

I think you'll find the channel is supposed to be the same on all platforms. What you see on terrestrial should be identical to satellite and cable, as with the great majority of other channels broadcasting on all three, bar some of the ads.

Well it's 'simples' if you are informed that you can use it. Sadly the website doesn't and all the Star ads do is tell you to visit that website. There's mention of web and Android access 'via Exact Editions apps' then sloppily only gives the Apple app link. In any case the significant point is the lack of discount regarding printing and distribution savings in the price. It re-emphasises the point that Exact Editions are doing a lousy job of explaining exactly what services they actually offer. A magazine like the Speedway Star deserves better. Sorry, I avoid adverts so I have no quote from one to close the message with

All reports in media circles are that it will only be in SD, with HD reserved for subscribers to Premier Sports. Free Sports' website makes no reference to channel 273 which has been marked elsewhere as 'Sports Channel Network', 'to be launched' for some time. There's no apparent need for two Freeview channels but as always in these situations much can change before it finally settles down. We have to watch and wait. Suggestions are that it's more than technical problems delaying a launch on Virgin Media and that a deal between FS and VM needs to be worked out. Goodness knows when that may happen given past history!

I hope I can help to clarify some confusion over this new channel. Free Sports is a sister channel to Premier Sports in the UK and eirsports in Ireland. It will only be an SD channel. The idea is to get people to pay for a subscription to the parent channels to get HD. It launched Thursday morning at 6 am but so far only a fraction of the target audience can get it for various technical reasons, principally involving Sky who control the satellite signal to their subscribers plus Freesat and Virgin, both of whom use the same satellite feed as Sky for their services. Right now the launch is a mess. I'll try to summarise. Sky (will be channel 424) - Sky need to check the technical side of the channel before allowing it to go on their electronic programme guide (epg) at the intended channel 424. This may have happened or be imminent. The channel IS on satellite, just needs to be watched off epg via "other channels" for now. Freesat (channel 252) is really just an epg - the signals are exactly the same as the free channels on Sky. So, until the Sky problem is resolved the channel can only be watched on Freesat by using 'add non-freesat channels', rather like adding ITV regions. It has been stated that Freesat 252 will go live on September 12th - better late than never. There is no date or channel yet for FS on Virgin Media. Given past performance it will probably show up without prior warning. I'm a VM subscriber so will be monitoring. So, on to those relying on other services. BT and Talk Talk just relay the main Freeview channels. All will use channel 95. The channel has launched on Freeview, but only in certain areas. If your TV or set top box is able to receive certain HD channels, over and above the basic BBC examples then you should be able to receive FS on 95. If not then you won't be getting the station at all. You need to be on a main rather than relay transmitter to get it. You thought the SCB Regulations were twisted..... So, to summarise, by September 12th you should be able to receive FS as follows, I'm sure it won't be as easy as that. : Freeview (in certain areas with certain boxes/TVs), Talk Talk & BT - channel 95 Sky - 424 Freesat - 252 Virgin - lord knows..... For those able to use the 'add channels' on Sky or Freesat the technical details are: 11426V, Symbol Rate: 27500, FEC: 5/6, DVB-S, SID:52556 Good luck! (UPDATE: - looks like it's now up and running on Sky 424)

I've just read the piece and agree that it clearly sums up the serious problems and I really sympathise with all at Pinegen in what must be very worrying times for a genuine group of people who have worked tirelessly to produce a weekly magazine that quite frankly is far too good for the sport it serves. I can't see many other minor (specialist?) sports getting such professional, weekly coverage and for what is still a bargain price at £3. While some seem to think it's easier to get all that it contains for free online they may be able to get information about their own track but the sport as a whole? You also pay for journalism and editing - checking information rather than the random publication of what is often pure uninformed and unchecked rubbish online. I've got a concern regarding the online subscription though. I subscribe to several magazines away from the sport and the electronic subscriptions are cheaper, yet in the Star's case the online annual sub is £119.99 against £116 for the print version. With this in mind I can understand Pinegen wanting or needing to add content to the online version and I expect that they see more of the sub but this lack of discount is unusual. The online distributor mentions Android access but the only link on the website is to the Apple Store. There is no link to an Android source such as the Google Play Store. There appears to be no option to read the electronic edition on a Windows pc, tablet or laptop. I can understand not being able to buy individual copies but it is probably cutting off a few extra sales rather than pushing people towards longer-term subs. I appreciate that much is in the hands of the online distributor but Exact Editions don't seem to be making it easy or financially tempting to switch to an online sub which I suspect is a handicap that the Star could do without in what I am sure is a battle to survive. I'm proud to have made my minor contributions to the magazine over the years, mainly just match reports, so I do respect the magazine and those who write it and do wish them and the magazine well.

Poole's fans show their grace in victory yet again. As if the sport didn't have enough problems....... Bad losers are unpleasant but appalling winners are beneath contempt.

Min luftpudebåd er fyldt med ål

At hævde danskere kæmper for at konstruere en sætning på engelsk er så latterligt som at forvente en saner-beslutning fra BSPA.

Rather better than most British people's attempts to construct a sentence in Danish.

Delighted to see something like common sense being applied and the match being finally confirmed for Thursday night. It would be tempting to ask why such an obvious solution wasn't taken earlier but since I'm rapidly approaching my 50th season I really should know that answer........... Finishing a season with six matches in eight nights is beyond parody though. You cannot run a 'sport' this way. Switching to more positive thoughts it was great to see the old place looking so impressive last night on BT. Sadly circumstances prevent me visiting now. I remember arriving at the place in 1974, still shocked and grieving over the loss of Rayleigh and wondering where the heck we were and how we were going to cope in this new home. It's taken over forty years but at last it's looking like a proper speedway stadium with a half-decent track. Of course in 1974 it was a case of building the best track you could in a very unsuitable and cramped stadium so there were obvious restrictions on the quality of track that could be built. It was a real pleasure to see it come over so well last night. It'll never be a classic racing track - there's simply not enough room, even with the elimination of the dog track. The new promotion have understandably made mistakes (white rocket on blue and gold PLEASE - it's a minor point to some but important heritage to others) but it looks like it's all coming together. Now they need regular weekly speedway on a consistent race night again.

Just to highlight the significance of the King's Lynn away meeting, at present Poole have all three of their final matches scheduled to be staged before the cut-off. They currently have 40 points and the points available from those three meetings (1 home, two away) gives them a potential final total of 51. As for the Rockets. They have 36 with five matches to race, three home and two away but with only four of those currently scheduled to take place before the cut-off. Those four could yield a maximum of 13 pints giving a potential total of just 49 points, so that King's Lynn away match must be scheduled before the cut-off for any lingering credibility in the top tier to be saved. As it stands Rye House could be denied a play-off place only by King's Lynn's failure to stage the match before the cut-off! All of these are big 'ifs' with Belle Vue away and Swindon home to come but even by the shabby standards of the top tier allowing Poole the chance of a win at Lynn but denying the Rockets the same chance would be disgusting.

Can you tell me when Scunthorpe moved to Australia? Why are the Scorpions allowed in British leagues?

Except for the paying customers and the promotions hosting matches against a Panthers side unnecessarily missing one of their star riders. Who cares about them, or principles eh? Just go for what's convenient then try brushing it under the carpet afterwards....

Shameful response to someone trying to help another. R&R has a record in the sport to be proud of and is a vital source of help and information in the International Section.

Try reading this. Google Translate will put it into English. Polish teams often change on the day. https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/702676/kolejne-dobre-wiesci-dla-kibicow-get-well-torun-terminski-dopial-swego-w-sprawie Clearly your knowledge of Polish speedway is as limited as your understanding of the British version.

So, Rye House have staged the grand total of four Rockets matches at home in three months and people are hoping for a postponement tonight? I don't think it's just the BSPA who have problems.......

Yes I do get angry when I bother to share important information and find someone trying to drag me into a stupid argument and questioning my integrity! You can guess what will happen if I have such news in future.It's just not worth it is it?

I did not edit mine to correct that error.I do NOT play such stupid games. You really are just looking for a petty argument aren't you? It's typical of this forum. You post information to help inform people and end up with some semi-literate half-wit looking for a stupid fight. I'm sure there's a playground waiting for you. Absolutely pathetic. Grow up. Now regarding the postings made by grown-ups, the team listings on Sportowe Fakty are always provisional and are often changed on the day. It also seems to be a Polish tradition to only name one of the reserves in advance. It seems that people are clutching at straws here. The major source of speedway news in Poland reports quite clearly that Holder will be riding in Poland on Sunday and the forum assumes it's some kind of pathetic wind-up. I leave that kind of stupidity to those who clearly have nothing better to do. Obviously events may change the situation today and the rider may be forced to honour his British commitments. Once more it does prove that there really is no point posting serious information here when people choose to ignore it and play their sad little games and peddle their usual bull. Here is the latest, slightly-edited version of the Sportowe Fakty article, translated using Google Translate so the English is a little uncertain. This was posted at 10.45 yesterday morning. https://sportowefakty.wp.pl/zuzel/702676/kolejne-dobre-wiesci-dla-kibicow-get-well-torun-terminski-dopial-swego-w-sprawie Przemysław Termiński got his hold on Holder! This is why they should thank the fans Get Well Toruń reported in social media that Jack Holder is flying to Poland. Talks on this matter lasted quite a long time, but the most optimistic scenario was fulfilled. On Wednesday, the odds of Jack Holder starting in the match against Vitcherif CrossFit Czestochowa were 50 in 50. The Toruns were doing everything they could to keep the Australian on Sunday. Riding old seniors was definitely a safer option for Jacek Frątczak . - The situation changed very quickly. Once it seemed that it was going to be okay, and in a moment there were problems again. However, we were very consistent and succeeded - the manager of Toruń tells us. Frątczak is very grateful to Przemysław Terminiński , who showed a great determination in Jack Holder's case. The effect is that Chris's younger brother will be able to perform not only on Sunday but also in other meetings, which the team will play until the end of PGE Ekstraligi . - He worked the whole team who did more than you could. The greatest merit, however, is the owner's side. It is Mr. Przemyslaw who has an interest, "stresses Fratczak. If Jack Holder scores another good performance on Sunday, then the operation for his appointment to the next game will not have to start again. The training staff has far more comfortable working experience. It is worth emphasizing that the Australian will have plenty of time to prepare for the meeting with the Fool. In Poland will appear on Friday and will be able to participate in the training, which was scheduled in the afternoon. One day later, he will have another chance to get acquainted with the specifics of Motoarena." Right, at that point I can do no more and will leave you to play your games.

I've taken the precaution of checking Sportowe Fakty again. The story is still there and I can't see a follow-up regarding the implications here. This could be a busy Saturday.

Apologies, I meant Jack. A terrible error. Since we're on the subject of errors, it's who's by the way.

I have reported what is in turn reported by Polish speedway's most authoritative source of news. It is extremely unlikely to be inaccurate although we have to allow for Google's translation. I included a link to the story if you wish to check for yourself.

Torun is a very wealthy club that is currently bottom of the league and in dire risk of being relegated from the Polish Ekstraliga gravy train. After the failure of his brother they will see James' paid 16 last week as a lifeline to be grabbed at any cost. I can't see his brother encouraging him to put his British commitments first.