AIBU to be fed up with complaints about paying to watch the Commonwealth Games

[HelloDenise]

Yes I get it's frustrating and annoying that the BBC aren't showing the Commonwealth Games. I'm annoyed myself.

I have Amazon Prime and have subscribed to HBO Max for £5.99. Sky subscribers can do the same for £8.99. I'll cancel when it's over.

Given that most people have Sky, AIBU to be fed up of all the grumbling I've seen? It's the price of a couple of coffees, cheaper than two pints or glasses of wine, much cheaper than 20 fags. Cheaper than Lindt chocolate truffles or a pizza.

I'm fed up of hearing "why should I pay? I've paid for a TV licence." Well you can't want to see it that much then.

I didn’t even realise it was on!

Google suggests about 6-10 million households in the UK have sky and if the total population is 69.5 it’s actually only up to about 7%..
It does mean it’s less accessible. There are many households in the UK counting every single penny. I’m okay now but a couple of years ago things were extremely tight for me post-divorce and I could not afford prime, sky or any kind of extra luxuries like paying for top up fees for sports.

For people short of money, the TV license is not the best value way if watching TV. Its 3xs the cost of Prime, Disney, Netflix etc

I suppose they will just have to console themselves with the Olympics and every other sporting event broadcast on BBC/ITV then.

If the parents can’t afford to eat, then I don’t imagine they will be too bothered about missing the Commonwealth games.

Most people don't have sky. I have now TV and hbo is in with the price so I don't pay any extra to watch the common wealth games. But I agree it should be on BBC.

My elderly mum usually enjoys things like this but doesn’t have sky/prime or internet just regular tv.

No, they don’t.

I don't care enough to pay to watch it, but I'm not complaining about it. I think BBC Alba has some coverage in Gaelic but that may not matter if you understand the sport well enough and don't care about the commentary.

I don’t know why the BBC couldn’t use iPlayer like they do during the Olympics?

It’s really clever, particularly when there’s a time difference, which is irrelevant at the moment.

What a sneery comment

Because the BBC don't have the broadcast rights.

Amazon prime video then? I don’t get the cost argument as prime + netflix (for example) would be cheaper than a tv licence - even with the extra subscription to see the commonwealth games

It's free in Australia on 7plus, but bet it's FULL of ads.

I didn't even know it was on as I usually find things to watch by channel hopping. As for paying extra to watch it my budget is already tight. I probably buy a coffee once a year, no takeout or pub meals etc.

I agree with a pp though, I would have preferred my TV licence money had gone to buying these rights rather than the vast salaries of non entities like the presenters of MOTD or radio.

Yeah i was doubtful about that.
You don't actually need to have Sky though, you can subscribe direct to HBO max, or through other providers (such as Prime as the OP says) so not sure why the OP even mentioned about people having Sky.

I suspect the comments come from it being a British centric event rather than some shared across the world (like the WC or Olympics)

it's poor it not on free to air tv

The BBC were outbid for the rights by TNT sports. It faces huge cutbacks and has just had a big outlay with broadcasting the World Cup and Wimbledon. So I figure it had to stay within its budget.

There are daily highlights on Channel 5 that are free.

I would rather it not go on any sport but it’s what makes the BBC money. Wimbledon, Olympics, World Cup etc etc - if people want to watch it, then I wish they would pay for it separately. We have only just come out of an interminable football tournament (well it felt like it).

I rarely watch the BBC now because its quality of programming is poor but I don’t think public money should be funding sport.

I am disappointed that it is not available to watch in UK considering Scotland are hosting it. It’s a shame but as we work FT and would only watch hightlighrs and weekends am certainly not paying for it. I think it’s a shame for the UK athletes who are also not getting the coverage UK wide they deserve for their successes and hard work.

I didn’t even know it was on! What a shame. I love a good opening ceremony.

@AImportantMermaid The Opening Ceremony was on Channel 5. It's available on their streaming service on catch up so you can still see it :-)

The opening ceremony was on Channel 5 in full.

It is available in the UK though - just on streaming

There’ll be the hardcore fans, the single sport enthusiasts, and the casual watchers. I’m a casual watcher so I’d probably catch some stuff on a Sunday afternoon or a Tuesday morning when I’m not working. I don’t want to see it that much, but I’d definitely dip in and out of it - a bit like Glastonbury coverage. That said, I wouldn’t bother paying if it’s behind a paywall and I think there’s a fair percentage of people like me. It’s a shame really - the sports don’t get the promotion they’d otherwise get, and the host country doesn’t get to showcase its magnificence to the world in quite the same way.

The Commonwealth Games is such a piss-poor third rate event that I'm surprised anyone cares.