GO yesterday launched its sports portfolio which this season, apart from the usual Barclays Premier League and the Italian Serie A, will also include the UEFA Champions League and the French Ligue 1.
Customers who have subscribed to GO sports will experience all the thrills of European football. All matches of the English Premier League, most of Italy’s Serie A, at least five of France’s Ligue 1 games and the latest acquisition, the UEFA Champions League, will be available to GO sports customers.
With regards to the Champions League, customers will have the chance to watch eight games simultaneously on the eight different channels. The company is also offering a Pay per View service to customers who want to watch matches via Internet on their PCs, but only for Champions League matches.
Addressing guests during the official launch yesterday morning during a business breakfast at The Villa in St Julians, GO’s new CEO Yiannos Michaelides stressed that this latest success was a continuation of GO’s latest streak of innovation and bold investments: “Just a few months ago I was lucky enough to be able to share with you how we were taking the lead in mobile internet in Malta. We invested millions in our network and systems to provide our mobile customers with an enhanced experience. We created more awareness to the benefits of mobile internet through an innovative campaign and many customers interacted and exchanged fresh ideas with us. We asked them to join the revolution - and so many people did. And today we are taking another bold step!”
He explained how GO has now taken the lead in sports broadcasting. GO sports has undisputedly become the Home of Premium sport content in Malta. He added: “And today we are officially communicating that, this season, we will be the exclusive broadcaster of the English Premier League, the Italian Serie A, the French Ligue 1 and the most prestigious global club competition the UEFA Champions League.”
GO’s CEO highlighted that it is not just a question of football. “GO customers will also have access to all Formula 1 races, major golf tournaments, key tennis events like Wimbledon, boxing, horse racing and a number of key rugby leagues and tournaments including the Rugby 6 Nations,” he added.
Michaelides said GO promised the thousands of viewers who love watching all kinds of sports that they no longer need to trade off one sport or one league against another when choosing their TV provider. “GO has all the major sports people want to view - and all this at a great price,” he said.
Michele Dandria, GO’s Product Manager for TV, also addressed the press at the official launch explaining that the GO sports offer has been extended. Through this offer, for only €14.99 a month, anyone who has not subscribed to GO sports can do so till the end of September.
It was explained that another two channels – GO sports 7 and 8 – are now also available on the GO Interactive platform. This means that as from Match Day 1, UEFA Champions League fans will be able to watch all eight simultaneous matches. Another alternative is the Pay Per View live streaming option through www.go.com.mt as well as introducing its GO sports mobile Match Tracker, a mobile application for iphone.
Ms Dandria said that GO sports 1 will now be airing in HD with extensive coverage of Formula 1 and other selected sporting events such as Football, Golf, Tennis and Rugby.
A last addition which should please all English Premier League fans is the introduction of PL TV HD, a channel produced by the Premier League for Premier League fans around the world. Key programmes include Match Day Live, a live studio programme that includes an extended build-up before each game and then the latest live action from the Barclays Premier League; Football Today a two-hour live studio-based programme during which a team of top panellists give expert analysis and comment throughout the match day as they preside over a round-up of the latest football action, goals and news from the Barclays Premier League; Fanzone - an hour-long phone-in studio programme - where viewers from all over the world join the debate by contacting reporters (and ex-footballers) live in the studio via Skype or phone as they debate the major news and issues of the day from the Barclays Premier League and daily news slots covering all the breaking news and stories from the Barclays Premier League.
Kurt Camilleri, GO’s Head of Marketing said that GO will be launching a hunt for football lookalikes. “We want to know who are Malta’s Messi, Ronaldo, van Persie and others.
He said: “Maltese are passionate about football. They watch it, they argue about it, they play it. With all live matches being watched in comfort at home, people are gaining more knowledge about the players they adore: their customs, their looks, their hairstyles, the shoes they sport. So many teenagers mould themselves around their footballing idols. They take on the players’ names as nicknames and do their best to emulate their techniques - these are the proper ‘look alikes’.”
Camilleri explained that applicants will be encouraged to appear in front of a panel (made up of sports journalists and supporters’ club presidents) who will judge them on their physical resemblance and their footballing skills. All will be wrapped up with a game between two all-star teams with a great prize for the winning team which will be announced later on.
Yesterday’s event also saw the participation of British football star commentators John Dykes and Alan Curbishley, the latter also well known for his careers as a player and manager.
Dykes is one of the world’s most-watched sports TV presenters thanks to his role as lead anchor for the Barclays Premier League’s global broadcasts with shows the likes of Matchday Live and Football Today.
Curbishley, regarded as one of the most knowledgeable and respected figures in English football after a playing and managerial career spanning over 40 years, is a regular contributor to these shows.