The "exorbitant sums of money" spent on securing sports TV rights have been "controversial, but for broadcasters the alternative is losing a huge number of customers to rivals with deeper wallets," according to BROADBAND TV NEWS. U.K. website Broadband Genie asked 2,275 people about their subscription TV service, with a "particular focus on sports." It found that "for many," access to particular sports is a "deciding factor." Sixty-one percent of respondents said that they currently had a subscription to a TV package. The majority of them (57%) said that their TV subscription provides "quality content," though 43% feel it represents "good value for money." Sports are "hugely important for TV subscriptions." Of the respondents who have sports channels, 57% said that sports channels were a "strong influence" and 29% said that they were a "slight influence" on their decision to sign up to a premium TV service. Most "concerning" for broadcasters is that 78% said that they "would consider switching or cancelling the TV subscription if the provider lost rights to certain sports" (BROADBAND TV NEWS, 8/12).
