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Sky Sports set to launch channels for specific sports in bid to halt falling figures

The network is also reportedly planning to reduce its subscription fees.

SKY SPORTS IS reportedly planning a major shake-up as it attempts to battle declining viewership figures.

According to The Guardian, the Rupert Murdoch-owned subscription network will scrap Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, and replace them with channels that cater for specific sports.

There will be two stations dedicated solely to football and one each for golf and cricket, which join the already existing Formula One channel. Sky Sports Arena will then show other sports such as rugby and tennis.

The revamp will also see a restructuring of their subscription packages and The Guardian are reporting that the cheapest deal for UK customers could be as low as ยฃ18 per month.

Irish viewers currently pay โ‚ฌ40 per month but itโ€™s unclear how prices will be affected on this side of the water.

While the cost of buying TV rights for the Premier League is at an all-time of ยฃ5.14 billion โ€” split between Sky and BT Sports โ€” the number of people watching matches has been in decline in recent years.

Many have been moving away from paying for sports channels in favour of illegal streams, while non-sports services such as Netflix and Amazon have also become extremely popular.

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    Mute Ian O'Reilly
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    Oct 15th 2015, 7:38 PM

    Before this starts again all Genuine dublin supportershave no issue playing away nowlan park or where ever.

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    Mute Andrew Nolan
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    Oct 15th 2015, 7:46 PM

    So youโ€™ve no issue playing away as long as ye get Kilkenny?

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    Mute Get to the chopper
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    Oct 15th 2015, 8:23 PM

    Does this draw really need to take place now, in October. Make the draw in the new year when people actually have enthusiasm towards the GAA season starting again.

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    Mute Paul Browne
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    Oct 15th 2015, 8:43 PM

    Why no Ulster hurling draw?

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    Mute Shaun Gallagher
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    Oct 15th 2015, 9:06 PM

    Ulster council do there own draw for the hurling.

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    Mute Colm Buckley
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    Oct 16th 2015, 6:35 AM

    1 genuinely competitive province in football and 1 in hurling. structures are a joke.

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    Mute Donal Ring
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    Oct 15th 2015, 10:12 PM

    Thurles- last played in Cork in 2012- Tipp won by a point

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    Mute Liam Sheahan
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    Oct 15th 2015, 8:40 PM

    MHC Cork vTipperary venue Fitzgerald stadium Killarney?

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