Would do the game no good IMO. Sky obviously have set packages and I'd say most customers just pick a set and say "yeah I'll have the sports" but they don't want to pay the extra for ESPN and little add on challenges. Also with RL being a minority sports as far as broadcasters are concerned, ESPN wouldn't be likely to rush into thousands of pounds of advertising to lure the usual Sky Sports viewers into extra expenditure. As mentioned above aswell - the casual sports package owners will no longer tune in, lowering viewing figures, lowering sponsorship and advertising, lowering interest altogether as far as TV coverage is concerned.

Picture quality last year (when I watched a bit) was pretty shocking though. Has it improved?

Hmmm £6.99 per month for 150 games.

Will hang fire for picture quality but sounds good.

Firstly, it's nice to see some interest in RL from the major TV companies but I'd hate to think Super League coverage would be moved from SKY to ESPN though. SKY have made our sport since SL began and I for one want to see it stay. The audience figures would be down too, a lot of people have SKY Sports packages and can casually tune in and out of the rugby but I wouldn't have thought ESPN's subscribers would be anywhere near the same.

I'd simply cancel sky sports and order ESPN. I only have the sports for the rugby anyway. (mainly)

Indeed and then in 3 years time SKY pick SL back up for 10 bob and a sherbert dib-dab when ESPN realise they haven't pulled in the viewers they expected and dont even bid for it.