Many Welsh, Irish, Scottish and English rugby fans living abroad in countries like Cyprus, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt or Saudi Arabia missed out on watching the first Six Nations games in 2010. The Showtime network, which previously showed all major international rugby fixtures live, lost the Six Nations contract but omitted to tell any of its customers until a few hours before the first game. The same holds true for 2011 as the only Arab-based satellite network showing the Six Nations 2011 tournament is Al Jazeerah sports.
An expensive solution is to cancel subscriptions to Showtime and access the 2011 Six nations fixtures live via the BBC; this, however, requires an enormous satellite dish of at least 4.5m in diameter, a new decoder box and a costly subscription to Sky. For many, a much cheaper option is to go the nearest bar showing the rugby games.
This article discusses the other options available for die-hard rugby fans who just want to watch the 6 Nations in the comfort of their own home.
Six Nations On the Internet
Those with a fast broadband internet connection can find a relatively cost-effective solution by watching the rugby games live on the internet:
- Filmon.com offers live streaming of popular UK and other TV channels including BBC One, the channel showing the Six Nations live. Simply download the HDI software from their site and sign up to either a monthly or annual subscription.
- Britishtvabroad.com offers similar live streaming with a wider range of channels on offer plus the ability to watch the games on a catch-up basis, after the games have finished. Subscriptions can be done on a 3, 6 or 12 monthly basis and there is usually a representative in each country to install the software and check that everything is working properly.
The only problem with live streaming via a PC is that the download speed has to be at least 1 mega byte (1MB), preferably 1.2MB or the user will experience frequent drop-outs, a bit like watching a You Tube video that constantly stalls. Many broadband connections are simply not fast enough to cope, especially if other users in the vicinity are all trying to download the game at the same time!
How to Check a PC’s Download Speed
If in any doubt about a computer’s actual download speed, as opposed to what it ought to be, simply go to an online site like Speedtest and do a quick check. Any result lower than a 1MB download speed means live streaming of the games via the internet will simply not work.
Alternative Solutions to Watch the Six Nations in Dubai or Cyprus
If your broadband internet connection is too slow, here are some alternatives:
- Al Jazeera sports have the contract to show the 2011 Six Nations tournament in the Middle East. You can buy a card from a reputable retailer in your country of residence but you will also need a different decoder as you now only watch Showtime on one of their new HD boxes.
- Use an alternative company to the ones above for live streaming but beware of scam websites that offer multiple channels at low cost without being clear on the actual channels on offer or the download speed required to watch them.
- Buy a big satellite dish and get access to the BBC via Sky or find a friend who has a big satellite dish and watch it on their TV.
- Find a good sports bar locally and see the rugby games at the pub.
- Buy some Six Nations tickets online, book a cheap flight and watch the games live in the stadium.
Watch the 6 Nations Live
Rugby fans living abroad in Cyprus or Dubai may be finding it hard to watch the 6 Nations in their own homes this year, but if any have a fast broadband connection, there is a fairly cheap solution. Otherwise, head for the nearest bar or take a trip back to the UK.
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Also of interest may be How to Watch Live UK TV Abroad on the Internet.
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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