Sky loses half of Premier League games
Sky loses half of Premier League games
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Friday, 28, Apr 2006 10:47
BSkyB has lost three of the six match packages that make up the rights to Premier League broadcasting in the UK.
In a statement released today, the Premier League confirmed it had awarded the broadcaster just half of the available match deals as part of a move signalling one of the biggest shake-ups in live football coverage since the inception of the league in 1992.
Previously, BSkyB has enjoyed exclusive rights to live games, but after intervention by the European Commission over concerns regarding competition, a deal was reached which meant the match packages – each worth 23 games - had to be split up.
With BSkyB retaining 69 games under the new agreement, there will be a further 69 games up for grabs among a host of interested parties.
To date Ireland's Setanta has indicated it would be bidding for two packages, while terrestrial channels ITV and Channel 4 as well as communications firms NTL and BT have also signalled their interest.
The Premier League said it would now be "proceeding to a second round of bidding for the remaining three packages in due course".
No further comment is due until the bids for the second round are completed, with the broadcasters involved also under confidential agreements.
The news is likely to cause some surprise, with many analysts expecting BSkyB to continue to run the lion's share of the rights.
Attention is also expected to focus on the internet and multimedia rights to video clips and live web-streaming, with communications firms keen to exploit football's mass appeal in the emerging media.
BSkyB's current exclusive deal – worth a staggering £1.024 billion - will run out in 2007.