| Following an announcement by the FA Premier League today, BSkyB confirmed
that it had been awarded a fourth package of live rights, package A.
In addition to the three packages of 23 games each awarded to Sky last week,
this package gives Sky rights to a further 23 matches airing Sundays at 16:00.
"This is good news for fans, football and Sky," said Vic Wakeling, Managing
Director, Sky Sports. "Sky is the home of football. We will offer first picks,
the best matches and biggest head-to-heads. There will be more live Premiership
matches on Sky Sports than ever: 92 games per season, up from 88 games today."
With these rights, Sky has won the opportunity to offer live football in new
and exciting ways. "Viewers can look forward to years of innovative coverage of
live Premiership football, all broadcast in HD. Fans will also have new ways of
watching using broadband and mobile," continued Mr Wakeling.
Jeremy Darroch, Chief Financial Officer at Sky, added, "We are very pleased with
this result. We have won the best packages at prices that are right for Sky.
This gives us certainty for the future and secures Premiership football until
the end of the decade. It underlines Sky's strength as we drive towards all our
targets."
For the three-year period starting in season 2007/8, Sky will pay a total of
£1,314 million for the four packages it has been awarded.
Live Premiership matches on Sky Sports:
1992/3-96/97 60 per season
1997/8-2000/1 66 per season
2001/2-2003/4 66 per season
2004/5-2006/7 88 per season
2007/8-2009/10 92 per season
Sky Sports TV Wins Near-Live Rights
Combine with live rights to create unrivalled Premiership coverage
Following today's announcement by the FA Premier League, Sky Sports TV
confirmed that it had been awarded ‘near-live' rights to 242 games per season
from the Barclays Premiership.
The three-year deal covers the 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. Sky
Sports TV has acquired the rights in a joint bid with BT.
These rights enable Sky Sports TV to offer full delayed coverage or extended
highlights of all Barclays Premiership matches not broadcast live.
Vic Wakeling, Managing Director of Sky Sports, said:
“These near-live rights, added to the live matches, give Sky Sports
unrivalled Premiership coverage.
“We can now promise Football First until the end of the decade and new ways
of watching games, on demand, through broadband.
“Our recent live deal brings more live Premiership matches to Sky Sports with
the best games and biggest head-to-heads.
“Sky remains the home of football.”
On 5 May the FA Premier League awarded BSkyB four packages of live rights,
each of 23 matches, for seasons 2007-08 to 2009-10. All 92 matches each season
will be shown live on Sky Sports.
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