BT NEWS STORY

BT Sport wins £900m Champions League TV rights from Sky and ITV

http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/nov/09/bt-sport-champions-league-exclusive-tv-rights

BT who are seen to be the new kid on the block as they are yet to establish themselves within the sports market, have landed a deal with is seen to be a multibillion pound deal. BT deal is seen to be Rupert Murdoch’s worst nightmare as they are taking Sky’s money maker sport.

• BT secured a £900m deal with consists that they are given the rights to show Champions league football as from 2015-16.
•  BT will pay UEFA £299m a season for three years, allowing them to show all 350 Champions league and Europa league matches. 

This deal happens after BT already secured a deal with the Premier League allowing them to show Premier League matches. The deal consisted of BT paying £738 in order to show 38 live Premier league games in the 2013-14 season.

The current champion’s league deal is shared between Sky and ITV which is at valued at £400 million. Therefore this deal was now increased by £500 million, which is then seen as a deal which was made to benefit the clubs, players and agents rather than the fans as, they will now have to pay a another subscription in order to match the champions league and Europa league games. 

• The contract of this deal states that both finals of the champions league and the Europa league is to be free aired; allowing UEFA to be fair towards their sponsors and attract a wider audience.
•  The current agreement also states that one game in every round of Champions League matches is shown on ITV, with the same applying to Europa League games. Furthermore BT have promised English fans that English teams will be shown free once during the season, however this still angers fans. 

This deal has now set up a war between Rupert Mudock (Sky) and BT for the Premier league rights for the 2016-17.   BT at the moment are deciding whether they will decided to bid to be able to show more live Premier League games.

• At the present moment Sky shows 116 live games which BT only showing 38. I believe from the current situation of BT it looks like they are planning to become the leading football matches provider.
•  BT have stated that their coverage of the UEFA’s major events will be “more accessible and affordable” than paying for Sky Sports. 
•  ITV may be provided with a highlights package.