CHAMPIONS LEAGUE
BT forks out £1.2bn for TV football rights
Britain’s former telephone monopoly will pay £394m a year for three seasons to screen blockbuster Champions League
London — BT Group will spend £1.18bn to hold on to broadcast rights for Champions League soccer in the UK, agreeing to a 32% price increase to secure the future of its pay-TV business. On Monday, Britain’s former telephone monopoly said it would pay £394m a year for three seasons ending in 2020-21. The company, which took the rights from Sky in 2013, was previously paying £299m. "We’re clearly very pleased to have secured these rights for the next three years," John Petter, the CEO of BT’s consumer business, said on a call with journalists. The addition of double-header nights with live matches at 6pm and 8pm meant 35% more broadcasting slots for BT, he said. "We’re paying more, but we’ve got a huge amount more for it." With the renewal, BT strengthens the biggest draw for its pay-TV business and notches a victory over Sky and other rivals bidding in the auction. "While we challenge the return on investment of the media strategy, the news is rather reassuring," said Stephane Beyazia...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.