NTL Bags Football League Net Rights

NTL is continuing its football buying spree with the purchase of internet rights for Football League games. In a joint venture with the league the cable group will create an internet portal for all 72 clubs who wish to participate.

The group will pay rights fees of up to £65m over five years and will share all profits made with the clubs involved.

Barclay Knapp, CEO of NTL, said: “[This] announcement clearly establishes NTL’s commitment to football at all levels throughout the UK. The internet portal will give fans a unique way of supporting their clubs online and enables their clubs to be direct participants in the new digital age.”

Last week NTL won the right to broadcast 40 pay-per-view games from the Premier League on its cable TV platform (see How The Premier League Will Cash-In On Kick-Offs) and has stakes in a number of Premiership teams (see NTL Buys Stake In Leicester City).

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