Champions League Rights Extended For ITV And Sky
Champions League football is set to continue on both Sky and ITV until May 2009, after both broadcasters renegotiated their existing broadcast rights to retain the sport for another four years.
The new contracts, which run from next September until May 2009, will see ITV air two games on a Tuesday, using ITV1 and ITV4, with highlights shown later in the evening. Sky’s contract will enable it to air the remaining six matches on Tuesdays and all eight through its interactive service on Wednesday nights.
Sky will also offer live coverage of each of its broadcast TV games via live simultaneous online streaming, using Sky Sports Broadband for the first time, while ITV’s games will also be available online via ITV.com.
Commenting on the extended broadcast rights, Mark Sharman, ITV’s controller of sport, said: “We are delighted to retain association with a competition that ITV has been involved in right from the start. To have exclusive terrestrial rights to the world’s premier club competition for another three seasons underlines ITV’s continuing commitment to top class sport. This is a terrific result for ITV1 and ITV’s digital channels – both will show live Tuesday evening Champions League action throughout the competition as well as the final.”
Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports, added: “The digital technology we have developed is unique, and has worked superbly. Our subscribers have told us how much they appreciate the power of choice, and the ability to switch between eight live matches at any time. This new deal guarantees us four more seasons of UEFA Champions League football in all and allows us to develop and enhance this service still further.”
Earlier this week saw the European Commission confirm its intention to investigate the FA Premier League over its allocation of broadcast rights to top flight football matches in England. The investigation will see the EC open a formal antitrust inquiry into current practices, which have failed to ensure that rights are distributed to more than one broadcaster (see Euro Regulator To Investigate Premier League Rights).
ITV: 020 7843 8000 www.itv.com Sky: 08702 40 40 40 www.sky.com