BT signs exclusive Premiership Rugby rights deal

BT has signed an exclusive £38 million a year deal to show Premiership Rugby for four season from 2013-14.

From 2014-15 it will also have the exclusive rights to matches played by Premiership clubs in any future European competitions for three years.

The £152 million deal is a 50% increase on the current contract with Sky and ESPN, which runs to the end of the season but includes the rights to all European matches played in England from the 2014-15 season.

English and French clubs are planning to withdraw from the Heineken Cup when the current deal expires at the end of next season.

The BT deal will put an end to the English club rugby’s association with Sky, which started 19 years ago.

“This is a game-changing agreement and will deliver a service that I know our club supporters will enjoy,” Mark McCafferty, chief executive of Premiership Rugby, said.

As well as showing the live games, BT will assist clubs in upgrading their technical infrastructure.

There are reports in today’s press that the BT and BSkyB rugby rights row could destroy Heineken Cup.

“BT and BSkyB are caught in a multi-million pound tug of war over TV rugby rights which threatens to dismantle Europe’s flagship championship, the Heineken Cup,” according to The Telegraph.

Read Raymond Snoddy’s take on TV rights here.