Sky Considering Launch Of New Sports Channel

Sky is believed to be considering the launch of a new sports channel to go with its existing four, after being awarded a new TV licence under the name Sky Sports 4.

Its current channels include Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, and Sky Sports Xtra and it has rights for major sports such as football (see Sky Scoops Half Of Premier League Rights), cricket, rugby, golf and boxing.

The licence is for a cable and satellite channel which means that it will not be available on freeview, unlike the rolling news channel Sky Sports News.

However, there are rumours that Sky is interested in putting its Premier League football coverage on Freeview, most likely with Top Up TV, and this would follow last years’ deal between the pay-TV provider and Setanta to broadcast Scottish Premier League football via the platform in Scotland (see Top Up TV Brings Setanta To Scottish Freeview Homes).

BSkyB recently paid £1.31bn to show 92 Premier League matches a year for three years from August 2007, with Setanta paying £392m for 46 matches a year, although BSkyB and BT also successfully bid for rights to show full delayed coverage or extended highlights of all Barclays Premiership matches which are not broadcast live (see ‘Near-Live’ Football For Sky And BT Vision).

Sky: 08702 40 40 40 www.sky.com