Sky Maintains PPV Ambitions

Sky today said that it still believes pay-per-view is the way forward for football TV coverage, despite the Premier League’s announcement that it would not be proceeding with the broadcaster’s PPV plans (see Premiership Votes Against PPV Proposals).

Sky was allegedly proposing to move four matches per week from Saturdays to Sundays and charge viewers £10 to watch live coverage of each of these games. Up to 144 more games would be broadcast and revenue for the top clubs would consequently increase.

Peter Leaver, chief executive of the Premier League, issued a short statement saying: “Premier League clubs have today decided not to proceed with proposals that have been put forward in relation to pay-per-view television. The F.A. Premier League is determined to ensure that there is an opportunity to consider all of the issues in detail and to act in the best interests of the game and its supporters. We want to develop broadcasting arrangements which strike the right balance and secure the right future for English football.”

Sky, however, denies that any proposals were due to be agreed today because “there are still too many details to be discussed.” Vic Wakeling, head of sport at Sky TV, described the Premier League discussions as “ongoing” and said: “Sky shares the Premier League’s wish to get it right for all football fans.”

Premier League: 0171 976 7886 Sky: 0171 705 3200