Sky To Screen First Football Simulcast To Mobiles

Satellite superpower BSkyB has signed a deal with mobile operator Vodafone to screen live international cricket coverage, as well as the Football League Playoffs through its network under the Sky Sports brand.

Starting this weekend, the coverage will run through the 3G Vodafone Live! service, with the activity representing the first simulcast of live football matches across mobile and on TV.

In the first month of operation, Sky Sports will screen around 100 hours of coverage through Vodafone’s network, including 15 live football matches and three live Test matches. Live cricket will continue through the summer until the final Test against Pakistan in September.

The new content will form part of the Sky Mobile TV service, which offers Vodafone’s 3G customers a wide range of mobile TV channels, including news, sport, entertainment, documentary and music channels (see Sky Signs Vodafone For Mobile TV Service).

Sky’s coverage will be available at no extra charge to existing Sky Mobile TV subscribers, as a bonus add on to its News, Sports and Factual Pack.

Stephen Nuttall, Sky’s director of business development, announced the new service, stating: “Sky Sports is known for being at the forefront of innovation. This collaboration with Vodafone gives fans the flexibility and convenience of watching two major series – a summer of international cricket and the intrigue and excitement of the Football League Playoffs – even when they cannot get to a TV screen.”

Al Russell, head of content for Vodafone live!, added: “We are delighted that we can continue to offer the best in sport to our customers wherever they are. Our hugely successful collaboration with Sky on Mobile TV now extends to a summer of sport bonanza for Vodafone customers, offering a full 90 minutes of football as well as live England cricket coverage.”

Sky: 08702 40 40 40 www.sky.com