LONDON: The latest tech-twisted trick to increase the Premier League’s record revenues had generated £20m for a three-year highlights deal with News International.
This will allow internet and mobile versions of The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times to show clips from live games.
In a double whammy BSkyB – which is 39.1pc owned by News Corp, owner of News International – has secured extended TV highlights rights to go with its live Premier matches.
Previously, the Premier League sold the two digital packages separately. Yahoo! owned internet rights and ESPN mobile rights.
The new deal means News International titles will be able to present up to eight 30-second clips of key moments during live matches via mobile devices – except for games played on Saturday at 3pm, which will be allowed to be shown from 5.15pm that day.
‘Rich heritage’
Clips of up to 60 seconds from each game will also be available from Monday mornings for a week after matchday via the papers’ respective digital platforms.
Mike Darcey, chief executive of News International, hailed a “major breakthrough.” He said: “This allows us to combine our rich heritage with cutting edge technology to transform the experience we are offering our subscribers.”
BSkyB, which has already secured the majority of live TV rights, has added the extended highlights rights to all 226 games not shown on live television.
The satellite broadcaster shares Premier League TV highlights rights with the BBC, which secured a new deal for Match of the Day coverage last year.
Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, said: “We’ll give fans the first chance to see extended highlights of all the matches every Saturday as well as the key moments throughout the week.”
BT, which has secured TV rights to 38 Premier League games a season, is in pole position for extended highlights from the 226 matches not aired on live TV.
Current deal
Last May the BBC struck a £180m deal to secure Premier League TV highlights for its Match of the Day programming.
The rights to Premier League radio rights are yet to be auctioned. Under the current deal BBC Radio Five Live has the lion’s share of UKradio rights but TalkSport and Absolute Radio command other packages.
Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: “We are extremely pleased with this exciting development that sees News International, traditionally a newspaper publishing organisation, move further into the digital media space through the acquisition of ourUKnear-live clip rights.
“In a world in which all forms of media are looking at their digital offerings, and given the extensive coverage that News International publications give to the Barclays Premier League, we believe this partnership will see football fans able to consume the best Premier League action in innovative ways.”
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