15th Nov 2019 10:32
(Alliance News) - BT Group PLC on Friday said it parted with GBP1.2 billion to retain the broadcasting rights for European football's premier club competitions in a three-year deal.
The deal, which begins in 2021 and runs until 2024, ensures that the BT Sport channels remain the home of the UEFA Champions League, the top elite club competition in European football.
The GBP400 million per year deal also will see BT broadcast all matches in the UEFA Europa League, and the UEFA Europa Conference League, the upcoming tertiary competition.
"BT have secured the rights to all 420 games of the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League and the new UEFA Europa Conference League, for a further three seasons. This represents an increase of 77 games from the previous deal, and includes highlights and in-match clips, and commences in 2021," the telecom and media company said.
"BT will pay GBP400 million each year for the rights, and remains in a strong position to monetise this investment through subscriptions, wholesale access, commercial, and advertising revenues."
The company has broadcasted Europe's premier club competitions since 2015, when it secured the UK rights from now-Comcast Corp-owned satellite television giant Sky Ltd.
Chief Executive Marc Allera said: "We're delighted to remain the home of UEFA Champions League in the UK. BT Sport leads the way when it comes to UEFA Champions League coverage, and we're very excited to continue to bring our world class coverage to one of the most exciting football competitions in the world - whether that's broadcasting 12 games simultaneously or delivering industry leading images in 4K ultra high-definition.
"With increasingly more ways to watch our content, with more games on show than ever before, and alongside our excellent line up of other competitions and sports, BT Sport is going from strength to strength."
A "record-breaking" 11.3 million people tuned in to BT coverage of last year's all-English Champions League final which saw footballing giants Liverpool defeat London's Tottenham Hotspur, BT noted
The BT Sport channels were launched in 2013 and aside from the UEFA competitions, it has a share of the broadcasting rights for the Premier League, English football's top-flight competition.
BT shares were 2.0% lower at 191.32 pence each in London on Friday morning.
The UK opposition Labour party on Friday said it intends to bring parts of BT into public ownership under plans it said will result in a massive upgrade in the UK's internet infrastructure.
By Eric Cunha; [email protected]
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