BSkyB has won a fifth package in the Premier League auction for live broadcast rights for the 2010/11 to 2012/13 seasons. Setanta Sports has been reduced to a single package while ESPN, which had been labeled as a potential winner, walks away empty handed.
The 138 matches available for transmission were divided into six packages of 23 games. BSkyB, restricted to five packages by European Union rules, successfully bid for packages A, B, C, E and F with Setanta retaining package D.
“We are very pleased with this result. It gives us certainty for the future and ensures that we can continue to offer our viewers the best live Premier League football,” said Jeremy Darroch, Sky’s Chief Executive.
Sky will pay a total of £1,623 million for the five packages for the three-year period of the new agreements. Setanta’s contribution brings the total realised from the auction to £1,782 million.
