Sky will now be able to sell the BT Sports channels directly to its customers as part of a deal that gives BT TV customers access to NOW TV.
The multi-year deal means BT customers can now sign up for Sky channels including Sky Sports and Sky Atlantic. The full NOW TV service is being made available on BT TV’s set top box and BT will be able to sell subscriptions to NOW TV’s great passes directly to BT customers.
Jeremy Darroch, Group CEO, Sky, said: “This is great news for Sky customers who will be able to access all matches on Sky and BT channels from the Premier League, UEFA Champions League and Europa League directly with a single Sky TV subscription and with the great customer service that we provide.”
The agreement brings to a successful conclusion negotiations that have been on and off for a number of years. However, customers will have to wait until 2019 before enjoying the benefits.
Gavin Patterson, chief executive of BT, said: “This is an important day for BT and for our customers, who will be able to enjoy a whole range of Sky’s sport and entertainment programming on their BT TV boxes.
“This is the next logical step for our TV and content strategy. Having built up an outstanding portfolio of exclusive sports rights and a loyal base of customers, we feel that now is the right time to broaden the ways in which we distribute BT Sport.”
BT Sport has close to five million viewers on BT TV, Virgin TV and through the existing agreement with Sky.
Currently, BT TV customers can only buy Sky Sports Main Event as a bolt-on to their TV service for £27.50 per month, and are not able to choose from the full range of Sky Sports channels.
