Premiere League gives more rights to Sky

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The Premier League has awarded BSkyB further matches as part of an internet, TV and mobile package. The deal, believed to be worth up to E150m, comprises near-live and internet rights to more than 242 games – not already covered by its previous E1.4 billion deal. Separate rights packages have been sold to mobile phone companies 3 UK, the Hutchison Whampoa mobile phone venture, and Vodafone. The operators won the rights to show video highlights over mobile phones. The move could trigger fresh concern in Brussels. Last week Competition Commissioner Mario Monti, said that: "The announcements made by the Premier League suggest that BSkyB will have an even greater monopoly over live TV rights than was the case in the past. This is bad for competition on broadcasting markets and is bad for consumers."
Under its live deal, BSkyB can also show two live games on a Saturday, one on a Sunday afternoon and one on Monday evening. Sky is likely to package the games into a new interactive TV service that will allow fans to follow their team throughout the season. The pay-TV giant has also picked up the rights to show games in full on the web.