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BT offers free Premier League football in BSkyB battle | BT offers free Premier League football in BSkyB battle |
(about 2 hours later) | |
BT is to offer free Premier League football coverage to its broadband customers, the telecoms company says. | |
The announcement is a signal of BT's intent to challenge BSkyB's dominance of the UK's sports pay-TV market. | |
BT won a three-year deal to show 38 Premier League games a season, beginning this year. | |
BT has 6.3 million broadband customers, but just 750,000 pay-TV customers, compared with Sky's 10 million subscribers. | |
BSkyB's shares fell nearly 6% after BT unveiled its plans. | |
BT's move is an attempt to establish itself as a major multi-platform provider, offering TV, internet and telephone in one package. | |
It will provide all of its 38 Premier League games free to broadband customers, including 18 "first pick" matches, on three channels: BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN. | |
'Fans the winners' | |
Broadband packages on BT will cost from £10 a month. | |
But customers who want to access the sports channels will also need to pay for a set top box, or pay an extra £5 per month for the basic television package. | |
That compares with Sky's offer of 116 Premier League matches, as part of a six-channel sports package that costs £42.50 per month for the first six months, and includes broadband internet. | |
BT Sport's channels will also show 69 live Aviva Premiership rugby matches per season, plus live football from leagues in Germany, France, Italy and Brazil. | BT Sport's channels will also show 69 live Aviva Premiership rugby matches per season, plus live football from leagues in Germany, France, Italy and Brazil. |
Chief executive Ian Livingston said: "UK sports fans have had a rough deal for too long. Many have been priced out of the market, but we will change this by giving away BT Sport for free with our broadband. | Chief executive Ian Livingston said: "UK sports fans have had a rough deal for too long. Many have been priced out of the market, but we will change this by giving away BT Sport for free with our broadband. |
"Sports fans are the winners today." | "Sports fans are the winners today." |
BSkyB dominates the pay-TV market with about 10 million customers, but lags behind BT with 4.3 million broadband customers. | |
BT Sport is also taking on BSkyB in pubs and clubs, with an offer of 12 months' subscription for the price of nine, and a free installation offer lasting until 1 July. | |
About half the premises taking up the offer will end up paying £135 a month, BT said, while packages for hotels and betting shops could undercut Sky by 75%. | |