Digital probe sparks row over broadband as Sky and Talk-Talk press Ofcom to break up BT and Openreach March 12, 2015 A battle between the UK’s largest telecommunications businesses intensified yesterday, as Sky and Talk-Talk pounced on a decision by the regulator to launch a wide-ranging probe into the sector. Both firms ramped up pressure on Ofcom to break up BT from the part of its business – called BT Openreach – that runs the UK’s broadband [...]
Sky share price reaches 15-year high of 1,005p on pan-European status February 25, 2015 Despite more cost pressure than ever on European pay TV broadcaster Sky, its shares touched a new high yesterday as investors remained optimistic about the group’s future. Shares rose 3.18 per cent to 1,005p on the London Stock Exchange, even as Sky prepares to swallow a huge £4.2bn bill to hold on to its Premier [...]
Sky Sports wins US Major League Soccer TV broadcast rights February 24, 2015 Sky Sports will today announce it has added exclusive TV broadcast rights of live US Major League Soccer (MLS) in the UK, from March. The four-year deal to show at least two games a week comes as Sky prepares to swallow its huge £4.2bn bid to hold on to an improved package of Premier League football [...]
Sky hopes that huge Premier League TV football deal will score with fans – Brand Index February 17, 2015 Sky Sports was clearly in no mood to relinquish to BT Sport the right to broadcast Premier League matches between 2016-19, despite having to shell out the bulk of the £5bn needed to secure those rights. There has been some dissent, with some ex-players calling the amount of money involved obscene. Commentators have asserted that [...]
Premier League TV deal: An economics professor on why lowering ticket prices and redistributing the wealth could backfire February 12, 2015 With £5.14bn heading the Premier League’s way thanks to Sky and BT’s record domestic TV rights deal, public pressure is being placed on the organisation to share the wealth and relinquish the financial burden on match-going fans. The Football Supporters’ Federation has called upon the league to implement a £20 limit on away [...]
Premier League comes under further fire for TV rights auction February 11, 2015 The auction process used by the Premier League to sell TV rights to Sky and BT for a whopping £5.1bn came under criticism yesterday for the second time in a matter of days. The deal was reached under a blind auction, with an unknown number of rounds and bidders. Virgin Media chief executive Tom Mockridge [...]
Manchester United share price soars following record Premier League TV deal February 11, 2015 The record £5.14bn Premier League TV deal is still a season and a half away from kicking in, but some clubs are already feeling the benefits. Manchester United’s share price rose on the New York Stock Exchange yesterday, rising by almost five per cent to a price of $17.03 per share. The [...]
Five things you could buy for the same price as the Premier League TV rights: 325 Balotellis, 2.2m travelcards, 65m Apple shares and more February 11, 2015 Buying up the rights to broadcast Premier League matches to avid football fans across the UK doesn't come cheap. At a total of £5.2bn, a record price paid by Sky and BT, that’s some serious spending power. Here’s what else that sort of cash could be splashed on. 1. 2.2m travelcards How about buying [...]
Sky share price falls on massive Premier League TV rights spend while BT rises February 11, 2015 Shares in Sky fell as much as five per cent in early trading this morning, leading the FTSE lower, after it agreed to fork out £4.2bn on the TV rights for Premier League football games. The broadcaster paid 83 per cent more for the rights to screen 126 football games each season from 2016 to 2019 [...]
Sky high bids top £5bn for Premier League TV football rights February 10, 2015 Sky footed a huge £4.2bn bill last night in order to maintain its grip on Premier League football. The media giant will show 126 Premier League football matches per season from 2016 to 2019. It will pay over £11m for each game. The bill is an eye-watering 83 per cent increase over Sky’s existing three-year [...]