Mark Sweney 

Premier League agrees highlights deal with News International

Digital versions of Sun, Times and Sunday Times to show clips of key moments of live games following £20m deal. By Mark Sweney
  
  

Football News International
News International has secured a deal to show Premier League highlights on mobile and internet versions of the Sun, Times and Sunday Times. Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

News International has secured a deal to show Premier League football highlights on mobile and internet versions of the Sun, Times and Sunday Times.

BSkyB has also secured extended Premier League TV highlights rights to go with its live matches. BSkyB is 39.1% owned by News Corp, owner of News International.

News International has reached a three-year deal with the Premier League to show highlight clips on the internet and mobile devices from August.

The deal is worth more than £20m, according to a source with knowledge of the bidding process.

Previously, the Premier League sold the two digital packages separately, under the last deal Yahoo! owned internet and ESPN mobile rights.

Under the deal, News International titles will be able to present up to eight 30-second clips of key moments during live matches via mobile devices – except for games played on Saturday at 3pm, which will be allowed to be shown from 5.15pm that day.

Clips of up to 60 seconds from each game will also be available from Monday mornings for a week after matchday via the papers' respective digital platforms.

"This is a major breakthrough for the company, allowing us to combine our rich heritage with cutting edge technology to transform the experience we are offering our subscribers," said Mike Darcey, News International chief executive.

BSkyB, which has already secured the lion's share of the live TV rights to Premier League matches, has added the extended highlights rights to all 226 games not shown on live television.

The satellite broadcaster shares Premier League TV highlights rights with the BBC, which secured a new deal for Match of the Day coverage last year.

"We'll give fans the first chance to see extended highlights of all the matches every Saturday, as well as the key moments throughout the week," said Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports. "Add these rights to our 116 live matches from next season … and Sky Sports truly remains the home of the Barclays Premier League."

It is understood that BT, which secured the TV rights to 38 Premier League games a season, is looking at a deal for the on-demand rights for the extended highlights of the 226 matches not aired on live TV.

In May last year, the BBC struck a £180m deal to secure Premier League TV highlights for its Match of the Day programming.

The rights to Premier League radio rights are yet to be auctioned. Under the current deal BBC Radio Five Live has the lion's share of UK radio rights, but has had its dominance eroded with TalkSport and Absolute Radio snapping up packages.

Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: "We are extremely pleased with this exciting development that sees News International, traditionally a newspaper publishing organisation, move further into the digital media space through the acquisition of our UK near-live clip rights.

"In a world in which all forms of media are looking at their digital offerings, and given the extensive coverage that News International publications give to the Barclays Premier League, we believe this partnership will see football fans able to consume the best Premier League action in innovative ways."

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