BSkyB to battle with rivals over Premier League rights

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The UK based Satellite TV BSkyB could be about to lock horns rivals broadcasters over rights to show coverage of Premier League Football matches.

A new media rights contract is due next year by the Premier League after pressure from the European Commission (EC) to make sure there will be more than one buyer of rights to live games. BSkyB has built its pay-TV around the acquisition of sports coverage rights and paid £1.02bn for its current three-year contract. However, Irish TV group Setanta, and a cooperation of ITV, cable service providers NTL and Telewest are to make a bid for the live television rights

That contract, which was split into four packages, was won because BSkyB outbid other broadcasters, but now rival Setanta is reported to be keen to strengthen its portfolio of sports rights. Setanta secured control of North American Sports Network, which broadcasts baseball, NFL football and basketball outside of the US. Setanta currently broadcasts Scottish Premier League games and is planning to launch a European sports channel in the US.