Sky wins Champions League TV rights

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BSkyB won the race for most of UEFA's Champions League rights in the United Kingdom for a reported GBP 240 million, but the auction for the rights to the first choice of the eight Wednesday night games are still up for grabs in a tender to be decided later this week.

The broadcaster has the majority of the Champions League rights from 2009-2012. Sky won those rights after one round of bidding, and lands exclusive live match rights for almost the entire tournament. exclusive coverage of all live matches and highlights on a Tuesday and all games on a Wednesday with the exception of the first-choice fixture.

BSkyB's package also includes simultaneous coverage of the UEFA Champions League final and UEFA Super Cup, comprehensive highlights, delayed match coverage and magazine programmes.

Sky Sports 1, 2 and 3, Sky Sports Xtra and Sky Sports HD1, HD2 and HD3 will continue to show live games. There will be streaming video on Sky Sports 1, 2, 3 and Sky Sports News on the on the network's internet and mobile sites.

UEFA claimed it had received a number of offers, and has invited participants back for a second round.

This is likely to net UEFA even more money, with terrestrial broadcasters BBC and ITV competing against each other for the package. The BBC is reported to be prepared to spend big to win the package.

"We have secured an excellent rights package at a price which we believe reflects their value to our customers and which recognises the attractiveness of this competition to this business," said Jeremy Darroch, chief executive of Sky.