Sky Sports scores extended La Liga deal
August 5, 2015
Despite weekend suggestions that rival pay-TV provider BT TV had been successful in wresting the rights, Sky Sports will remain the home of La Liga for another three seasons.
Sky says the deal strengthens its position as the first choice for sport across the UK and Ireland and ensures La Liga remains a key part of what it describes as an “unrivalled” schedule of live football.
Sky Sports viewers will be able to follow Real Madrid, Barcelona and the stars of Spanish football as part of a schedule of over 100 live La Liga matches a season, including the ‘El Classico’ fixtures. The deal also includes the Final of the Copa del Rey, won last season by Barcelona.
The agreement extends the partnership between Sky Sports and La Liga into its 20th year and helps ensure viewers can enjoy a choice of sport across seven dedicated sports channels and Sky’s award winning digital services.
The La Liga deal is part of 36 new rights agreements in the last 18 months. From 2016, Sky Sports will be bringing customers even more Premier League football plus The Open golf from 2017, as well international and domestic cricket from the ECB and a new five-year partnership with the RFU.
Sky Sports’ football schedule includes 116 matches from the Premier League, 127 matches from the Football League, Capital One Cup, UEFA Euro 2016 and FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifiers, Scottish Football League and Scottish Cup, America’s MLS and Eredivisie.
Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, described the deal as “fantastic news for Sky Sports” which strengthened its position as the first choice of sport in the UK and Ireland. “The agreement means our viewers can enjoy the likes of Ronaldo, Messi, Bale and Neymar week in week out throughout the football season. Add to that the ‘El Classico’ clash between Real Madrid and Barcelona in the league and Sky Sports viewers are sure to see some of the best football moments throughout the season. We’re proud to take our partnership with La Liga into its 20th year and remain the home of Spanish football for another three years,” he declared.
Describing Sky Sports as the leading sports broadcaster for the UK and Ireland, Javier Tebas, president of La Liga, said the league was delighted to continue its partnership for another three years. “La Liga has a huge global fan base and by renewing with Sky Sports, the agreement provides us with the best possible way to showcase our league, our teams and our players to our UK and Irish audience,” he stated.
La Liga will be available to Sky Sports subscribers wherever they are on mobile, laptop and selected tablets via Sky Go. Non-subscribers can also see matches without a contract through online streaming service NOW TV.