How are Premier League television rights allocated?

With Setanta Sports seemingly fighting a losing battle against the economic downturn, what does all this mean for the distribution of UK Premier League live TV rights in the coming seasons?

Currently, the live television rights to the Barclays Premier League are divided into six packages, each consisting of 23 live matches. Thus, a total of 138 league games will be broadcast live on UK television each season.

For the upcoming 2009-10 season, BSkyB owns the rights to four of the six available packages, which means that the British network will show 92 matches live next season.

The distribution of live television rights to the Premier League:

2009-10 season

– BSkyB will show 92 EPL matches live

– New ESPN channel will show 46 games live

From the 2010-11 season to 2013

– BSkyB will show 115 EPL matches live

– New ESPN channel will show remaining 23 games live

The remaining two 46-game packages, which Setanta was forced to hand over after failing to raise the cash, were purchased this week by Disney-owned US broadcaster ESPN.

ESPN, which currently broadcasts two channels on UK satellite television, is expected to announce the launch of a new channel to broadcast the recently purchased live matches, which consumers will be able to purchase in addition to their existing Sky TV subscription.

The US media company is also expected to look to stream its new channel on other television platforms such as Virgin Media.

But after the conclusion of the 2009-10 season, Sky will tighten its grip on live games after it emerged the company has already won an auction for another 23-match package, raising the total number of live games on Sky. to 115. Meanwhile, ESPN will show the remaining 23 games on its brand new channel from 2010-11.

Finally, while it could be assumed that Setanta’s disappearance favors Sky, it could in fact be bad news for Rupert Murdoch’s company. Industry regulators mandate that there must be a direct competitor to Sky, as no one broadcaster can own all six packages.

This deal was agreed in 2005 with the European Commission, when it was ruled that the television rights to the Premier League must be divided between more than one broadcaster.