BT, Sky extend cross-supply content partnership
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Editor
| 31 October 2018

As part of their relationship as programming ‘frenemies’, UK pay-TV rivals BT and Sky have announced a long-term extension and expansion to their previously announced overall content cross-supply deal.

The companies first agreed to work together in December 2017 and as part of the new arrangement, Sky will become BT’s exclusive distribution partner in Ireland. Sky Ireland customers will have their choice of sports on Sky Sports and BT Sport all through a single Sky TV subscription, including 180 Premier League football games, UEFA Champions League, Europa League and Heineken Champions Cup rugby. The partnership will come into effect in time for the 2019/20 Premier League football season.

Sky Sports in Ireland already offers international football such as the UEFA Nations League, US Open, The Open and Ryder Cup golf and exclusive access to GAA All Ireland Championship fixtures. The move will mark the first time that Sky is able to provide BT Sport to its customers directly as part of a Sky bundle or on a standalone basis and across all Sky platforms including Sky Go.

The new working relationship will also see BT TV customers being able to record content from Sky’s NOW TV over-the-top offer, again time for the 2019/20 English Premier League football season as an integrated part of the BT TV platform. BT will continue to act as a sales and billing agent and sell NOW TV on Sky’s behalf, offering BT TV customers in the UK access to NOW TV content including Sky Atlantic, Sky One, Sky Living, all Sky Sports channels and Sky Cinema.

Commenting on the move, Sky UK CEO Stephen van Rooyen said: “With NOW TV at the heart of BT’s TV offering, Sky’s TV entertainment brands will be available to all UK consumers through every major pay-TV service, and we also open up a new revenue stream for our business.”

Added Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer unit: “This extension of our partnership with Sky is great news for our customers, and is part of our commitment to provide our customers with the best service and content available. As part of this deal, Sky customers in Ireland will get access to great BT Sport content, and BT TV customers in the UK will be able to seamlessly watch and record their favourite NOW TV channels.”