Premiership wins lucrative 3G contracts
Premiership bosses have signed a new three-year sponsorship deal with Barclays Bank, worth 57 million pounds.
The Barclaycard Premiership will be renamed the Barclays Premiership.
The existing three-year 48 million pounds deal with Barclaycard expires in 2004.
And the Premiership yesterday closed internet and mobile broadcast contracts worth more than 100 million pounds over three seasons with Vodafone and 3 UK, Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa-backed mobile phone venture.
The mobile phone firms secured the right to show league highlights on customers’ mobile phones from next season.
Gareth Jones, COO of 3 in the UK, said: “3 already offers customers highlights from this season’s Barclaycard Premiership on their video mobiles. Today’s three-season agreement reinforces 3’s position as the home of mobile football.”
Gavin Darby, CEO of Vodafone UK, said: “Sport is inextricably linked with Vodafone through our sponsorships and this deal further strengthens what we can offer. Our bid partnership with 3 has ensured that we were best placed to deliver value for the Premiership clubs.”
Separately, British Sky Broadcasting may be forced by the European Union to lessen its hold and control on live televised Premier League games.
Competition commissioner Mario Monti voiced “serious concerns” over BSkyB’s GBP1.02bn to broadcast matches for the next three years from 2004.
Meanwhile, Sky has won the right to show games online. Sky plans to broadcast 45-90 minute clips from 242 of the 380 matches each season, as well as condensed match highlights from all the games.
