BT Sport Scores Exclusive UEFA Rights

LONDON: BT Sport has been awarded the rights to become the new U.K. home of UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League football.

BT won the exclusive live broadcast rights for all 350 matches from both tournaments, covering three seasons, starting from 2015-16. BT agreed to pay around £900 million ($1.4 billion) a season for the rights.

This marks the first time that a single U.K. broadcaster has secured the exclusive live rights for all matches from both tournaments.

BT Sport has pledged to make its new matches more accessible and affordable for fans. It will show a selection of these new matches for free on BT Sport, even to homes that have not signed up to the channels.

Gavin Patterson, BT chief executive, said: "I am thrilled that BT Sport will be the only place where fans can enjoy all the live action from the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League. Both tournaments are world class and firm favourites with many. The live rights will give a major boost to BT Sport and give people yet another reason to take our terrific service.

"BT Sport has got off to a strong start with customers enjoying what we have to offer. We have attracted millions of customers by giving sport back to the fans, and we can assure people who want to catch all the action, that European football will be far more accessible and affordable with BT.”

Guy-Laurent Epstein, UEFA's events SA marketing director, said: “UEFA is delighted to welcome newcomer BT Sport to the family of UEFA Champions League rights holders. Since its launch in the summer, BT Sport has been UEFA’s partner for the UEFA Europa League and has demonstrated its ability to deliver premium sports coverage. We look forward to working with BT Sport on both competitions in the 2015-18 rights cycle.”