News Group secures deal with Sky to provide Premiership clips

by Sarah Woods, Brand Republic 13-Jul-06, 09:00

LONDON - The Sun and the News of the World are to offer mobile phone highlights of all Premiership games to readers as part of a three-year deal between News Group Newspapers and sister company Sky Sports.

The deal follows the news that Sky has secured the final package of Premiership League football rights to show highlights of games on mobile phones, beating a collaborative bid from the UK's five mobile phone networks, including 3 and Vodafone.

Currently, rights for highlights of Premier League matches are held by 3 and Vodafone as part of an exclusive three--year deal, which also allows Sky to broadcast highlights online.

Under the new deal, News Group will be able to provide clips from several live matches while the games are in progress.

The football footage will be available to mobile phone users from the beginning of the 2007/8 season.

Mike Anderson, managing director of News Group, said: "This is a great step forward for The Sun and News of the World. It shows how these two newspapers are expanding onto different platforms to reach new and existing consumers with attractive content."

News Group is part of Rupert Murdoch's News International, which also publishes The Times. Murdoch owns 38% of BSkyB, which is headed by his son James Murdoch as chief execuitve.

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