BBC offers on-demand football clips online

by Paul McNally, Brand Republic 20-Jul-07, 10:35

LONDON - The BBC is to provide on-demand football video highlights on its website for the first time, after signing a five-year deal with the Scottish Premier League.

The agreement will see BBC Scotland hold onto the broadcast rights for SPL matches until 2013, with a 30-minute midweek highlights programme on TV, and live radio commentary from matches.

But in a new move, the broadcaster has also secured the rights to show highlights clips from all the matches on bbc.co.uk.

The footage can be viewed on-demand during a seven-day window after the match, and will include goals and other key moments from the games.

Depending on its success, the deal could prompt the BBC to bid for more online rights in other areas of sport.

Ewan Angus, BBC Scotland head of sport, said it was "excellent news" that audiences could continue to enjoy free-to-view Scottish football.

He said: "The online provision of weekly football highlights is a first for the BBC...We are sure it will become increasingly popular as the pace of internet usage accelerates."