Champions League TV deal in focus

[grigor]

The football and broadcast worlds are still digesting the impact of BT Sport's decision to pay close to £900m for the exclusive broadcast rights to Champions League and Europa League football matches.

The broadcaster has won the rights to show all 350 fixtures each season, for three years from 2015.

The new contract, priced at £299m a season, is worth more than double the current arrangement, and could mean significantly more money for UK clubs in the two European competitions.

But what does it mean for the sporting and business ambitions of BT Sport, as well as Sky and ITV, the current rights holders?

Here Kevin McCullagh, deputy editor of industry publication TV Sports Markets, offers his opinion on where it has left the three broadcast players.