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| Premier League opens TV rights bidding process | Premier League opens TV rights bidding process |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Premier League has opened bidding for the next tranche of television rights, for live games and highlights, from season 2016-17 to 2018-19. | The Premier League has opened bidding for the next tranche of television rights, for live games and highlights, from season 2016-17 to 2018-19. |
| There will be 168 live matches up for grabs - up from the current 154 matches, split into seven packages. | There will be 168 live matches up for grabs - up from the current 154 matches, split into seven packages. |
| No single bidder will be allowed to acquire more than 126 matches. | No single bidder will be allowed to acquire more than 126 matches. |
| The current live rights are shared by Sky with 116 games, and BT with 38, and the pair - in a battle for sports fans - are sure to be among the bidders. | The current live rights are shared by Sky with 116 games, and BT with 38, and the pair - in a battle for sports fans - are sure to be among the bidders. |
| It is understood the new packages will offer broadcasters a small number of games on Friday nights. | |
| In 2012 Sky and BT forked out £3.018bn for the rights, an increase of £1.25bn - or 77% - on the previous deals. | |
| The Premier League said the new rights sale would see the continued protection of the Saturday 3pm "closed period", whereby no games can be shown live on TV at that time. | The Premier League said the new rights sale would see the continued protection of the Saturday 3pm "closed period", whereby no games can be shown live on TV at that time. |
| The purpose of the blackout is to encourage attendances and participation at all levels of football at the traditional kick-off time. | The purpose of the blackout is to encourage attendances and participation at all levels of football at the traditional kick-off time. |
| However, an ongoing competition probe by Ofcom, following a complaint by Virgin Media, is canvassing the views of fan groups as well as television consumers, media groups, and the football authorities, on this issue. | However, an ongoing competition probe by Ofcom, following a complaint by Virgin Media, is canvassing the views of fan groups as well as television consumers, media groups, and the football authorities, on this issue. |
| Analysis: Richard Conway, BBC Radio 5 live sports news | Analysis: Richard Conway, BBC Radio 5 live sports news |
| This invitation to tender fires the starting pistol on the race to secure some of the most highly prized TV rights in sport. The last deal secured a blockbusting £3bn from Sky and BT, along with a further £2bn from overseas broadcasters. | This invitation to tender fires the starting pistol on the race to secure some of the most highly prized TV rights in sport. The last deal secured a blockbusting £3bn from Sky and BT, along with a further £2bn from overseas broadcasters. |
| Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore will want to sustain those phenomenal numbers. To help achieve that it's understood broadcasters will be offered a small number of games on Friday nights. | Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore will want to sustain those phenomenal numbers. To help achieve that it's understood broadcasters will be offered a small number of games on Friday nights. |
| The football calendar only permits a handful of matches on Fridays but it's thought the opening weekend of the 2016 season, when the new deal begins, could be one of them. | The football calendar only permits a handful of matches on Fridays but it's thought the opening weekend of the 2016 season, when the new deal begins, could be one of them. |
| The move is likely to come as a disappointment to football traditionalists and fan groups who feel timeslots are not picked with those who attend games in mind. The small number of Friday night games would be drawn from one of the existing rights packages. | The move is likely to come as a disappointment to football traditionalists and fan groups who feel timeslots are not picked with those who attend games in mind. The small number of Friday night games would be drawn from one of the existing rights packages. |
| Virgin had complained that a lower proportion of matches (41%) is shown on TV in England compared with other major European markets, and that as a result fans were having to pay more for their product. | Virgin had complained that a lower proportion of matches (41%) is shown on TV in England compared with other major European markets, and that as a result fans were having to pay more for their product. |
| The new arrangement means that 44% of Premier League games will be available live from 2016. | The new arrangement means that 44% of Premier League games will be available live from 2016. |
| No TV firm will be able to show more than five packages, or a total of 126 matches. This means that at least two packages and 42 games will be available to a second broadcaster. | No TV firm will be able to show more than five packages, or a total of 126 matches. This means that at least two packages and 42 games will be available to a second broadcaster. |
| A separate sales process will take place later for two other - on-demand and internet clips - packages. | A separate sales process will take place later for two other - on-demand and internet clips - packages. |
| Premier League TV rights have soared in price since Sky paid £304m in a five-year deal in 1992. | Premier League TV rights have soared in price since Sky paid £304m in a five-year deal in 1992. |
| The BBC has held the rights to the Premier League highlights package since 2004, although media reports suggest that ITV is set to launch a challenge this time round. | The BBC has held the rights to the Premier League highlights package since 2004, although media reports suggest that ITV is set to launch a challenge this time round. |
| The tender process for both the highlights and live rights is set to be completed within four months, with a decision in March. | The tender process for both the highlights and live rights is set to be completed within four months, with a decision in March. |