BT Sport could ditch their rights to show live Premier League matches as raised subscriptions mean they have lost ‘thousands’ of viewers


BT SPORT are planning to ditch rights to show live Premier League football after a dramatic loss of subscribers.

Raised prices for subscriptions are believed to be the main reason why the TV giants are thought to have lost “thousands” of viewers.

BT Sport’s increased subscription costs mean they are losing viewers
PA:Press Association

BT Sport forked out a staggering £960million in 2015 to secure rights to show Premier League football.

They also paid £1.2bn to show exclusive Champions League broadcast rights for three years from 2018.

But the company’s chief executive Gavin Patterson revealed that BT have a Plan B after negotiations have begun over the latest football rights.

Reported by the Daily Mail, when asked if BT Sport could survive without Premier League matches, Patterson responded: “Yes, absolutely. I don’t want in any way to diminish the importance of the Premier League of course, but it is just one of a broad set of rights.

BT Sport could scrap plans to show live Premier League football
PA:Press Association
BT Sport chief executive Gavin Patterson admitted the company have a ‘Plan B’ if they can’t agree on a deal
Reuters

“We will be competitive but ultimately won’t go beyond the price it is worth to us. We have a Plan B.”

BT Sport also had rights to show the Ashes in Australia.

Subscription costs have continued to rise over the years and the cheapest package now stands at £28 a month.


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Premier League bosses are hoping to raise up to £7bn when negotiations draw to an end this month.

They raised a staggering £5.14bn following an auction in 2015 to show 168 matches per season.


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