Sky Sports Wins Champions League Web, Mobile Rights

BSkyB (NYSE: BSY) won the rights to show Champions League matches on internet and mobile until 2012, along with the majority of TV matches (release). The network coughed up a reported £240 million for all but one game per group stage – due to be shown on Sky Sports 1, 2, 3, Sky Sports Xtra and three HD channels. Online, matches will be shows on SkySports.com, an on mobile via Sky Mobile TV. Why buy up virtually the entire tournament, when sometimes multiple matches take place simultaneously? It’s all about scale and new distribution channels. Sky Sports MD Vic Wakeling (via Guardian): “We have used digital technology over the last five seasons to offer a menu of live games. It has worked superbly and given viewers choice; they can decide which game to watch and they appreciate that.”