BT pins hopes on Sky Sports for sub growth

BT is hoping the launch of Sky Sports on its pay-TV platform BT Vision will boost subscriber numbers after poor first-quarter results.

The telco added just 14,000 new subscribers to its hybrid DTT/IPTV service in the three months to the end of June, compared with 31,000 for the same period a year earlier and 68,000 two years ago. The service is struggling to reach the half million subscriber mark, ending June with 481,000 customers.

From tomorrow, customers will be able to subscribe to Sky Sports channels after BT struck a deal with Sky following regulator Ofcom’s decision to force the latter to sell its premium channels at a wholesale price. BT is offering Sky Sports 1 and 2 for £16.99 (€20.80) a month as a package on a month-by-month basis, or £11.99 for each channel individually to customers, renewable on a monthly basis, that sign up for a 12-month BT broadband and BT Vision contract. Customers can also sign up for other sports packages on a 24-month contract, including £6.99 for Sky Sports 1, ESPN and on demand sport from BT Vision or £11.99 for Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2, ESPN and on demand sport.

“In TV we are offering great value premium sports packages and can now compete on a more even playing field,” said CEO Ian Livingston.