Sky Sports launches new football channel

UK pay TV operator Sky is set to launch a new channel, called Sky Sports 5, dedicated to European football.

The new channel will be available to Sky Sports subscribers as part of their sports package and will be the seventh Sky Sports channel, joining Sky Sports 1 to 4, Sky Sports F1 and Sky Sports News.

Sky Sports 5 will air up to 600 live European football matches next season, including the European qualifiers for UEFA Euro 2016, UEFA Champions League, La Liga, Coppa Italia and Copa del Rey.

The network will also air live coverage of Holland’s top division Eredivisie – a first for Sky and the product of a new four-year deal, which was also announced today.

“Sky Sports 5 takes our unrivalled live football coverage to the next level offering more European football than ever before.  There’s never been a better time to be a Sky Sports customer and with two years’ free totally unlimited broadband, we offer the ultimate package for sports fans,” said Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis.

Sky TV customers with Sky Sports will be able to register for Sky Sports 5 from this week. As part of a promotion, Sky Sports customers will also get two years’ free Sky Broadband Unlimited worth £7.50 a month.

Sky Sports 5 goes live on August 12, ahead of the next football season. The channel will also be available to Virgin Media customers in both SD and HD.