EPL signs new £152m broadcast deal

The English Premiership has signed its exclusive broadcast rights from next season to BT in a deal worth up to £152 million officials announced on Wednesday in a move that could have ramifications for European rugby as well. The four-year contract will see satellite channels BSkyB and ESPN, who currently split coverage of matches, replaced by BT Vision as the only platform on which to watch top-flight English club rugby from the 2013/14 season onwards — when the telecoms company will also start broadcasting live English Premier League football matches for the first time. “This is a game-changing agreement and will deliver a service that I know our club supporters will enjoy,” said Mark McCafferty, chief executive of Premiership Rugby, the umbrella body for England’s 12 top-flight clubs.