BT launches new Sky TV packages

BT has announced it will has launched a new satellite package allowing customers to subscribe for Sky sports channels.

BT said the new packages would be available from Today, in time for the Premier League season beginning on 14 August.

BT customers can subscribe to both Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 for £16.99 a month, or just one of the channels for £11.99, available on rolling month-by-month contracts.

BT and Sky signed a deal earlier this week giving permission for BT Vision customers to watch the two sports channels.

BT has also revealed it will be offering discounted prices to customers willling to sign up to other services, such as broadband and telephone, for a minimum of two years, giving sport fanatics the opportunity to pay just £6.99 a month for Sky Sports 1, or £11.99 for both sports channels.

Gavin Patterson, BT Retail's chief executive said: "We expect that entry prices a low as £6.99 will welcome in a huge number of extra customers who'd love to enjoy these channels, but thought they were too expensive."

Legal Issues

Earlier this year, Ofcom forced Sky to cut the price it charged rivals to show its premium sports channels,  ruling it must offer Sky Sports 1 and 2 for £10.63 a month each to rival broadcasters, or just £17.14 if sold together.

Sky appealed against the ruling, and BT said it would be following suit.

"We think the wholesale price is too high and we'll be challenging that through the legal process," Mr Patterson told the BBC.

Ofcom's ruling came after a 3 year inquiry following BT, Virgin and Top Up TV's expressed concerns over the dominance of Sky in the pay-TV industry.

Sky is estimated to control 85% of the market.

Written by Sam Gooch