Sky Sports Announces Retention of La Liga Broadcast Rights for Next 3 Seasons
Sky Sports will continue to show live coverage of La Liga for the next three seasons, as the broadcaster announced a new deal with the Spanish top flight on itsย official Twitter feed.
On an accompanying article on itsย website, Sky claimed โThe deal strengthens Skyโs position as the first choice for sport across the UK and Ireland and ensures La Liga remains a key part of an unrivalled schedule of live football.โ
As noted by Adam Shergold of the MailOnline, BT Sport was expected to rival Sky for its coverage of the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. But despite the Spanish football league taking the bidding to a second round on the back of BTโs interest and although it looked likely to secure the rights at one stage, Sky has clung on.
As mentioned in Shergoldโs piece, BT Sport has already wrestled coverage of the Champions League off Sky in a three-year deal worth a staggering ยฃ897 million.
Spanish football writer Lee Roden doesnโt think Skyโs coverage of Spainโs top flight could have been bettered anyway:
The aforementioned article from Sky noted that viewers will have access to over 100 matches throughout the La Liga season, as well as the final of the Copa del Rey. This latest deal will see Skyโs coverage of La Liga run into its 20th year and during those two decades the broadcaster has put together a slick product for fans of Spainโs top flight.
After relinquishing the rights to show the biggest club competition in the world, Sky's permission to show a league containing the world's two most recognisable players and most prestigious teams is imperative. With BT Sport on the march to make itself the home of live football, those at Sky will breathe a huge sigh of relief that theyโve managed to get this deal over the line.
