MUMBAI: After snapping up the lucrative English Premier League (EPL) broadcast rights in UK, BSkyB and BT have been awarded seven packages of live audio-visual rights for transmission in Ireland for three years till 2016.

The seven packages ? five of 26 matches and two of 12 matches ? totalling 154 matches were awarded on the following basis:

a) BSkyB has secured packages B, C, D, E and F, totalling 116 matches

b) BT has secured packages A and G, totalling 38 matches.

"We are extremely pleased that BSkyB and BT have invested in our live rights in the Republic of Ireland," said Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore. "We look forward to working with them and are confident they will broadcast the Barclays Premier League in a comprehensive and innovative manner that will showcase the competition to our many fans across Ireland."

Sky Sports MD Barney Francis said, "These rights mean that Sky Sports remains the home of the Barclays Premier League in Ireland. With more live matches than ever before, our Irish viewers can enjoy an unrivalled choice of the biggest and best games across Saturday evenings, Sunday afternoons and Monday nights.

"Sky Sports Irish viewers can enjoy Premier League football in HD, 3D and online as well as across mobile and tablet devices. Combined with our already unrivalled portfolio of sports, there has never been a better time to subscribe to Sky Sports in Ireland."

BT Chief Executive of TV Marc Watson said, "We are delighted that we?ll be able to offer viewers in the Republic of Ireland the same fantastic live games from the Barclays English Premier League that we?ll be offering in the UK. We?ve secured 38 live matches and 18 of them are the ?first pick? top-quality matches."

MUMBAI: The Premier League has awarded exclusive audio visual broadcast rights for Italy to Pitch International.

The three-year deal covers all 380 Barclays Premier League matches per season in Italy. The Premier League is broadcast on Sky Sport in Italy.

Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore said, "We are extremely pleased that Pitch International has chosen to invest in our broadcast rights in Italy. We are confident that they will distribute all the best Barclays Premier League action in a comprehensive and innovative manner to our fans in Italy."

Pitch International MD Jonathan Rogers said, "We are delighted to be appointed as the Premier League?s licensee in such an important football territory as Italy. It is widely acknowledged how important Premier League rights are to broadcasters worldwide and for Pitch to open its account with the Premier League and add it to its growing roster of major clients is another step forward in the company?s growth."

MUMBAI: The Premier League has announced that Canal+ has been awarded broadcast rights for all 380 Barclays Premier League matches a season till 2016 in France.

Premier League CEO Richard Scudamore said, "We are extremely pleased Canal+ has chosen to invest yet again in our broadcast rights. They are a long-term partner of the Premier League and have a track record of delivering fantastic coverage of the competition. It is the world?s most admired football competition. I am sure they will continue to provide our French fans with all the best Barclays Premier League action across a number of media platforms."

Canal+ Group DG Rodolphe Belmer said, "We are extremely proud and satisfied, in a very competitive environment, to have renewed our long-term partnership with the Premier League. It is the world?s most admired football competition and much appreciated by our subscribers."

MUMBAI: The Premier League said it has awarded Super Sports Media Group the exclusive live audio visual broadcast rights for all 380 English Premier League matches per season for seasons 2013/14-2018/19 in mainland China and Macau.

"We have worked with Super Sports Media Group for the last two years and are extremely pleased to extend our partnership until 2019," said Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore.

Super Sports Media Group board member Jianguang Li said: "The Premier League has developed a profound understanding of the sports broadcasting market in China and we are very pleased to have formed this long-term partnership with them. This agreement demonstrates the Premier League?s strong commitment towards China and Chinese football fans. It will further increase the Premier League?s profile in China and give them the opportunity to make it one of their fastest growing markets."

Recently, the Premier League has awarded rights to NBC Sports Group in USA, Sportsnet & TSN in Canada, International Media Content Ltd. (IMC) in Caribbean, SuperSport in South Africa, Nigeria, and Sub-Saharan Africa and BSkyB and BT in UK.

MUMBAI: The broadcast rights of the lucrative Premier League championship for the local UK market are up for grabs with the availability of Invitati on to Tender (ITT) spanning seasons 2013 through to 2016.

The broadcast rights comprises two packages: live rights to a total of 154 matches - split into seven packages; and a free-to-air highlights package - including ?catch-up? rights.

The live rights consist of five packages of 26 matches and two packages of 12 matches with no single buyer allowed to acquire more than 116 matches.

The extra 16 live games comes as matches are moved away from Saturday 15:00 kick-off times, due to Europa League involvement or police advice. No 15:00 kick-offs can be shown live.

?This creates a more attractive and compelling offering for both broadcasters and fans; whilst allowing the continued protection of the Saturday 3 pm ?closed window? and minimising further displacement of Premier League fixtures,? the statement read.

Under the existing contract 138 games are telecast with 115 matches being broadcast on Sky Sports each season, while ESPN shows the remaining 23 games. The current agreements with Sky and ESPN are worth ?1.78 billion effective 2013.

The Premier League will conduct a separate sales process for other packages described in the ITT which includes two "Near Live" long form packages each containing 226 matches; one for linear and the other for on-demand exploitation; and an Internet-based Clips package for all 380 matches.

Both the Live and "Near Live" packages will be available for exploitation on a technology neutral basis, the statement said.

Qatari-based Al Jazeera, which had recently ventured into sports broadcasting segment with the launch of its channel beIN Sports in France, is widely expected to bid aggressively for the rights as part of its ambitions to become a global player.

Eurosport, however, suggested last week that these rumours might just be a good marketing ploy by the Premier League.

Meanwhile, Al Jazeera has reportedly announced the launch of its new sport channel, beIN Sports, in the USA this August. It will cover La Liga from Spain, Serie A from Italy and of Ligue 1 from France.

?Backed by the resources of Qatar Media Corporation and the global expertise of Mediapro, beIN Sports will provide soccer fanatics in the USA with an experience that is unmatched by any rival,? the company claims.