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."