UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport has opened talks with commercial broadcaster ITV over sharing the exclusive live UK rights for the Uefa Champions League and Europa League club football competitions, according to the Daily Telegraph newspaper.
BT Sport last year acquired rights for the three years, from 2015-16 to 2017-18, dislodging rival pay-television broadcaster BSkyB as well as ITV as rights-holders in the UK. At the time, BT Sport said it would show a selection of matches on free-to-air television, including the finals of both tournaments and one match per season of each participating British club.
According to the report, discussions between BT Sport and ITV may result in BT Sport sublicensing a number of Champions League and Europa League matches to ITV.
ITV has broadcast coverage of the Champions League in the UK since its inception in 1992. The broadcaster has retained the rights to highlights of the competition from 2015-16 to 2017-18.
BT Sport and ITV both refused to comment on the discussions.