UK pay-television broadcaster BT Sport is set to announce a price increase for its subscription rates following its significant investment in football rights, according to the Daily Mail newspaper.
The newspaper said that next week BT will reveal a £5 (€7/$7.5) per month extra cost for subscribers wishing to access its European football plus English Premier League and rugby union coverage. This will include BT’s broadband customers who up to now have received BT Sport content for free.
BT chief executive Gavin Patterson said last month that the telecommunications company’s pay-television broadcaster would add a “small subscription charge” for those customers wishing to access its full package of Uefa Champions League and Europa League football from the 2015-16 season.
In November 2013, BT agreed to pay about £299m per season for the rights for three years, from 2015-16 to 2017-18, dislodging pay-television rival Sky and commercial broadcaster ITV as rights-holders in the UK.
Patterson said that the small subscription charge would be introduced for those wanting to access the entire 350-game package that also includes the Europa League, though some games would be free.
Since its launch in August 2013, BT Sport has been free for the telco’s broadband customers while other viewers pay £13.50 per month.
The Mail added that BT is also expected to announce that super high definition 4K will be rolled out as part of BT Sport’s exclusive Champions League broadcasts.