Final Premier League domestic sales begin

The packages, covering the three-year period from 2010-11 to 2012-13, follow on from the league’s successful sales of its main highlights and live rights earlier this year.

Maintaining the present level of fees on these subsidiary rights, however, will not be easy. At present, BSkyB and BT share delayed rights, covering all 242 matches not included in the live rights packages, paying £84.3 million over three years.

BSkyB has the mobile rights in a £30 million deal and cable operator Virgin the internet clip rights, for which it pays about £20 million.