Manchester United has acquired UK pay-television broadcaster BSkyB’s minority stake in MUTV to become the 100-per-cent owner of the English Premier League football club’s pay-television channel.
United said that it acquired Sky’s 33.3-per-cent stake in order to “own 100 per cent of the content production and distribution capabilities of this business”.
“This latest acquisition is a natural progression and is indicative of the club’s desire to have full control of the content generating and distribution capabilities across all of its businesses,” the club added.
MUTV was launched in 1998 as a three-way joint venture with the club, Sky and UK commercial broadcaster ITV holding equal stakes. United acquired ITV’s stake in November 2007.
MUTV is available in 57 countries around the world.