Sky maintains long-running LaLiga association in UK

UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has extended its rights agreement for LaLiga, the top division of Spanish football.

The new deal for the UK and Ireland is for three seasons, from 2015-16 to 2017-18, and takes Sky’s partnership with LaLiga into its 20th year.

Sky will show more than 100 LaLiga matches per season, along with the final of the Copa del Rey knockout cup competition.

The renewal comes despite UK media reports this week that Sky had withdrawn from the tender to secure LaLiga rights, clearing the way for rival BT Sport to add the Spanish top flight to a European football portfolio including the German Bundesliga, Italian Serie A and French Ligue 1.

LaLiga matches will predominantly air on Sky Sports 5 – the channel launched by Sky last year to showcase its European football content.