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BT Sport signs up 19,000 commercial premises in nine months; Almost 1 in 4 pubs sign with BT as it grows the market
[May 15, 2014]

BT Sport signs up 19,000 commercial premises in nine months; Almost 1 in 4 pubs sign with BT as it grows the market


(M2 PressWIRE Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) BT Sport has announced that more than 19,000 pubs, clubs, betting shops, hotels and other commercial premises have now signed up to its sports service.

In just nine months since the channels went on air for the first time last August independent research shows that BT Sport has captured 24 per cent of all pubs, including groups and independents, putting BT Sport neck and neck with Sky at 25 per cent.* BT has increased the commercial market for TV sports packages - based on the number of new customers who have not previously subscribed by around 26 per cent.



BT Sport has had a strong debut season in which it has shown dozens of exciting matches from the Barclays Premier League and FA Cup, as well as hundreds of hours of live football from Scotland, Germany, Italy and France. Customers have also been able to enjoy exclusive live TV coverage of Moto GP races as well as other sporting action including UFC, NBA basketball, womens tennis and womens football.

Rugby has also been at the heart of BT Sport and fans are set to enjoy live matches from the new recently agreed European club tournaments. These will include a terrific selection of matches featuring English clubs in the European Rugby Champions Cup, as BT will have first picks and additional matches involving teams from the Aviva Premiership in the tournament.


Bruce Cuthbert, director of Commercial Customers, BT Sport, said: To sign up 19,000 customers is a fantastic achievement and underlines the appeal and the affordability of BT Sport. And to achieve a 24 per cent share of pubs in our first year is phenomenal.

A year ago we said we wanted to bring premium live sport to a wider audience including those that were unable to afford Skys high prices, and thats exactly what weve done. To be able to grow the market by 26 per cent and to be a part of what pubs are able to offer their customers is enormously satisfying.

Our success in the commercial TV sports market adds to our achievements in the consumer area, where BT Sport is now available in around five million homes.

BT Sport is available to all commercial premises including offices, golf clubs, sporting clubs, bookmakers and Corca registered clubs with prices starting from as little as 60 per month.

BT Sport also has commercial contracts in the gaming sector, for example with the UKs largest independent bookmaker, Betfred. All three BT Sport channels are available in 1,400 Betfred bookmakers across the UK.

The BT Sport Pack includes BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 2, as well as ESPN, all available in both standard definition and high definition.

BT Sport is delivered via satellite technology, so that any business with Sky equipment just has to call BT to add BT Sport to their line-up. BT will also facilitate a third party standard installation for customers who do not already have Sky equipment on their premises, at no extra charge.

There is no need to take BT broadband or BT TV as the channels are delivered via satellite.

BTs dedicated UK-based call centre can help commercial customers with all of their BT Sport queries. Customers can find out more by calling 0800 678 1957 or visiting: www.btsportbusiness.com.

Enquiries about this news release should be made to the BT Group Newsroom on its 24-hour number: 020 7356 5369.

From outside the UK dial + 44 20 7356 5369 E-mail: **[email protected] All news releases can be accessed at our web site: * *http://www.bt.com/newscentre Source Sweeney Pinedo in April 2014, based on weighted responses from 2,011 telephone interviews.

About BT BT is one of the worlds leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries. Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband, TV and internet products and services; and converged fixed/mobile products and services. BT consists principally of five lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Business, BT Consumer, BT Wholesale and Openreach.

For the year ended 31 March 2014, BT Groups reported revenue was 18,287m with reported profit before taxation of 2,312m.

British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group. BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York.

For more information, visit www.btplc.com.

Ms Samantha Ireland, Business Support Manager BT Newsroom Tel: 020 7356 2830 Mob: 07739 925055 Email: [email protected] Web: www.bt.com .

(c) 2014 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

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