Premier League Agrees To Highlights Deal With News International

News Int'l has "secured a deal to show Premier League football highlights on mobile and Internet versions of the Sun, Times and Sunday Times," according to Mark Sweney of the London GUARDIAN. BSkyB has "also secured extended Premier League TV highlights rights to go with its live matches." News Int'l "has reached a three-year deal with the Premier League to show highlight clips on the Internet and mobile devices from August." A source said that the deal is worth more than £20M ($31.7M). Under the deal, News Int'l titles "will be able to present up to eight 30-second clips of key moments during live matches via mobile devices" -- except for games played on Saturday at 3pm, which will be allowed to be shown from 5:15pm that day. Clips of up to 60 seconds from each game "will also be available from Monday mornings for a week after matchday via the papers' respective digital platforms" (GUARDIAN, 1/23). The three-year agreement means that each season, Sky Sports viewers can watch extended highlights of all 226 Premier League matches not shown live on TV, plus goals and key moments for other programming such as "Sky Sports News HD" and magazine shows including "Goals on Sunday" and "Soccer Saturday." Beginning in August, Sky Sports will offer:

• GAME OF THE DAY: Full 90-minute replay of the best Saturday 3pm match from 8pm that evening.
• MATCH CHOICE: A choice of 45-minute highlights from all Saturday 3pm fixtures, available via Sky's interactive red button service at 10pm.
• KEY MOMENTS: All the goals and talking points from all Premier League matches shown throughout the week across Sky Sports and on Sky Sports News HD (Sky Sports).