BT Sport Will Hit Production Partners With Heavy Fine For Missed Goals, Corners

BT Sport, which paid £738M ($1.1B) for Premier League rights, has "imposed remarkable financial penalties" on its TV production partners "if they miss a goal or even a corner next season," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL. The clauses Sunset+Vine had to agree to for the production contract include £250,000 ($381,000) fine if a goal "is scored without being screened live" during one of BT’s 38 EPL games in the '13-14 campaign. There will also be the small matter of £150,000 ($228,000) "to pay if the S+V cameras miss a corner kick" or what is described as an "offensive free kick." The six-figure penalty code "was described as 'astonishing' by others involved in the tender process, with their lawyers never having encountered such a roster of fines as a contractual part of filming football." S+V Chair Jeff Foulser said, "There are financial penalties included in the contract, but we were happy to sign. BT have paid an enormous amount of money and want the best possible coverage" (DAILY MAIL, 4/30).