The Scottish Professional Football League "is close to announcing a deal with BT Sport to cover a new-look League Cup from the start of next season," according to Michael Grant of the LONDON TIMES. The competition "could even be renamed the BT Sport League Cup if tentative talks on sponsorship reach an agreement," but a contract for broadcasting is on course to be finalized and announced at the turn of the year. Clubs "are considering radical changes to breathe new life into a competition which has recently struggled to engage fans until the semi-finals and final." BT Sport "will replace BBC Scotland as the rights-holder for League Cup ties and will pay more for a larger package of games." The BBC "covered four ties every season but BT Sport will cover many more" (LONDON TIMES, 10/31).
DISCOVERY DEAL: SOCCEREX reported Discovery
Networks "sub-licensed a range of European football media rights in
Denmark," including those to the EPL, from Modern Times Group. The agreement will see Discovery take on half the live games MTG's
Viasat channels picked up in the English top flight, as well as those in La Liga and Serie A, and "will be able to broadcast them
across its suite of Danish TV channels." Both broadcasters "will be entitled to carry every game included in each package on their online platforms." MTG "also holds the rights to the three leagues in Sweden and Finland after securing deals earlier this year" (SOCCEREX, 10/30).
