Probably been done to death but here it is again!!
The English Premier League will not be broadcast by ART next season after Showtime signed a massive three-year deal for exclusive rights to the world’s most popular sporting league.
Showtime beat off competition from Al Jazeera and ART to win the regional rights in a deal understood to be worth $120 million over three years.
Showtime will now be the exclusive home of the Premier League from August, when the 2007/8 season kicks off. The news will come as a blow to existing Firstnet customers who have recently signed up for 12-month packages. ART representatives could not be contacted by 7DAYS yesterday, so it remains unclear whether refunds will be offered to subscribers who signed year-long packages to watch the Premier League.
The move is a major blow for ART, which last month also lost its Al Jazeera Sports channels to Showtime. Showtime, based in Dubai Media City, has yet to announce details of their coverage plans - or subscription costs - but has promised to deliver a top-class package.
Azhar Malik, Showtime’s marketing manager, said “We will of course be airing all of the live games from the Premier League, but we are also looking at developing programmes around the games to complement the game itself with studio discussions, interviews and reviews with professional footballers and commentators that can add value to the game and entertain football fans.”
Showtime currently has just two dedicated sports channels of its own, Sportsnet World and Sportsnet America. It will need to introduce several new channels in order to match the service currently provided by ART, which has eight channels including Prime Sports, and shows at least nine live Premier League games each weekend, all with English commentary.
Showtime does not currently produce a studio show to accompany its international rugby coverage, or its Championship football. Prime Sports’ studio show, which has become popular with football fans, will finish at the end of the season.
The English Premier League will not be broadcast by ART next season after Showtime signed a massive three-year deal for exclusive rights to the world’s most popular sporting league.
Showtime beat off competition from Al Jazeera and ART to win the regional rights in a deal understood to be worth $120 million over three years.
Showtime will now be the exclusive home of the Premier League from August, when the 2007/8 season kicks off. The news will come as a blow to existing Firstnet customers who have recently signed up for 12-month packages. ART representatives could not be contacted by 7DAYS yesterday, so it remains unclear whether refunds will be offered to subscribers who signed year-long packages to watch the Premier League.
The move is a major blow for ART, which last month also lost its Al Jazeera Sports channels to Showtime. Showtime, based in Dubai Media City, has yet to announce details of their coverage plans - or subscription costs - but has promised to deliver a top-class package.
Azhar Malik, Showtime’s marketing manager, said “We will of course be airing all of the live games from the Premier League, but we are also looking at developing programmes around the games to complement the game itself with studio discussions, interviews and reviews with professional footballers and commentators that can add value to the game and entertain football fans.”
Showtime currently has just two dedicated sports channels of its own, Sportsnet World and Sportsnet America. It will need to introduce several new channels in order to match the service currently provided by ART, which has eight channels including Prime Sports, and shows at least nine live Premier League games each weekend, all with English commentary.
Showtime does not currently produce a studio show to accompany its international rugby coverage, or its Championship football. Prime Sports’ studio show, which has become popular with football fans, will finish at the end of the season.