Sun and Times publisher News UK has snapped up the online and mobile clip rights to Aviva Premiership rugby, bolstering its online sports content following its aquisition of Premier League and Champions Leage football rights.
News UK, which also publishes the Sunday Times, has agreed a deal with Aviva Premiership Rugby after the rights were released by BT Sport, which has an exclusive TV deal.
It will show the clips across the Sun, Times and Sunday Times mobile and online offerings until June 2017.
The deals kicks off immediately with the first clips shown from Friday evening’s encounter between Bath and Saracens. The clips will be available within three hours of the matches finishing.
Mike Darcey, the News UK chief executive, said: “The partnership with Aviva Premiership Rugby significantly strengthens our offering to loyal subscribers of our world-renowned titles. Passion for rugby is shared across members of the Sun, Times and Sunday Times and we are delighted to take our post-match clips packages beyond football for the first time.”
Premiership Rugby’s commercial director, Dominic Hayes, said: “Aviva Premiership Rugby is growing every season and this partnership brings the league to a brand new platform. This new deal brings a really compelling online offering for the Sun, Times and Sunday Times subscribers.”
News UK believes that sports content will help drive subscription numbers to its three UK news sites, which are behind paywalls. In January 2013 it acquired Premier League rights , beating off a challenge from BSkyB, and has subsequently acquired Champions League and Europa League rights.
BT is the current holder of the Aviva Premiership rugby TV rights, which it snatched from BSkyB in September 2012.
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Premiership rugby: Sun and Times subscribers get online and mobile clips
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