TV giants BT and Sky close to historic deal to share coverage of European club ...

So, an agreement between Sky and BT to share the TV rights was seen as crucial

to rescuing European club rugby from the abyss and sparing both broadcasters

and governing bodies from litigation that could do irrevocable damage to the

relationship between them.

As of Thursday night, negotiations were continuing as to what each network

would get out of any new deal, but how matches involving English clubs are

divided up looks certain to be key.

So deep is the enmity between Sky and BT that it is understood that there have

been no direct talks between the broadcasters, with Ritchie – who has

played a leading role in peace talks with all stakeholders and whose CV

includes a stint as chief executive of Channel 5 – instead acting as a

go-between.

While neither company wants to be seen as having backed down, each recognises

the unique predicament it has been left in and the potential consequences of

gambling on the courts deciding which – if any – of them has a legitimate

contract in place and whether either has a valid claim for compensation.

News of negotiations between Sky and BT came 24 hours after European rugby’s

stakeholders took a significant step forward in reaching agreement on the

structure of a six-nation club tournament at talks in Paris.

Commercial and television rights remained the outstanding issues, although

there were suggestions any deal between Sky and BT could open the door for a

company to be set up to run a new 20-team tournament next season.

Premiership Rugby and its French counterparts were hopeful a voting structure

would be agreed to ensure that the three leagues (Premiership, Top 14 and

Pro12), not the unions, had the ultimate say over the selling of commercial

rights.

The meeting, which broke up at lunchtime, was officially described as

“positive and constructive”.

Although the level of optimism varied among the different parties, sources

indicated that the desire by all for an inclusive six-nation tournament

could be a watershed moment in the 18 months of negotiations.

While there was no response from the RFU on the state of play, its Welsh

counterpart issued a statement claiming it remained “confident that the

progress now achieved will lead to a positive outcome for all stakeholders”.

It added: “The cautious optimism is based on a detailed structure of actions

to be pursued immediately.”

It is now likely that further talks will continue between smaller groups,

although the return of the Six Nations next week is likely to put

negotiations on hold.

With talks having broken down several times previously, no one was taking

anything for granted as to whether this week’s events really did represent

the beginning of the end of one of rugby union’s most bitter disputes since

it turned professional.

Sky and BT putting aside their differences to facilitate an amicable

conclusion was also by no means a certainty.

The media giants’ rivalry extends well beyond the sports broadcasting market,

in which they have repeatedly locked horns since BT’s shock capture of some

of the rights to Premier League football in June 2012.

It also blew Sky out of the water in November by paying £897 million for

exclusive coverage of European football from 2015. Sky hit back by tying up

several key rights, including for the British and Irish Lions tour to New

Zealand.

The pair are poised to do battle again over rugby when the contract for

England’s autumn internationals – taking in 2015 World Cup warm-up

friendlies – goes out to tender.

Article source: http://www.fanatix.com/news/new-zealand-v-france-match-preview-and-live-rugby-union-streaming/161870/

TV giants BT and Sky close to historic deal to share coverage of European club ...