BT Sport has extended its £35m-plus annual contract to produce its live coverage of Premier League football and rugby union matches with Sunset+Vine until 2018.
Sunset+Vine, which landed an initial £100m to £132m three-year deal with BT in 2012, has won a two-year extension for what is considered the biggest live broadcasting contract in British television.
The deal also covers BT’s rugby union rights, including the English Premiership and European Cup matches, and the Europa League although only for the 2015/16 season.
“The original contract with BT Sport was transformational for Sunset+Vine’s business and this extension is a real vote of confidence,” said Jeff Foulser, chairman of Sunset+Vine, which produced Channel 4’s successful London 2012 Paralympics coverage.
The deal puts to rest speculation that Sunset+Vine might be dropped after BT announced last year that it would produce its Champions League coverage in-house from its Stratford studios and production hub.
“I am extremely pleased that we will be continuing our successful partnership with Sunset+Vine,” said Simon Green, head of BT Sport. “They have been a valued partner from day one.”
