BT does deal with BSkyB to show Sky Sports 5

12th Aug 2014 15:54

Telecoms giant BT has done a last-minute deal with arch-rival BSkyB to show the satellite broadcaster's new Sky Sports 5 European football channel.BT said existing and new BT TV customers with both Sky Sports 1 and Sky Sports 2 would be able to watch the new channel automatically from Tuesday at no extra cost on its own BT TV system.Sky launched the channel on Tuesday to show European Champions League soccer and games from the Spanish and Dutch leagues.The development comes despite an ongoing row between the pair over BT's access to Sky's full range of sports channels.BT wants to screen all BSkyB's Sky Sports channels, but Sky has refused, blaming BT's own refusal to allow Sky to sell BT's BT Sport 1 & 2 channels to its customers.BT has nevertheless been able to show Sky Sports 1 & 2 under a deal imposed on Sky by regulator Ofcom, which said it must offer the channels to rivals at regulated prices.Sky later persuaded a court to overturn Ofcom's ruling and BT then challenged that decision.BT is also challenging a refusal by Sky to allow it to show Sky Sports channels on its new Youview box. BT can only show the channels on its older Vision+ boxes.A court heard the Youview case last month and is expected to publish its decision in the coming months.Digital Look contacted BSkyB but no-one was available to comment at the time.BT shares fell 2.4p or 0.6% to 372p at 14:32 in London while BSkyB's stock slipped 2p or 0.2% to 847p.PW