Sky Sports Secures Premier League Title-Race Telecast Amid BT Sport Freeze-Out

Strategic Insights -

Sky Sports has made a dominant move in the English Premier League's title race, scheduling Chelsea and Manchester City's remaining games in April after freezing BT Sport out of the action. This decision effectively guarantees Sky control over the title-deciding fixtures, leaving BT Sport with a dwindling number of matches to broadcast. The UK's Sky Sports has effectively locked in the title-deciding fixtures in their favor, giving BT Sport a significantly reduced presence in the English Premier League's final weeks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Sky Sports will broadcast all of Chelsea and Manchester City's games in April and May, ensuring their exclusive coverage of the title race.
  • BT Sport will have limited Premier League games in May, particularly affecting their coverage of Manchester City, Manchester United, and potentially Liverpool and Arsenal.
  • BT Sport will not broadcast any of Liverpool or Arsenal's remaining games after their April 4 match against Chelsea.
  • Sky Sports has picked up Manchester United's remaining league games, including their crucial match against Newcastle United on March 4, potentially denying BT Sport their last Manchester United game.
  • BT Sport can still showcase live FA Cup matches, including Liverpool's quarter-final against Blackburn Rovers and potential semi-finials or finals involving United or Arsenal.

Statistics:

  • Sky Sports will broadcast 9 Premier League games in April, including all of Chelsea and Manchester City's remaining fixtures.
  • BT Sport will broadcast a reduced 5 Premier League games in April, compared to Sky Sports' 9.
  • The last Premier League game BT Sport can broadcast from Liverpool is their April 4 match against Chelsea.
  • The last Manchester City game BT Sport can broadcast is their match against West Bromwich Albion on March 21.
  • Sky Sports has secured live coverage of Manchester United's remaining league games in May.

Sources:

  • "Sky Sports freezes BT from Premier League title run-in" - Ben Rumsby, Sky Sports (no date)
  • Sky Sports April TV fixtures:

- Sky Sports: Chelsea v Stoke City Saturday April 4, 5.30pm; Burnley v Tottenham Hotspur Sunday April 5, 1.30pm; Sunderland v Newcastle United Sunday April 5, 4pm; Crystal Palace v Manchester City Monday April 6, 8pm; Burnley v Arsenal Saturday April 11, 5.30pm; Queens Park Rangers v Chelsea Sunday April 12, 1.30pm; Manchester United v Manchester City Sunday April 12, 4pm; Liverpool v Newcastle United Monday April 13, 8pm; Chelsea v Manchester United Saturday April 18, 5.30pm; Manchester City v West Ham United Sunday April 19, 1.30pm; Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur Sunday April 19, 4pm; Aston Villa v Queens Park Rangers Monday April 20, 8pm; Manchester City v Aston Villa Saturday April 25, 5.30pm; Everton v Manchester United Sunday April 26, 1.30pm; Arsenal v Chelsea Sunday April 26, 4pm; Leicester City v Chelsea Wed April 29, 7.45pm.

- BT Sport: Arsenal v Liverpool Saturday April 4, 12.45pm; Swansea City v Everton Saturday April 11, 12.45pm; Southampton v Tottenham Hotspur Saturday April 25, 12.45pm.