BT says more than 10,000 pubs, clubs, betting shops, hotels and other commercial premises have signed up to its new BT Sport channel.
The announcement comes the day before the company broadcasts its first ever Premier League match, the first of 38 games it’ll screen this season.
In addition to UK and international football, BT Sport will also offer sports fans access to Aviva Premiership rugby, UFC and WTA Tennis.
BT says its research shows nearly half of Britain’s 75,000 pubs and clubs currently only show free-to-air sport, one and a half times the number paying for a Sky package, and that 88 per cent of independent pubs who do not have Sky “say they would like to show Premier League football, but Sky is just too expensive”.
The company claims its business packages are 76 per cent cheaper than a Sky business subscription and are likely to appeal those venues who currently don’t show subscription sport.
Earlier this month BT announced it had signed a deal with high h street bookmaker Betfred which would see the channels available in the chain’s 1,370 branches.
Bruce Cuthbert, director of Commercial Customers, BT Sport, said: “Pre-season has gone incredibly well for the BT Sport team. Signing up more than 10,000 commercial customers before a ball is kicked in the Premier League is a fantastic achievement.
“BT Sport is an affordable and exciting new service for pubs, clubs and their customers. Interest has been phenomenal and underlines the value, quality and broad appeal that we offer. We are particularly delighted that this includes brand new commercial customers for premium sports who have historically been unable to afford Sky’s high prices.”
BT has set up a dedicated UK based call centre to help commercial customers with all of their BT Sport queries. Customers can find out more by calling 0800 678 1957 or visiting: www.btsportbusiness.com.
