By Mark Baber
January 25 – News International has taken a big and deeper step into multi-media content with the acquisition of Near-Live clip rights for all 380 Barclays Premier League matches a season for seasons 2013-14, 2014-2015 and 2015-16.
The purchase of the Near-Live Clips Package will allow News International to make available audio‑visual clips of all 380 Barclays Premier League matches on The Sun, The Times and The Sunday Times digital platforms and on mobile devices.
The package includes the rights to broadcast in-game clips for all matches other than 3pm Saturday kick-offs and extended clips of all matches on a Monday morning following a weekend match round.
The rights were previously sold to ESPN and Yahoo for about $30million. The deal with News International is said to be an increase on that number but no figure has been announced.
The rights acquisition marks a fight back for Rupert Murdoch’s troubled newspaper group that has been discredited through phone hacking scandals at its leading titles, bribery of police officers and public officials, and management’s uncomfortably close links to senior government officials.
Richard Scudamore, Premier League chief executive said: “We are extremely pleased with this exciting development that sees News International, traditionally a newspaper publishing organisation, move further into the digital media space through the acquisition of our UK Near-Live clip rights.”
“In a world in which all forms of media are looking at their digital offerings, and given the extensive coverage that News International publications give to the Barclays Premier League, we believe this partnership will see football fans able to consume the best Premier League action in innovative ways.”
The three-year deal means NI titles will be able to present up to eight 30-second clips of key moments during live matches via mobile devices (except for games played on Saturday at 3pm). Clips of up to 60-seconds from each game will also be available for a week after matchday via their respective digital platforms.
Subscribers will be able to access the clips on the new Sun tablet app, which is due to be launched in the next few months, The Sun’s smartphone app and via The Times / The Sunday Times digital products.
Mike Darcey, chief executive officer of News International, said: “This is a major breakthrough for the company, allowing us to combine our rich heritage with cutting edge technology to transform the experience we are offering our subscribers. They will now have access to the most compelling moments in the most competitive football league in the world at a time, place and format that suits them.
“In a rapidly changing industry, this is an unprecedented moment and a testament to the pioneering attitude of which we can be proud. Once again we are leading the way with innovative technology, drawing on our journalistic heritage and our unrivalled world-class content.”
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