Bt Appoints Pitch For Sport Channels Launch
BT, who will venture into the world of sport broadcasting this summer with its own sports channel, has appointed Pitch PR to handle the launch as part of a brief potentially worth up to £3 million.
The launch will see the telecoms brand compete against Sky in a bid for new subscribers, after securing the rights to 38 Barclays Premier League matches from next season.
Meanwhile, BT has also secured exclusive live broadcast rights to Aviva Premiership Rugby and earlier this week announced a package of rights to show live women’s tennis in a four-year deal.
According to media reports, BT called a pitch process in November last year for an agency to help it promote BT Vision and its sports channels, which may be carried on other platforms.
As well as the build-up and launch of the channels this summer, the London PR agency may also have the opportunity to put forward additional sponsorship and experiential ideas for the account, boosting the deal to a potential £3 million.
BT has invested in sports content in an effort to boost its BT Vision television service, which it sells as a ‘triple-play’ bundle with its broadband and telephone services.
In September, it was announced that BBC sports presenter Jake Humphrey would leave the corporation to head BT Vision’s Premier League coverage.
The 33-year-old left as host of BBC’s Formula One coverage at the end of the season, and was the youngest ever presenter to work on Football Focus, Match of the Day and Final Score, after rising through the ranks from CBBC.
