TV Rights Hot Topic At Nolan Partners #sibc

John Petter, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, has claimed he is delighted by the progress made by BT Sport since its launch at the third Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club of 2014.

Over one year on from the opening broadcast of one of the most ambitious projects in sport, today’s conversation turned to the topic of media rights across a landscape of sporting tournaments, including the European Rugby Champions Cup, MotoGP and Premier League football – in the midst of BT Sport’s journey into the sector and Premiership Rugby’s influence in the re-structuring of the new European Rugby Champions Cup.

Appearing on stage alongside interviewer Mark Pougatch was CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, John Petter; CEO of Premiership Rugby, Mark McCafferty and MD of Dorna Sports & MotoGP and VP of FC Barcelona Manel Arroyo.  

Speaking at the BT Centre to a packed room of industry executives, Petter said: “If you had said a year ago it would be possible to be in the position we are in – with 5 million customers, exclusivity on the Champions League, the biggest sports TV studio in Europe – we’d have been delighted!”

“But that’s where we are. BT Sport has been a great success and it’s a huge tribute to the very strong team that they’ve pulled this off.”

Petter, the man who masterminded the rise of BT Sport, commented that the sport channel has also changed perceptions of the brand, with a direct impact on the broadband market.

“For the seven quarters before the launch of BT Sport we had the second biggest growth, but in the four quarters since we have been far and away the biggest. So that’s very encouraging,” Petter added.

“The number of pubs and clubs has been shrinking for a number of years because the prices have been very high, but what we’ve done is substantially grow that market – by 26% – so I think we are very close to being in the lead for having most sport in pubs, just by making it more accessible.”

Mark McCafferty, recently named the most influential person in global rugby, spoke from a rugby perspective, echoing Petter’s thoughts that BT Sport has opened up the sport to a younger and broader audience.

Discussing BT Sport’s weekly Rugby Tonight show, McCafferty said: “Rugby is a complex game and Rugby Tonight (shown on BT Sport) is hugely beneficial for new fans and supporters as it makes rugby entertaining and easier to understand. You have to engage younger audiences in different way.”

Asked about the journey taken in getting the new rugby competition up and running, and the challenges faced in splitting the media rights for the European Rugby Champions Cup between Sky and BT Sport, McCafferty commented: “It was a difficult journey. We have very high expectations for the European Rugby Champions Cup but both Sky and BT were very supportive during the decision making process. The sport is ambitious and we want to drive that. You have to take risks and you can’t stand still.”

Since acquiring the rights to broadcast the MotoGP World Championships earlier this year, Manel Arroyo joined today’s panel to offer his opinion on the impact that BT Sport has had on its viewership.

“MotoGP is changing and more people are enjoying it, but our sport does need to be developed. We continue to find new ways to show our sport and for people to enjoy it. The way we view sports has changed dramatically. People want everything now!”

The final edition of this year’s Nolan Partners Sport Industry Breakfast Club will take place on Monday 10th November when Rugby World Cup winning coach Sir Clive Woodward will be joined by Olympic gold medallist Michael Johnson for a Peak Performance focused panel. Find out more here.