Sky's new deal questioned

Pubs that take Sky's extra football package, but not the basic subscription next season, will pay about one-third more for it and have to fork out...

Pubs that take Sky's extra football package, but not the basic subscription next season, will pay about one-third more for it and have to fork out for it in one lump sum.

Unlike Premiership Plus, Football+, its replacement, will be available to pubs that don't subscribe to the basic Sky package.

Football+ features the games owned by Setanta, including Premiership matches played on Monday evenings and at 5.15pm on Saturdays.

Pubs that do take the basic package will get Football+ for the same price as last season's Prem Plus.

However, pubs that only take Football+ will pay about one-third more and will have to supply their own screening equipment.

All-Party Parliamentary Beer Group chairman John Grogan said: "This is a small step forward, perhaps suggesting that Sky is feeling the heat of Ofcom's multiple inquiries into its activities.

"The big question remains, however: why can't licensees subscribe directly to Setanta, either through BT Vision or the Freeview platform?

"Although Sky has now conceded that the Setanta package should be available as a stand-alone package, this choice comes at a cost.

"If a band F pub in my constituency wanted to buy the stand-alone Football+ package (just Setanta Sports) it has to pay a third more (£760) than if it bought the Sky Sports bundle as well - and it has to pay one up-front lump-sum payment, while those who buy both packages can pay monthly.

"We are still a long way from the competition in the premium sports market that the Government and European Commission promised - and once again it is the hard-working licensee who is paying the price."

Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers spokeswoman Kate Nicholls said: "It's a non-offer, really. It seems good in theory - but when you see the details it's not that good a deal."

The Cost of Football+

These prices are for pubs that don't subscribe to the basic Sky package. Pubs that do have the basic package will pay about one third less.

Rating Annual band cost

A £907.50

B £1,185

C £1,357.50

D £1,605

E £2,032.50

F £2,280

G £2,452.50

H £2,535

I £2,707.50

J £2,872.50

K £2,955

L £3,060

M £3,142.50

N £3,247.50

O £3,322.50

P £3,397.50

Q £3,465

R £3,585

S £3,660

T £3,742.50

U £3,840

V £3,922.50

W £3,975

Sky defends its Plus package

A Sky spokeswoman said: "We have always made it clear we'd make the new Setanta product available to those who didn't want to take the main Sky commercial agreement, as in previous years. Football+ includes Setanta Sports channels as well as a range of other channels and is available to Sky and

non-Sky Subscribers."