BT Sport hikes prices by 8.9%; launches two new services for pubs

The broadcaster is raising its prices for pubs and clubs by 8.9% from 1 September 2016 but is offering licensees the option of a two-year deal and what it is dubbing a “content guarantee”.

Pubs which opt to take the new two-year contract before September will be guaranteed that the price they pay will not change until the summer of 2018.

The move follows Sky’s announcement of an double-digit increase last month.

Output

BT Sport is also guaranteeing that over the same period it will not lose any of its most important content for pub customers including the Premier League, Champions League and Europa League, the FA Cup, Scottish Premier Football League and Aviva Premiership Rugby.

This coming season BT Sport will show 42 live Premier League matches – an increase of four games on last year,  with 28 kicking-off at 5:30pm on Saturday and a further six games on mid-week evenings. It will also show all Champions League and Europa League matches exclusively live.

The broadcaster is launching new targeted on-air promotions during high-profile matches specifically tailored for pub audiences which will promote upcoming fixtures, and aim to encourage return visits and venue loyalty.

New services

Two new services for pubs - initially only available to customers taking the two year deal – are also being introduced:

• A new ‘click to connect’ Wi-Fi service, enabling licensees to offer free wi-fi to customers. Installation is free for the first 500 pubs who sign up and after that half price. Subscription free for the first 12 months and then £52 a month.
• BarBeats music streaming service. Includes more than 70 playlists covering every music genre with up to 500 tracks each; 10,000 new tracks added every month and chart music updated daily. All music is cleared for commercial use. Set up is free and the service is subscription free for the first 12 months and then £15.95 a month.

‘Exclusive services’

Bruce Cuthbert, director commercial customers, BT Sport, said: “This season BT Sport has even more Premier League matches than ever before and at a better time for pubs and clubs of 5:30pm on Saturdays.

“I am also delighted to announce our two-year price freeze and content guarantee offer, an industry first.  In these uncertain times being able to guarantee both your costs and that you won’t lose any of the leading sport content that matters for two years is a  real bonus.

“Furthermore, customers taking this option can also benefit from two new exclusive services from BT Sport that pubs and clubs up and down the country value – wi-fi and music. BT Sport Wi-Fi brings to the market a simple ‘click to connect’ service, that doesn’t require the hassle of customer logins, but does offer the speed, reliability and security you would expect from BT.

“Whilst BarBeats is a brand new cloud based music streaming service for commercial premises offering the ease of use and functionality the licensed sector are looking for at a great price point.”