BBC in talks to renew Football League highlights deal

The Football League remains hopeful that a new deal can be agreed with the BBC over match highlights, despite the corporation angering fans by scaling back its coverage over the festive period.



Football fans were shocked at the decision by the BBC not to air a highlights package of the Boxing Day games this week.

They face further disappointment as the broadcaster will not air a show on News Year's Eve either.

This means that the next scheduled Football League Show will not air until January 14, despite a full schedule of fixtures on Bank Holiday Monday.

After many fans showed their frustration at the move on Twitter, Football League Show presenter Manish Bhasin tweeted: "I understand your frustration."

The BBC said that the decision was made because its deal only covers highlights of Saturday games, meaning any other fixtures are outside its "contractual obligations".

It added that the lack of a programme tomorrow, despite it being a Saturday, was due to the packed BBC One schedule for the end of year celebrations.

The BBC has rights to broadcast ten live matches from the Football League under its current deal, but Sky will be the sole broadcaster of live games from next season.

Sky is understood to have agreed to pay £195m for a new three-year deal - around £60m less than its current joint deal with the BBC, which expires this year.

The corporation is facing tough budget constraints and has already announced plans to scale back its sport coverage, including a 15% reduction in expenditure on sports rights.

The Football League is understood to be in negotiations with the BBC over a new deal which would result in the Football League Show continuing on BBC One on Saturday nights.

However, BBC head of sport Barbara Slater told The Daily Telegraph last week that bidding for live football rights may be out of the BBC's reach in the future.

She said: "The truth is that some live football rights have got out of reach in terms of their value."

The BBC's current Premier League highlights deal - enabling it to screen Match of the Day on Saturday nights - expires in 2013. The rights will be put out to tender in the New Year.