BT and BSkyB agree TV rugby deal

Arch-rivals BT and BSkyB have set aside their differences over TV sports rights to do a joint deal to show European rugby from next season.The pair, who are locked in a stand-off over broadcasting each other's sports channels on their TV services, have reached a provisional agreement to jointly broadcast the European Rugby Champions Cup and the European Rugby Challenge Cup competitions, according to reports on the websites of Sky Sports and BT-owned ESPN in the UK.The move follows an agreement for a new tournament to replace the existing European Cup structure signed by the various rugby union governing bodies in Europe.The European Rugby Champions Cup will replace the Heineken Cup from the 2014/15 season and will be joined by the European Rugby Challenge Cup and a new competition called the Qualifying Competition under an eight-year deal.BT and Sky will share the pool matches equally with both broadcasters getting two quarter-finals each, a semi-final and both will televise the final. The two bodies have signed a four-year agreement.BT Sport will get first pick of the Aviva Premiership club's ties in the Champions Cup with Sky Sports getting first choice for the Challenge Cup.The deal comes despite an ongoing dispute between BT and Sky over access to each other's sports channels.Sky has refused to give BT access to its full range of sports channels until BT agrees a deal allowing Sky to wholesale BT Sport 1 & 2 and ESPN in the UK on Sky's own TV service.BT, which can show only Sky Sports 1 & 2 under a deal imposed by regulator Ofcom, has asked the regulator to force Sky to let it show Sky Sports 1 and 2 on its YouView TV system, which Sky is unwilling to do.PW