MUMBAI: Satellite broadcaster BSkyB and Britain's BT Group, in a joint bid, have won the rights for the 'near-live broadcasts of the Barclays Premiership, via a deal with the FA Premier League.

The three-year deal extends from the 2007-08 to 2009-10 seasons and allows both parties to broadcast 242 games per season. It enables Sky and BT to offer full delayed coverage or extended highlights of all Barclays Premiership matches not broadcast live, after 10 pm on match days.

BT will offer the near-live games on its BT Vision service to be launched later this year - on a pay-per-view basis. Sky will however, air these matches at no extra charge, as part of its standard sports packages.

The Premier League awarded the 'live' rights for the same period to BSkyB and Irish pay-TV broadcaster Setanta earlier this month.

Commenting on the same, Sky Sports MD Vic Wakeling said, "These near-live rights, added to the live matches, give Sky Sports unrivalled Premiership coverage."

"We can now promise Football First until the end of the decade and new ways of watching games, on demand, through broadband. Sky remains the home of football."