Friday preview: BT Group unveils sports package ahead of results

BT Group said Thursday it would offer its sports channels free to any consumer BT broadband customer.

The announcement, which came a day ahead of its full-year and fourth quarter results, revealed that BT Sport 1, BT Sport 2 and ESPN would be available.

The channels will broadcast live and exclusive football matches from multiple leagues.

There will also be FA Cup ties, the UEFA Europa League, Scottish Premier League plus WTA women's tennis and action from the UFC.

By offering BT Sport for free with BT broadband, BT hopes to appeal to the majority of UK homes who already have broadband and those who haven't taken it up.

The group said it would offer new customers BT Infinity, its flagship fibre product, from £15 per month or copper broadband from £10.

The offer is aimed at placing the group in a better position against rivals including British Sky Broadcasting.

The company is expected to report a 5.0% rise in earnings per share, revenues of £18.1m and pre-tax profits of £2.5m in its annual results Friday, according to data compiled by Digital Look.

Fellow FTSE 100 companies International Consolidated Airlines Group and TUI Travel will also be out with results the same day.

Friday May 10th

INTERIMS

TUI Travel

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Northamber

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

British Land Co

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (GER) (07:00)

Current Account (GER) (07:00)

Retail Price Index (GER) (07:00)

Treasury Budget Statement (US) (19:00)

Q4

BT Group

FINALS

BT Group

IMSS

Catlin Group Ltd.

SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

James Halstead

AGMS

BBA Aviation, Cenkos Securities, Clarke (T.), Clarkson, Dillistone Group, Hutchison China Meditech Ltd, John Laing Infrastructure Fund Ltd, Merchants Trust, Mobeus Income & Growth 4 Vct, NBNK Investments, Ocado Group, Princess Private Equity Holding Ltd., Solo Oil

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

UK Trade (09:30)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Aer Lingus Group, Chemring Group, Fisher (James) & Sons, Kerry Group 'A' Shares, LSL Property Services, Meggitt, Molins, Secure Trust Bank, Smurfit Kappa Group, Stadium Group

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Norsk Hydro ASA

Q1

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (CDI)

RD