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.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
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
-
Cash in on the growth prospects of Europe's companiesOpinion Marcel Stötzel, co-portfolio manager of the Fidelity European Trust, selects three stocks
-
Is the AI boom another dotcom bubble?25 years on from the dotcom bubble bursting, is it time for investors to consider the sustainability of the AI boom in the stock market?
