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Sky retains Spanish football TV rights for three more years

Much like the Premier League, broadcasters have to bid for the TV rights for other major sporting leagues around the world. Sky has delivered comprehensive coverage of Spain's La Liga championship for two decades, but recently reports suggested that its biggest broadcasting rival, BT, had swooped in and stolen them. It turns out that's not the case, because Sky has today announced it has secured La Liga access for another three years.

Sky will broadcast over 100 matches each season, including Real Madrid, Barcelona and the final of the Copa Del Ray (the Spanish equivalent of the FA Cup). Yep, that means El Clasico fixtures will stay on Sky Sports until 2018 and you won't have to wait for the 15-minute window to lift before Sky shows live feeds from evening kick-offs.

With BT breathing down its neck, it was crucial that Sky retained its hold over Spanish football. BT already broadcasts matches from Germany's Bundesliga, Italy's Serie A, France's Ligue 1 and the addition of La Liga would have truly seen it become the home of European football. Sky will add live Spanish football to its coverage of Scotland's Football League, America's MLS and the Eredivisie in The Netherlands, as well as 116 matches from the Premier League, 127 Football League matches and Capital One Cup ties. It'll also likely secure the future of Sky Sports 5, Sky's dedicated channel for European football.