BT has claimed to be “neck and neck” with rival Sky after signing up almost a quarter of pubs, including chains and independents, to its BT Sport channels.
The ISP and broadcaster says the channels are now in 24 per cent of the UK’s pubs and claims this is just 1% below Sky’s own marketshare.
In total more than 19,000 pubs, clubs and retailers have signed up to the channels and BT says around 26 per cent of these have previously never subscribed to a sports package before.
BT credits its success to offering the channels at lower prices than its rival and the offer of a free satellite dish and receiver installation for venues which don’t already have a Sky+ box.
Bruce Cuthbert, director of Commercial Customers, BT Sport, said: “To sign up 19,000 customers is a fantastic achievement and underlines the appeal and the affordability of BT Sport. And to achieve a 24 per cent share of pubs in our first year is phenomenal.
“A year ago we said we wanted to bring premium live sport to a wider audience including those that were unable to afford Sky’s high prices, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”
Earlier this month BT announced more than 5m residential customers now receive the channels with 3m receiving them direct from BT and the remainder benefitting from wholesale deals with Virgin Media and Plusnet.