Sky announces TV price freeze for pubs
The broadcaster is also offering 50% off Sky Ultimate for new customers until 30 September for packages bought between 9 July and 5 August.
Sky is to continue its discount for food-led outlets of up to 30%, plus an extra discount of up to 30% based on the venue’s location. The broadcaster has already announced discounts of up to 33% off Sky Ultimate for Molson Coors stockists.
The maximum discount available to pubs under the combined discounts would be 73.3%.
The news is likely to be met with relief among the pub industry, which had feared a big increase in costs following news that Sky had paid £2.28bn for five of the seven packages of Premier League games for three seasons from 2013/2014. This is a c.40% increase on its previous three-year deal.
David Rey, managing director of Sky Business, said: "More than ever, we are focused on providing customers with tailored subscriptions, to help them to grow their businesses through the power of live sport.
“Beyond increasing the value of the Sky subscription through our investment on-screen, and in innovative new products and services, we can help our customers enjoy greater certainty over their entertainment expenditure by holding our prices for another year.”
Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, said: This is good news for pubs, given big price rises in recent years. Live sport is now an important part of the pub experience for many pubgoers - never more so than in the summer of 2012, and I’m pleased Sky are acknowledging the financial pressures many pubs are under.
"We remain concerned about the monopoly position occupied by Sky and that this is the underlying cause of overpricing in the market."
