From Digital Spy:

 

The first round of bidding has begun for the rights to air live Premiership matches.

 

Under a new EC directive, the League has divided the games into six packages, each containing 23 matches.

 

Sky has traditionally held the rights to all games but will only be allowed a maximum of five packages under the new rules.

 

According to investment bank UBS, the packages are as follows:

 

Package A: 23 matches, all shown at 4pm on Sunday;

 

Package B: 23 matches, all shown at 1.30pm on Sunday;

 

Package C: at least 12 matches shown at 8pm on Monday, with the rest shown either at 1.30pm on Sunday, 5.15pm on Saturday or at other times;

 

Package D: at least 18 matches shown at 5.15pm on Saturday, with the rest shown either at 1.30pm on Sunday, 8pm on Monday or at other times;

 

Package E: 23 matches, all shown at 12.45pm on Saturday;

 

Package F: between 7 and 13 matches shown on midweek evenings or bank holidays, plus between 10 and 16 matches shown at 12.45pm on Saturday or 4pm on Sunday.

 

UBS also claims that Sky is likely to bid for all six games and, should it win them all, will sell its least favourite off to another broadcaster.

 

Elsewhere, Channel 4 and Five are expected to go head-to-head for one of the packages and NTL is being tipped to bid for three, possibly in conjunction with Setanta.

 

The first round of bidding ends on April 27.

 

It'd be SO good if Channel 4 or five got one of them :wub: But I doubt they will :(

Like it says in the article, Sky will probably get all 6 of the packages and will probably sell one to NTL, which will probably be the Saturday tea time ones as there the weakest games that will pull in the lowest ratings.

I hate the fact that Sky own all the rights. Before I was interested, ITV and BBC used to own many of the rights, until Sky bought them all... <_<

i'm signed up to Setanta so that I get all the Celtic games so I kinda hope Setanta gets one of the packages, but I have Skysports too so meh..

I find Setena a right rip off a bit like prem plus who charge £7 for one game.