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Big-spending Sky urged not to hike prices

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A trade leader has warned Sky not to hike prices for pubs after a record breaking deal for Premier League rights.

Yesterday Sky revealed that it will pay £760m a year for the next three years to show 116 top flight matches live each season.

A further 38 games per year will be shown by BT, which takes the package currently operated by ESPN.

But Brigid Simmonds, British Beer & Pub Association chief executive, warned Sky not to use the billion plus deal to hike pub prices.

She said: “Pubs need a more competitive pricing policy, as well as alternative providers. Live sport is a key part of the pub for millions of customers, and publicans have endured huge price hikes from Sky, year after year.

“This has been on top of other huge pressures, such as a 42 per cent hike in Beer Tax in the last four years.

“We will continue to raise our concerns over prices with both Ofcom and with the company itself.”

Jeremy Darroch, Sky's chief executive, said: "This is a good result for our customers and for our business. It means that Sky Sports remains the home of Premier League football and that viewers will continue to enjoy our live and exclusive coverage until at least 2016.”