Melita and GO have found a way to resolve their regular rivalry over rights to broadcast top-flight football – by teaming up and creating a series of joint sports channels.

The Total Sports Network channels, which will be available to subscribers of both companies’ TV deals, will air English Premier League, Italian Serie A, UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, German Bundesliga, BOV Premier League, FA Cup, as well as Formula 1, Moto GP, tennis and a host of other sports.

In a joint statement, the two companies described the deal as "the best premium package in Europe".

“We have agreed to pool our rights with GO for the benefit of all our customers who follow sports. The breadth of premium sports we’ll be offering will be unparalleled in Europe, and marks another step forward for us in delighting our customers,” said Melita CEO Harald Roesch, in a statement announcing the deal.

“By combining TV broadcast capabilities and rights of both GO and Melita, customers in Malta and Gozo can now enjoy a richer sports experience. This has been a long time request from customers, and we are glad to be in a position to make this happen,” explained GO CEO Nikhil Patil.

Neither company said how it would price the sports channel deal for its respective customers, with the statement only saying that Melita and GO would both communicate separately and directly with their clients in the coming weeks.

The eight TSN channels, all available in high definition, will go live this August, as the next football seasons get underway.

Parliamentary Secretary Silvio Schembri, who is responsible for the digital economy, welcomed the agreement. 

He praised both operators for putting the interest of customers first and for providing them with a sports package considered as one of the best in Europe.

 

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