Premier League awards Sky three packages

Sky has snagged three of the six new packages being offered by the Premier League, it has been confirmed.

A second round of bidding will soon begin for the final three packages, although Sky is widely expected to take two of those three.

The broadcaster can be awarded a maximum of just five of the six packages under a new ruling by the European Commission. NTL, Setanta, Channel 4 and Five are all chasing a package and are thought to have lodged "sizeable bids" to that end.

"Following the submission of bids by interested parties, the FA Premier League is in a position to announce that it has awarded three out of the six packages of live television rights to BSkyB," read a statement from the League.

"We will be proceeding to a second round of bidding for the remaining three packages in due course. There will be no further comment on this from the Premier League until the conclusion of the second round of bidding. Bidders are also bound by similar confidentiality."

The new packages cover a four-year period beginning with the 2007-08 season.