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Premier League broadcasts on BT Sport and Sky get group watch features

UK pay-TV networks will also offer artificial crowd noise for English soccer broadcasts.

5 June 2020 Tom Bassam

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BT Sport is launching a ‘Watch Together’ feature for its Premier League broadcasts when English soccer’s top flight returns to the pay-TV network on 20th June. 

Built into BT Sport’s existing app, the new feature will enable subscribers to see and chat with friends in a split screen mode while the match is being played. 

The announcement, which coincides with confirmation of the network’s Premier League programming schedule, also includes details regarding BT Sport’s artificial crowd noise feature. Viewers will have the option to watch with or without pre-recorded dynamic crowd noise using the red button. 

Despite operating using remote production and limited onsite staff due to coronavirus safety concerns, BT Sport will be offering live match broadcasts in 4K HDR and in 360° on the BT Sport App.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “We are pleased that the Premier League resumption will give viewers a packed schedule of live football in June as the sport makes its return. With every fixture from the Bundesliga, 20 Premier League games and the return of the FA Cup, BT Sport viewers will be in for a football packed summer.  

“We are looking forward to broadcasting live domestic football again and bringing some new innovations to our customers to give them the best viewing experience possible.”

The first English top-flight fixture broadcast on BT Sport will be the 12.30pm BST kick-off between Watford v Leicester City on 20th June. The network will also air Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal in the Premier League game at 3pm BST on a Saturday.

In addition, the broadcaster will air the FA Cup club knockout tournament when it returns, with two quarter final fixtures on 28th June.

BT's pay-TV rival, Sky Sports, also announced a number of new features for its live match broadcasts. All of Sky's 64 live games will feature the option of artificial crowd noise provided by EA Sports and also recap feature for viewers to select highlights to watch picture-in-picture during the game.

Similar to BT's Watch Together feature, the Comcast-owned broadcaster is rolling out Sky Sports Fanzone, a feature on its digital platforms that allows users to watch select matches with friends in a video room. The platform offers a live chat function, predictions posting, join in-match polls and use the Sky Sports stats.

BT Sport is launching a ‘Watch Together’ feature for its Premier League broadcasts 

BT Sport is launching a ‘Watch Together’ feature for its Premier League broadcasts when English soccer’s top flight returns to the pay-TV network on 20th June. 

Built into BT Sport’s existing app, the new feature will enable subscribers to see and chat with friends in a split screen mode while the match is being played. 

The announcement, which coincides with confirmation of the network’s Premier League programming schedule, also includes details regarding BT Sport’s artificial crowd noise feature. Viewers will have the option to watch with or without pre-recorded dynamic crowd noise using the red button. 

Despite operating using remote production and limited onsite staff due to coronavirus safety concerns, BT Sport will be offering live match broadcasts in 4K HDR and in 360° on the BT Sport App.

Simon Green, head of BT Sport, said: “We are pleased that the Premier League resumption will give viewers a packed schedule of live football in June as the sport makes its return. With every fixture from the Bundesliga, 20 Premier League games and the return of the FA Cup, BT Sport viewers will be in for a football packed summer.  

“We are looking forward to broadcasting live domestic football again and bringing some new innovations to our customers to give them the best viewing experience possible.”

The first English top-flight fixture broadcast on BT Sport will be the 12.30pm BST kick-off between Watford v Leicester City on 20th June. The network will also air Brighton and Hove Albion v Arsenal in the Premier League game at 3pm BST on a Saturday.

In addition, the broadcaster will air the FA Cup club knockout tournament when it returns, with two quarter final fixtures on 28th June.

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