Octagon CSI, the television production and packaging company which distributes coverage worldwide of the FA Cup, English Premiership, rugby’s Heineken Cup and international hockey events, has signed a significant content deal with BT, as the telecoms giant joins the race to offer television content over a range of media platforms.
Accordng to a report in The Guardian, Octagon CSI and BT will base their production facility at the BT Tower in London, with new service BT Vision offering clips and programming to mobile phones, internet, broadband and television. BT are expected to take on some of Octagon’s staff under the deal, which is yet to be finalised.
The deal will see sport coverage central to the offerings on BT Vision, which will provide online access to Freeview digital television through a BT broadband connection. Earlier this year, in conjunction with BSkyB, BT landed rights to show non-live Premiership matches from 2007.
BT already has content deals with BBC Worldwide, Paramount, Endemol, DreamWorks and the National Geographic Channel.
Octagon CSI produces more than 300 hours of original programming a year and covers more than 200 live events equating to 4,000 hours of programming, all distributed worldwide via satellite.
Click here for the full report in The Guardian (which may require registration).