BT viewer figures beat Sky data in English Premier League opening clash

Some 515,000 people tuned in to BT Sport on Saturday evening to watch Manchester City beat Sunderland 2-1 in an English Premier League opener.

This represents 39,500 more viewers than the Leicester City-Hull City game on Sky’s sports channel earlier in the day as the champions unexpectedly lost 2-1 to the newly promoted underdogs.

The performance of the rivals’ soccer broadcasts will be watched closely this season, because BT for the first time outbid Sky for the Premier League’s popular late afternoon Saturday matches, which often draw bigger audiences compared with the 12.30pm games.