Premier League TV rights bidding 'enters second round'

The competition to secure television rights for live Premier League football will go into a second round next week.

BSkyB and BT Sport currently screen 168 live games between them, with the current contract set to expire at the end of the 2015-16 season.

According to the Daily Mail, bids were tabled for seven packages by Friday's deadline, but the Premier League has not made an immediate decision as it did when the BBC retained its highlights package last week.

It is thought that any decision to extend the bidding process by another week is because US broadcaster Discovery Channel and Qatari network beIN Sports are set to join BT and Sky in the battle for rights.

Sky is believed to be targeting the four prime packages while BT aims to secure 56 matches under the new agreement.

However, with two new bidders thought to be in the race, the value of rights could rise to £8m per match.