Manchester United own all of MUTV after buying Sky stake
Manchester United announced on Tuesday they had bought the one-third stake in their in-house television channel, MUTV, which was previously owned by satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Manchester United announced on Tuesday they had bought the one-third stake in their in-house television channel, MUTV, which was previously owned by satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
The purchase means the English Premier League giants now have complete ownership of the station, available via a subscription service in the UK and in 57 countries worldwide.
"The acquisition of Sky's stake is great news for all of our fans who watch us around the globe, MUTV, its staff and the club," said United commercial director Richard Arnold in a club statement.
"We look forward to continuing to enhance our media proposition and distribution capabilities in the years to come, and delivering some of the best and most compelling content to our 659 million followers.
"Sky has been an active and highly-valued partner since the channel's inception and has helped to build the best and most-watched club football channel in the world.
"We will continue to have a close relationship with Sky in the future."
MUTV was launched in 1998 as a three-way venture between United, Sky -- whose largest single shareholder is Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation -- and British terrestrial television channel ITV.
United bought ITV's stake in 2007.
The channel costs £6 ($9.5) per month to UK viewers via cable or satellite.
MUTV employs approximately 60 staff and currently operates from offices in central Manchester, a studio at Carrington (the club's training centre) and from facilities within Old Trafford, United's home ground.