Although there is still a further round of bidding to take place, it’s been announced that BSkyB have retained their existing live Premier League rights.

Sky has been awarded four of the six packages of audio-visual rights, the same number they’ve held for the past three years.

Two further packages will go to a second round of bidding. They currently belong to Setanta though it’s understood that BSkyB will certainly bid for 1 of them with the US sports network ESPN also said to be interested.

How much BSkyB paid to retain their current rights isn’t known as the Premier League won’t release any details until the second round of bidding is complete.

Last week, the BBC retained the rights to broadcast Premier League highlights up to the end of the 2012-13 season.

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