TV COMPANIES HAVE NO PLANS TO OFFER ANY REFUNDS — YET

SKY SPORTS and BT Sport have no plans to refund customers despite most of their live content being suspended — but a worst-case scenario of competitions being cancelled altogether might change that.

There are understood to be guarantees in place — differing hugely between sports — where the channels will get some compensation if contracted fixtures are never delivered.

This remains such a hypothetical scenario for now that nobody is calculating refunds. But some industry insiders privately acknowledge it could become a matter for debate ‘later down the line.’

The coronavirus crisis has wiped out most of the world’s major sports fixtures until next month and perhaps for the foreseeable future.

Premier League games are on hold, as are games in the EFL, in Scotland and in every major football league in

Europe, as well as UEFA club matches.

Postponements in the F1 season, Test cricket, golf and tennis tournaments, as well as major north American leagues including the NBA, NHL and MLS mean broadcasting schedules will be bare.

Both companies are taking the stance that all promised live events will take place at some point and paying fans will get what they have paid for.

‘A number of sporting events have been postponed, but not cancelled, so we expect to be able to show these when they are rescheduled,’ said Sky Sports managing director Rob Webster. ‘Our live schedule is likely to look different for a period of time. As information becomes available, we will update all of our customers.’

A BT spokesperson said: ‘We apologise to customers about the changes to the schedule this month due to the impact of COVID-19.

‘The situation is evolving rapidly and we are working with the leagues to continue to broadcast live sport wherever possible and broadcast games when they are rescheduled.’