The Premier League in England today announced that BSkyB have won the right to screen half of the 138 live matches from 2007 to 2010.
Sky have been awarded the rights for three of the six packages of 23 games each and there will now be a second round of bidding for the remaining three.
The League said in a statement: "Following the submission of bids by interested parties, the FA Premier League is in a position to announce that it has awarded three out of the six packages of live rights to BSkyB. We will be proceeding to a second round of bidding for the remaining three packages in due course.
"There will be no further comment on this from the Premier League until the conclusion of the second round of bidding. Bidders are also bound by similar confidentiality."
Sky will be limited to a maximum of five of the six packages under a deal struck by the league with the European Commission.
They remain favourites to land two more of the remaining packages, with a number of other broadcasters also competing.
Irish pay TV operator Setanta is thought to be the company most likely to secure the other package. But other companies including cable firm NTL, ITV and Channel 4 are also understood to have bid.
