Premier Sports has acquired exclusive linear and digital rights in the UK and Ireland to LaLiga for 2019-20 to 2021-22, in a deal that will see the league launch its dedicated channel, LaLiga TV, in the two countries, effectively becoming Premier Sports' third premium channel, reports SportBusiness.

LaLigaTV will be available on the broadcaster's Premier Player OTT service from October 18 and on the Sky linear platform in the UK by next January as part of the Premier Sports' channel bundle, alongside Premier Sports 1 and 2. Laliga and Premier Sports have yet to decide when LaLigaTV will launch on the Virgin platform.

Premier Sports expects LaLiga TV to be available on the Sky platform in Ireland, but this is yet to be confirmed.

LaLiga confirmed to SportBusiness Media on Tuesday that once LaLiga TV is active it will be the only way of watching LaLiga on pay-television in the UK and Ireland. However, Premium Sports' digital terrestrial channel, FreeSports, will broadcast select match content as well as a weekly highlights show throughout the duration of the deal.