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Sky will air the lion's share of Champions League league games between next season and 2012 after winning a major rights package with a knock-out early bid.

UEFA's auction formally began last week and was expected to last for several months. However, Sky last night emerged as a "clear winner" in the initial stage. The purchase, estimated at costing £240m, includes rights to all Tuesday matches and all Wednesday matches except the first-choice fixture.

Another round of bids will be held for the first-choice Wednesday game and simultaneous TV rights (with Sky) to the tournament final. The BBC remains a favourite as it was rumoured to be "determined" to take some Champions League games.

Rights are currently shared between ITV and Sky.

ITV has picked up the live UK television rights to the last remaining package of Champions League games.

The three year deal, reportedly worth in the region of £165m, runs from August 2009. ITV will broadcast the first pick of Wednesday night games during the tournament, including the final and the UEFA Super Cup final.

"I'm thrilled that ITV is now the definitive home for all premium free-to-air football in this country," said ITV executive chairman Michael Grade. "This is good news for ITV's shareholders, advertisers and of
course our viewers. With Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United all through to the quarter final stage this year, British representation in Europe has never been stronger."

On Tuesday, Sky won the rights to all Tuesday games and non-first choice Wednesday games with a knockout bid estimated at £240m. It is understood that ITV's decision to drop coverage of Formula One was designed in part to ensure it was able to effectively compete for today's last remaining package of Champions League rights.