Premier Rugby has announced multi-million-pound deals with Setanta and Sky for live Guinness Premiership coverage from 2010.

Premier Rugby says the new agreements will deliver revenue in excess of £54m — a 45% increase on its current deal — over three years from the start of season 2010-2011 to the Premiership clubs. The number of live televised games will more than double from the current 33 to 69 a season.

The new partner Setanta's 43 live games per season package will include the Premiership final at Twickenham and a Premiership semi-final. Sky, meanwhile, will broadcast 26 live games, which also incorporates a Premiership semi-final.

The existing broadcast deal, which sees Sky exclusively screen live Premiership games, concludes in May 2010.

In addition to live rights, Premier Rugby has also concluded broadcast agreements for Premiership highlights, broadband and mobile offering, details of which have yet to be released.

"The substantial increase in income and coverage for the Guinness Premiership is fantastic news for our clubs, their supporters and sponsors," said Premier Rugby's chief executive Mark McCafferty. "It is a reflection of the growing attraction of club rugby.

"We are delighted to continue our relationship with Sky Sports and look forward to working with Setanta Sports on delivering more matches from the Guinness Premiership than ever before.

"For rugby fans, the new deals mean that every weekend there will be a choice of three live televised Guinness Premiership games on Setanta Sports and Sky Sports, plus a free-to-air highlights show featuring action from all six games."