The Premier League has reached a new agreement with Sky and TNT Sports, in which they will receive £6.7bn over a period of four years for the broadcast rights in the UK.
The Premier League has quickly come to an agreement with its reliable broadcast partners, ending a much-awaited process. This new deal, starting from the 2025-26 season, will maintain stable revenue levels while also increasing the number of live games significantly.
Sky has successfully acquired four out of the five available packages, guaranteeing a minimum of 215 live games, including all 10 matches on the last day of the season. TNT will broadcast 52 matches, and Match of the Day will continue to air as the BBC obtained the rights to a weekly highlights package.
This is the first time that all matches, except for those on Saturday at 3pm, will be televised live in the UK. There will also be more midweek matchdays where games are broadcasted at the same time, giving fans the option to choose which one to watch. The Premier League has expanded its content and extended the contract terms, which were previously only for three years. This has allowed them to secure what they refer to as “the biggest sports media rights deal ever made in the UK.”
The agreement will solidify the Premier League’s position as the top-performing domestic soccer league in the world. Despite only achieving a 4% increase in annual revenue from domestic rights, which is below the current inflation rate, the deal is worth more than twice the amount of Italy’s Serie A agreement that was recently made.
At this moment, there is much speculation about the future of broadcast rights, as some media companies are reducing their spending. Meanwhile, tech companies have been hesitant to fill the gap. Amazon recently lost its rights to broadcast Premier League games in the current auction, after securing a discounted deal to show games in 2019. Another anticipated digital challenge from broadcaster Dazn did not come to fruition.
Another potential result of the increased Premier League contract could affect the Saturday 3pm blackout. A common argument against airing games during this time has been the necessity of limiting availability to sustain demand for the live product. With a projected increase of 25% in live matches, this argument may be challenged, especially as the UK government supports the idea of broadcasting live Women’s Super League matches during this time.
Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, acknowledged the long-standing and valuable partnership with Sky Sports and TNT Sports. He praised their consistent delivery of top-notch coverage and programming, which has led to record-breaking audiences and attendance numbers in recent years. Masters is confident that their continued innovation will attract even more viewers and followers of the Premier League.
The result of this procedure highlights the power of the Premier League and serves as proof of the dedication of our teams, players, and coaches who consistently provide the most competitive football in the world in packed stadiums. It also acknowledges the unmatched atmosphere created by supporters every week.
Dana Strong, the CEO of Sky, announced that this is a great outcome for Sky customers as they will now have access to a higher number of matches from the world’s most renowned league.
“We have a rich history with the Premier League and are excited to continue providing engaging, entertaining, and innovative content until the end of the decade. Sky is the ultimate destination for sports fans in the UK.”
Source: theguardian.com
