London – On Monday, the Premier League said that a record-breaking £6.7 billion ($8.45 billion) domestic broadcast rights agreement had been reached. The deal will last for four years, beginning with the 2025–2026 season.
The current agreement, which spans three years and 200 games a season, is reportedly valued at over £5 billion.
The agreements between various broadcasters were heralded as the “largest sports media rights deals ever concluded in the UK” by the English Premier League.
The rights to broadcast live games have been secured by TNT Sports and Sky Sports; Amazon, which already airs 20 games a season, will not be included in the upcoming cycle.
Sky will show at least 215 live matches every season, while TNT will show 52. Highlights will continue to be carried on BBC Sport’s Match of the Day program.
A Saturday afternoon ban will remain in place to safeguard lower league attendance, but for the first time, all matches other than those scheduled for 3:00 p.m. on Saturday will be aired live.
The Premier League hailed a 4% gain in live rights revenue over the previous process, but broadcasters will pay much less per game since they will be airing more matches each season.
“The outcome of this process underlines the strength of the Premier League,” said Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive.
“It is a testament to our clubs, players, and managers who continue to deliver the world’s most competitive football in full stadiums, and to supporters, who create an unrivaled atmosphere every week.”
He added: “As longstanding and valued partners, Sky Sports and TNT Sports are renowned for consistently delivering world-class coverage and programming.
“We have enjoyed record audiences and attendances in recent seasons, and we know that their continued innovation will drive more people to watch and follow the Premier League.”
According to the Premier League, the new agreement would guarantee financial security to clubs throughout professional football until at least 2029.
It is the first Premier League tender process since 2018 after the current contract was extended for an additional three years in 2021 owing to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
The deal will maintain the huge financial advantage Premier League clubs enjoy over their European competitors thanks to far more lucrative domestic and international TV rights deals.
International rights for the English top flight overtook the value of domestic rights for the first time last year and are estimated to bring in £5.3 billion between 2022 and 2025.
The Premier League accounted for 11 out of the top 20 clubs in this year’s Deloitte Football Money League, with champions Manchester City in top spot.
Do you find Braveloaded useful? Click here to give us five stars rating!
Leave a Reply