- The £6.7 billion deal marks a significant financial milestone for the Premier League, providing stability amid evolving market dynamics.
- The agreement introduces broadcasting innovations, including live coverage of all matches outside the traditional Saturday 3 pm blackout and more midweek matchdays.
- The BBC’s retention of highlights rights, including additional digital rights, underscores the enduring popularity of “Match of the Day” and its importance in football coverage.
- The exclusion of Amazon Prime Video highlights the competitive landscape and uncertainties surrounding the involvement of tech companies in future broadcast rights.
In a move, the Premier League has successfully negotiated a historic £6.7 billion television rights deal with long-time partners Sky and TNT Sports for the 2025-2029 seasons. The agreement, labeled as the “largest sports media rights deal ever concluded in the UK,” promises financial stability for professional football clubs until at least 2029.
The swift resolution to the negotiation process ensures that both broadcasters will continue to play a pivotal role in bringing live Premier League action to fans across the UK. Here’s a comprehensive look at the key aspects of this monumental deal:
Terms and Duration
The Premier League is set to receive £6.7 billion over four years for its UK television rights. The deal runs from the 2025-26 season, providing financial certainty for clubs until at least 2029. Despite a modest 4% annual growth in total value compared to the previous cycle, the deal is more than double the value of Italy’s Serie A recent agreement.
🚨BREAKING🚨: Sky Sports agree new Premier League rights deal
— Sky Sports (@SkySports) December 4, 2023
Sky Sports to show 70% more matches – a record 215 games – in a new four year-deal from 2025/26.
More Premier League action than any other broadcaster, with at least four matches every week. pic.twitter.com/Q9ye5w9Vzj
According to BBC Sports News, Sky has secured four out of five packages on sale, ensuring a minimum of 215 live matches per season, including all 10 fixtures on the final day. TNT Sports will screen 52 matches, including exclusive coverage of matches played on Saturdays at 12:30 pm and two-midweek match rounds. All matches outside Saturday’s 3 pm kick-offs will be broadcast live, a significant expansion of available content.
Broadcast Schedule and Innovations
Sky Sports will broadcast all 10 matches on the final day of each season, a first in Premier League history. The broadcast schedule will now include more midweek matchdays with simultaneous game broadcasts, allowing fans to choose which matches to watch. Matches occurring outside the traditional Saturday 3 pm blackout, even those shifted to Sunday at 2 pm due to European competitions, will be broadcast live.
BBC’s Role and Highlights
The BBC has secured the rights to a weekly highlights package, ensuring the continuation of the iconic “Match of the Day” program. The deal includes additional digital rights for the BBC’s online platforms, providing football fans with enhanced access to content.
Amazon’s Exclusion and Future of Broadcast Rights
Amazon Prime Video, which currently broadcasts 20 matches per season, has not retained rights for the new domestic cycle. The exclusion of Amazon raises questions about the future landscape of broadcast rights and the involvement of tech companies.
The deal reinforces the Premier League’s status as the world’s most successful domestic football competition. The growth in live matches of more than 25% poses a potential challenge to the traditional Saturday 3 pm blackout, especially as the UK government supports live broadcasts of Women’s Super League matches at that time.
This groundbreaking agreement between the Premier League, Sky, and TNT Sports marks a new era in football broadcasting, ensuring that fans will continue to witness the drama and excitement of the world’s most competitive football league for years to come.