£10m doesn’t buy Amazon a Pep talk
EVEN an eight-figure sum cannot get you into the Manchester City dressing room at half-time to hear manager Pep Guardiola’s team talk.
City confirmed yesterday that Amazon Prime will be doing a fly-on-the-way documentary series of 10 episodes following the favourites for the Premier League title throughout their season — as first revealed by Sports Agenda.
But the £10million minimum Amazon are paying for behind-the-scenes access, with an option of two more years coverage, does not include filming Pep’s dressing-room chat before a match or during the interval.
However, City have not ruled out the Amazon cameras being invited into the inner sanctum at the Etihad Stadium after the final whistle and they will be filming everywhere else around the club, including football staff meetings.
The Amazon deal has been months in negotiation and had to overcome serious opposition from Sky and BT Sport, as well as the Premier League, over their match-day rights agreements.
Arch rivals Netflix become so frustrated with the obstacles that they have done a deal with Championship club Sunderland instead.
It is understood the Premier League have given the go-ahead to Amazon and City on condition the filming does not breach their existing media rights at home and abroad. The series must be aired during the close season.
Amazon’s growing sports portfolio also includes streaming of NFL Thursday night football and a contract to broadcast all the top tennis tournaments under the Grand Slams.
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