PREMIER LEAGUE FACE TV BATTLE
The Premier League are on a collision course with Sky and BT Sport, after the Government demanded every match next season be televised until fans are allowed into stadiums.
Sky and BT — the Premier League’s main domestic rights-holders — agreed reluctantly to the televising of every match this season to ensure that the campaign could be completed.
Sky Sports even pledged to show 25 of their 64 matches free-to-air to help gain Government support for the restart. But the broadcaster viewed this gesture as a one-off and do not want every game televised indefinitely, as it would reduce the value of the contract they have held since 1992. Sky will receive backing from BT Sport, who have not made any of their 20 games free-to-air.
The BBC and Amazon have been given four live matches each over the next few weeks. All will be available for free.
The Premier League find themselves caught between the Government’s demands — to broaden access to live sport as long as social distancing measures remain in place — while also seeking to satisfy broadcast partners who provide a significant proportion of clubs’ income.
Sky and BT paid almost £5billion for live Premier League rights between 2019 and 2022, and if many top-flight games are available elsewhere for free, both companies fear they will lose subscribers.
Sky will receive a £330million rebate from the Premier League for the disruption to their schedules caused by the shutdown this season. Clubs at the top of the table will pay a greater share.
Any changes to the broadcasting arrangements for next season will see Sky and BT demanding further rebates, which could lead to clubs blocking increased television coverage. Liverpool in particular, who as champions elect receive more TV money and therefore will have to repay almost £25m, were unhappy with the rebate settlement and Tottenham were also dissenters.
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden suggested earlier this week that the Government are hopeful some fans will be allowed to attend games when the new season begins in September. But a partial return would not solve the Premier League’s television problem as many season-ticket holders would continue to be excluded.
The Government are understood to be working towards a phased return of spectators, with stadiums initially limited to 25 per cent capacity.
Meanwhile, Sportsmail can reveal that the majority of viewers chose to watch last night’ s Premier League matches with recorded crowd noise. Seventy-five per cent chose to watch the Sky Sports Main event channel, rather than Sky Sports Premier League with a commentary-only sound.
Sky recorded impressive peak viewing figures of 2.7m for Aston Villa v Sheffield United and 3.4m for Manchester City v Arsenal — respectively a 43 per cent and a 94 per cent increase on the season average.
After 100 days without Premier League football, Sky will hope for more bumper viewing figures for tonight’s live matches between Norwich and Southampton (6pm), and Tottenham and Manchester United (8.15pm).
But the most significant increase will take place tomorrow when the BBC broadcast their first ever live Premier League game.
Crystal Palace’s evening visit to Bournemouth is expected to smash the record for the biggest Premier League TV audience, which is currently 4million for the Manchester derby in 2012.