PAY-PER-VIEW TO CARRY ON

THE Premier League will persist with showing matches on pay-perview despite pressure from clubs to scrap the strategy at yesterday’s shareholders’ meeting. Top-flight officials are set to launch a review into the controversial format at the next shareholders’ meeting on November 5 — but any changes will not be implemented until after the forthcoming international break, meaning the next two rounds of matches will continue to provide the PPV option. But even then, Sportsmail understands, in the first instance the Premier League will explore the

option of lowering the current £14.95 price rather than abandoning the strategy altogether, with a new cost of £9.95 emerging as the most likely outcome. There is a sense that the model is financially viable. Since its introduction during match week five, the Premier League have earned more than £5million in the opening two weeks of PPV. Clubs were told that there were an average of 39,000 paid subscriptions over the first nine PPV matches, totalling £5.25m, though a portion of that will go to broadcasters whose costs are £100,000 per match. Three matches attracted fewer than 10,000 subscriptions and two games fell into the top bracket of 70,000 to 90,0000 viewers. The average was calculated before Brighton’s home draw against West Brom on Monday evening. The decision to make some matches available through PPV on either Sky Sports or BT Sport has caused outrage among the footballing community. Sportsmail understands the arrangement was met with derision by several clubs — who are fully aware of the damage it is causing in terms of public image — at yesterday’s meeting. Some fans have chosen to boycott pay-per-view matches and instead donated the £14.95 charge to various charities. Lee Charnley, on behalf of Newcastle United, suggested a figure of £5 for pay-per-view matches but the proposal was met with ‘immediate disdain’. It was pointed out that it was likely such a price would not cover production costs. Clubs were also updated on the impasse between the Premier League and FA over the issue of post-Brexit quotas for overseas players. An option to bypass the FA and present their own solution to the Government was again outlined. The deadline for an agreement to be presented to the Home Office is Saturday but that is now likely to be extended. A bailout for the EFL was also discussed. The Premier League’s position is that the £50m offer for clubs in Leagues One and Two remains on the table. They are also willing to assist Championship clubs who can show that they are in financial difficulties as a result of the pandemic, rather than through overspending.