Pay-per-view scheme given boot, says Premier League chief
LEICESTER City fans have been given some encouraging news about the widely criticised pay-per-view scheme to watch the Foxes in action this season, write Andy Turner and George Smith.
Richard Masters, the Premier League’s chief executive, has confirmed that the football authority will be moving away from the pay-per-view scheme and coming up with a “different commercial solution” to broadcast fixtures to the nation.
With fans still not allowed to attend matches at elite level because of coronavirus restrictions, the Premier League, following the most recent international break, announced that matches not selected for standard broadcast would be available to watch via a pay-per-view scheme, allowing fans to watch their respective team in action if not selected for broadcast on Sky Sports, BT Sport or Amazon Prime.
The scheme saw fans asked to pay £14.95 per game to watch their team in action, with supporters forced to buy a match pass from either the Sky Sports or BT Sport Box Office.
The decision sparked anger from thousands of fans, including City supporters, with many not willing to pay almost £15 on top of their subscription fee to watch the action.
Last week, it was announced the pay-per-view scheme was to end after clubs had also made their displeasure known.
Masters, who faced MPs yesterday to answer questions about the future of English football amid the Covid-19 pandemic, confirmed the Premier League will be moving away from pay-per-view and looking for an alternative ahead of Christmas and the new year.
“We needed to come up with a different commercial solution,” said Masters. “We took the decision to move to pay-per-view, now we’re reviewing that decision.
“We will be changing direction and moving away from it and taking another step that will see us through lockdown, the Christmas period and into January, but I cannot say what it is.”
The pay-per-view scheme was so badly received, many fans used their £14.95 to donate food to food bank charities.