Manchester Evening News

Group to look at how to improve TV games

- By CONNOR O’NEILL

A WORKING group has been set up by the Premier League to look at ways to enhance fans’ experience while watching games on TV.

Matches without supporters in attendance are seen as less attractive to audiences, with broadcaste­rs concerned viewing figures could be down when football, as expected, returns behind closed doors.

Premier League clubs will hold a video-conference tomorrow to discuss Project Restart in further detail.

And now in a further indication that football in the top-flight is set to return in June, a source close to the Premier League has confirmed to M.E.N. Sport that a working group has been set up by the Premier League with broadcaste­rs and clubs to look at ways to enhance the

TV product for fans. Two of the ideas believed to be under considerat­ion are placing cameras in dressing rooms and conducting half-time interviews.

Around half of the remaining 92 matches are set to be televised in the UK as it stands, though it is hoped that more will be screened.

Senior government officials will hold a meeting with the Premier League next week and are ‘hopeful’ a plan can be agreed for matches to return as it will be ‘good for the nation’.

Meanwhile, Watford are the latest club to rail against plans to end the season at neutral venues, with chairman Scott Duxbury saying the Premier League has a ‘duty of care’ to address concerns about a ‘distorted nine-game minileague’.

Watford are 17th and looking to stave off relegation.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom