August 28 – The Premier League is coming under government pressure to make more live games available to fans while stadia remain closed.
The league had originally decided not to continue to air all the new season’s fixtures live but sticking to its existing arrangement with its three domestic UK partners Sky, BT Sport and Amazon. There was a fear the product might over saturate the market.
However, The Times reports that talks with government are strongly encouraging the Premier League to rethink its position and that Sky and BT Sport are making plans to increase coverage in case they are asked to do so.
Any new arrangement would be in place at least until October, the first date when up to 25% of fans may be allowed back in to stadia in England.
The English Football League (EFL) this week has agreed a reworked streaming deal for non-TV matches with its anchor UK broadcaster Sky Sports to give fans access to games while stadium attendance is restricted during the Covid-19 crisis.
The new streaming criteria will allow Championship clubs to stream any match not shown live on Sky to fans who purchase individual match passes for £10. The framework for fans who are season ticket holders gives clubs the option to stream all home matches, including those shown live on Sky, and any midweek away match, including those shown live on Sky.
Clubs cannot stream any away weekend match, live on Sky or not, within a season ticket package.
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