October 19 – The Premier League is increasing the number of live televised fixtures in the UK from 200 to around 270 in its next rights cycle.
On Wednesday, the league officially initiated a tender process for its upcoming round of domestic TV rights with the hopes that this auction will bring increased revenues to what is already the richest league in world football.
Broadcasters can bid for five live packages of between 42 and 65 games in a four-year deal from the 2025-26 season.
The past two UK rights cycles (2019-22 and 2022-23) were for three-season cycles and generated £5.01 billion and £5 billion respectively – the Premier League was allowed by UK competition regulators to roll over the deal from the first cycle to the second due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The addition of more live rights packages and an extended year to the license opens the way for a significant boost in revenue as well as broadcast partners.
Currently Sky holds four packages, covering 128 live matches per season, TNT (formerly BT Sport) has two packages featuring 52 matches, and Amazon holds one package for 20 matches.
A key change to the TV scheduling includes the announcement that every 2pm Sunday kick-off will be televised for the first time in Premier League history. The Premier League said this increase will allow for the preservation of the traditional Saturday 3pm blackout.
Existing kick-off times are being maintained, featuring fixtures at 12.30pm and 5.30pm on Saturdays, 2pm and 4.30pm on Sundays, and one at 8pm on either Monday or Friday. The Premier League has added a round of midweek matches that will be offered as a package, aligning with Amazon’s Boxing Day live coverage.
The BBC’s free-to-air highlights package is not affected by the TV deal alterations, though is obviously be up for re-tendering.
The tender process is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1714837926labto1714837926ofdlr1714837926owedi1714837926sni@g1714837926niwe.1714837926yrrah1714837926