Premier League Matches Could Soon Be Shown on a New Channel
The Premier League is reportedly considering offering an “expanded fifth package of games” to broadcasters, which could potentially lead to matches being shown on a new channel. This development comes as the auctions for live rights are expected to heat up.
According to reports, the new package would include “several complete midweek rounds” as well as Sunday clashes involving teams participating in the Europa League. Streaming service DAZN is said to be targeting the Premier League matches currently owned by Amazon Prime in the bidding process.
Currently, Amazon pays around £90 million for 60 live matches over the festive period in three seasons. However, starting from the 2025/26 campaign, all Sunday games will be screened for the first time, leading to increased interest from broadcasters.
It is worth noting that Amazon was given their first set of live rights at a discounted rate by the Premier League six years ago to draw them into the market. They were also able to extend their domestic TV deal on the same terms due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the Premier League is now seeking a significant increase from the current £5 billion three-year domestic deal in the next rights auction, as the number of matches available will increase from 200 to 270.
The cheapest package available is expected to be around £300 million per year, which has raised doubts about whether Amazon will be willing to pay that much. DAZN, on the other hand, sees the expanded Amazon pack as more attainable than the primetime Saturday and Sunday packages, which are likely to be retained by Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
DAZN, launched by Ukrainian-born British businessman Len Blavatnik in 2016, has experienced significant growth in recent years and has expanded into various sports. They currently broadcast top-flight matches in Spain and the Women’s Champions League in the UK. In addition, they offer coverage of boxing, baseball, and basketball as part of their ever-expanding portfolio.
In conclusion, the Premier League’s decision to offer an expanded fifth package of games has generated interest from broadcasters, with DAZN expected to target the matches currently owned by Amazon Prime. As the auctions for live rights approach, it remains to be seen which channel will secure the rights to screen Premier League matches in the future.