Heading: Premier League Set to Make Major Broadcast Changes for 2024/25 Season
The Premier League is preparing for a significant overhaul of its broadcast rights strategy, with changes set to take effect from the 2024/25 season. According to reports from the Daily Mail, the league plans to show every Sunday match live on television, increasing the number of televised matches from 200 to 270. While this move aims to attract higher offers from broadcasters, fans have expressed concerns about the potential impact on travel and match attendance.
Increased Television Coverage
The Premier League’s decision to broadcast every Sunday match live on television is part of a broader effort to revamp its broadcast rights strategy. With the current domestic rights deal valued at £5 billion, the league hopes that these changes will lead to even higher offers from broadcasters. The increased number of televised matches will provide fans with more opportunities to watch their favorite teams in action.
Impact on Match Times
However, the changes in broadcast strategy will result in adjustments to match times. Fans can expect midday and 7pm kick-off times on Sundays to accommodate the additional televised games. Furthermore, Friday and Monday evening matches are also set to increase as part of the proposed alterations. While these changes aim to enhance the viewing experience for fans at home, concerns have been raised about the impact on travel and attendance.
Fan Concerns
Many supporters have taken to social media to express their reservations about the new match times. One fan tweeted, “Fans don’t want 7pm. This country can’t accommodate (the) travel.” Another fan suggested an alternative solution, stating, “They could achieve this by changing the ‘normal’ game time to 2pm Sunday, rather than messing up away fans’ chances of getting home.” The sentiment among some fans is that the 3pm blackout should remain intact to preserve the matchday experience for those attending games in person.
Broadcast Tender Document
The proposed changes to the Premier League’s broadcast strategy come ahead of the release of the next tender document for broadcasters in October. It is expected that the number of television packages available will decrease, with each package containing more games. This means that the 20-match package currently held by Amazon Prime is set to disappear. The league hopes that this restructuring will increase the value of the broadcast deal for the period from 2024 to 2027.
Expected Bids from Broadcasters
Sky Sports and TNT Sport, formerly known as BT Sport, are anticipated to make significant bids for the broadcast rights. Additionally, there is interest from streaming giants such as Amazon, Apple TV, and Disney. With the Premier League being one of the most-watched and lucrative football leagues in the world, broadcasters are eager to secure the rights to broadcast matches and tap into the vast fan base.
Conclusion
The Premier League’s decision to show every Sunday match live on television from the 2024/25 season is part of a broader effort to increase the value of its broadcast rights deal. While this move aims to attract higher offers from broadcasters, fans have expressed concerns about the impact on travel and match attendance. The league hopes that the proposed changes, along with a decrease in the number of television packages, will lead to a more lucrative deal for the period from 2024 to 2027. As broadcasters prepare to submit their bids, football fans eagerly await the outcome and hope that their concerns will be taken into consideration.