The Premier League’s broadcasting rights could be up for grabs as the company prepares to sell its domestic TV rights for the first time in six years. One company looking to enter the market is British streaming company DAZN, known for its boxing coverage. The Times reports that DAZN is eager to make a splash in the British football market and sees the Premier League auction as the perfect opportunity to do so.
To make their offering more attractive to UK broadcasters, the Premier League plans to increase the number of games available for broadcast from 200 to 270. There will be five packages of games sold, potentially going to five separate broadcasters. However, Sky Sports and TNT Sports are expected to remain the major players in the market, although DAZN could pose a serious challenge to TNT. DAZN is particularly interested in securing the Saturday 12:30pm slot and may enter a bidding war with TNT to take it from their rival.
There is also a small chance that YouTube may enter the race for one of the slots, but Apple has ruled themselves out. The value of the domestic rights package is not expected to rise from the current estimated £1.71 billion paid in 2018. This number has remained flat since 2015, which is considered the peak of the Premier League’s TV value.
It is unlikely that Amazon will engage in a bidding war to keep its current set of fixtures focused around the league’s festive period. According to reports, Amazon paid a minimal amount for their current rights to show two game weeks worth of fixtures. While the price for domestic TV rights is expected to remain static, Premier League chiefs are not concerned as the majority of profit comes from the league’s overseas packages.
Overall, the upcoming auction for the Premier League’s domestic TV rights presents an opportunity for companies like DAZN to enter the market and potentially challenge established broadcasters like Sky Sports and TNT Sports. The increased number of games available for broadcast and the competition among broadcasters could lead to a shake-up in the broadcasting landscape. However, the value of the domestic rights package is not expected to rise significantly, as the league’s overseas packages continue to drive the majority of profit. It remains to be seen which companies will secure the rights and how this will impact the viewing experience for football fans in the UK.