Match Of The Day Remains With BBC Until 2019
The BBC has renewed its deal to show Premier League highlights on Match of the Day until the end of the 2018/19 season, after the corporation paid £204m to extend its run for a further three years.
The new deal, which represents a modest increase on the current contract, will include a midweek magazine programme aired on BBC2 at 10pm.
The agreement covers MOTD’s Sunday morning repeat, MOTD2 and Football Focus, with the Premier League programmes also available on the iPlayer.
ITV, who last held the highlights deal between 2001 and 2004, had been rumoured to challenge for the rights but the package will now remain with the BBC.
Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said of the deal: “The BBC has done a fantastic job with its Match of the Day programmes which provide high quality coverage and analysis for fans of Premier League clubs.
“The UK highlights allow the competition to be viewed by the maximum number of fans across the country and the addition of a mid-week magazine show will add a new dimension to the BBC’s Premier League coverage.”
BBC director general Tony Hall added: “Sport matters. It brings the nation together. It can break hearts and raise spirits. And because it matters to the public, it also matters to the BBC. That’s why it’s fantastic news that we have kept the Premier League highlights.
“It’s the best and most exciting league in the world. The BBC has made the highlights programme, through Match of the Day, a national treasure, and fans can look forward to enjoying all the drama with us for another three years.”
MOTD, which is in its 50th year, and MOTD2 have a combined weekly audience of nine million.
The live rights to Premier League games in the UK between 2016/17 and 2018/19 are yet to be awarded, but a significant uplift on the current £3.018bn generated through deals with BSkyB and BT is widely expected.
Both incumbent broadcasters are expected to bid, while Eurosport – backed by new parent company Discovery Networks International – is believed to be in contention, alongside Qatar-based BeIN, also rumoured to show an interest.
The Premier League has offered 168 games for live broadcast, up from 154 in the current contract, split across seven packages. One package includes a new set of Friday night games. No single broadcaster may secure more than 126 live matches.
