Premier League And Broadcasters Roll Over Current Media Rights Deal

The Premier League has been given an ‘approval in principle’ from the government to roll over its current domestic media rights deal, with clubs unanimously voting for a three-year renewal with current broadcasters, Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC Sport. 

The news covers both live and highlights content, while the deal will be of the ‘same overall value as the current arrangements’ and last until 2025.

BT Sport says that, while it will continue with its current schedule, it will also accommodate a new Premier League agreement around fixture congestion during UEFA Champions League weeks by moving its Saturday game to an evening slot of 7.45pm ‘when teams involved have played in Europe on the prior Wednesday’. The BBC, meanwhile, will continue to screen its current slate of highlights and magazine programming.

The Premier League says the move follows an ‘approval in principle’ from the government for the rollover, which the league says will see an Exclusion Order granted to allow the league to conclude its renewal without any obligation to conduct its normal tender process. It says this was granted owing to ‘exceptional and compelling reasons’, precipitated by the coronavirus pandemic, which were demonstrated to the government.

According to the Premier League, the move will also allow it to increase its solidarity payments to the rest of the English football pyramid, which will see an ‘additional £100m of funding’ over the next four years.

The additional funding will be available to more than 1,000 clubs in the National League system, women’s and girls’ football, EFL League One and League Two clubs, and the Football Foundation. It will also support a number of football-wide projects, which will include the Premier League’s work looking at head injuries in football, anti-discrimination, and fan groups who receive funding from the Premier League. 

“The Premier League would like to express our gratitude to our broadcast partners for their continued commitment to the Premier League and support for the football pyramid,” said Richard Masters, CEO, Premier League.

“We are hugely appreciative of the Government agreeing in principle to allow this arrangement and for their continued support for the Premier League and the English game. COVID-19 has had a significant impact on football, and renewals with our UK broadcast partners will reduce uncertainty, generate stability and promote confidence within the football pyramid. 

“We know that, once concluded, this will have a positive impact on the wider industry, jobs and tax revenues and will enable us to maintain and increase our existing solidarity and community financial commitments to the football pyramid for the next four years, even though we are yet to understand the full impact of the pandemic.  

“It comes at an important time and will enable us to plan ahead with increased certainty against a more stable economic backdrop.  

“Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video and BBC Sport are excellent partners and provide fantastic coverage and programming to bring our competition to fans in the UK.”

Marc Allera, CEO Consumer, BT, said: “Throughout this difficult year the Premier League and broadcasters have all worked together to find proactive solutions to ensure the Premier League, and the lower leagues, have a safe and secure way out of the pandemic. This in principle renewal of our broadcast rights is great for our viewers, but also helps to provide vital support for the broader football community that relies on the Premier League.

“The fantastic news for our viewers is that, once the deal is concluded, they will be able to continue to enjoy the Premier League alongside the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League exclusively live on BT Sport.” 

Barbara Slater, Director, BBC Sport, added:”We very much welcome this agreement in principle from the Premier League. As long-standing partners we’ve worked with the Premier League during difficult times and none more so than in the last year. We believe the certainty that the renewal would bring for both football and our TV audiences in the UK would be of huge benefit as we emerge slowly from the coronavirus pandemic.”

Stephen van Rooyen, Chief Executive Officer, UK & Europe, Sky welcomed the renewal plan: “We are proud to have been part of the success of the Premier League from the very beginning and we have worked hard this year to provide support through the challenges of the pandemic and prove the enduring strength and depth of our partnership.

“As well as being great news for our customers, the proposed renewal will support the whole football pyramid and give much needed stability and certainty.”

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