Premier League Signs Record UK TV Deal
The Premier League has agreed a new record £6.7bn domestic broadcast deal with Sky and TNT.
The agreement has been described as the ‘largest sports media rights deal ever concluded in the UK’ by the Premier League and will kick off from the 2025/26 season.
The four-year deal sees Sky Sports and TNT Sports remain as English football’s top flight’s main broadcasters which the number televised games growing to 270 a season.
British subscription broadcaster Sky has been awarded four of the five packages, providing coverage for a minimum of 215 matches a season, with TNT Sports, recently rebranded from BT Sport, securing a minimum of 52 matches per season.
The pair will also retain their current broadcast slots. Sky Sports will continue to show the Saturday 5.30pm kick-offs, Sunday 2pm and 4.30pm kick-offs, plus evening games on Mondays and Fridays and three midweek rounds.
12.30pm kick-offs on Saturdays and two midweek match rounds will be on TNT Sports.
The Saturday 3pm blackout will remain in place, but every single 2pm Sunday kick-off will be televised on Sky Sports.
Dana Strong, Group CEO, Sky, commented, “This is a fantastic result for Sky customers, who will see a significant increase in the number of matches from the most iconic league in the world.
“We are proud of our long history with the Premier League and look forward to delivering more engagement, entertainment, and innovation to the end of the decade.
“Sky is the undisputed home for sport fans in the UK.”
It was thought that the latest rights-cycle would face more disruption from streaming services with the likes of Netflix, Apple and Amazon showing interest. However, the traditional broadcasters have managed to stave off the competition.
In fact, Amazon Prime, which shows 20 matches per season under the league’s current deal, has not secured rights in the new agreement.
Premier League football will remain on free-to-air television after the BBC secured the rights to show highlights on Match of the Day. The BBC’s deal also includes MOTD2 and Football Focus plus additional digital rights for its online platforms.
The deal represents 4% increase in live rights value compared to the previous process. The current three-year £5bn domestic TV rights deal expires at the end of 2024-25, after having been extended due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, commented, “We are delighted to announce new deals with Sky Sports and TNT Sports that will extend our partnership for a further four years and see more Premier League matches than ever before shown live from 2025/26 onwards.
“The outcome of this process underlines the strength of the Premier League and is testament to our clubs, players and managers who continue to deliver the world’s most competitive football in full stadiums, and to supporters, who create an unrivalled atmosphere every week.”
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive
“As longstanding and valued partners, Sky Sports and TNT Sports are renowned for consistently delivering world-class coverage and programming. We have enjoyed record audiences and attendances in recent seasons, and we know that their continued innovation will drive more people to watch and follow the Premier League.
“We are also extremely pleased to extend our partnership with BBC Sport, which will continue to bring weekly highlights of all Premier League matches to the widest possible audience in the UK. Match of the Day has been an institution for generations of football fans in this country and remains incredibly popular with fans of all ages.
“The outcome of this process underlines the strength of the Premier League and is testament to our clubs, players and managers who continue to deliver the world’s most competitive football in full stadiums, and to supporters, who create an unrivalled atmosphere every week.”
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