Premier League agrees broadcast rights deal extension subject to UK Government approval

Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video and BBC Sport to retain rights to EPL

English Premier League (EPL) football clubs have unanimously agreed to a three-year renewal of the EPL’s UK live and non-live broadcast rights agreements with Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video and BBC Sport.

The rolled over £4.8 billion TV rights deal, which will run from seasons 2022-23 to 2024-25, will include an extra £100 million of trickle-down funding and means that there will be no rights tender process. The deal is subject to UK government approval, although it has been agreed in principle.

The additional £100 million will be provided over the next four years and will extend support to areas of the football community particularly vulnerable to the impacts of COVID-19, the league said.

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.

Richard Masters, Premier League chief executive, said: “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. ”

The approval from Government will be embodied in an Exclusion Order under the Competition Act 1998, which will enable the Premier League to conclude the renewals without conducting its normal broadcast rights tender process.

In light of the damaging impact of the COVID-19 pandemic throughout the English football pyramid, the Premier League was able to demonstrate to Government exceptional and compelling reasons for the Exclusion Order, it said in a statement.