The Premier League clubs have agreed to a proposal for three-year renewal of agreements with Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and BBC Sport.
The extension to the existing contracts required the approval from the Government after a period of consideration. The Exclusion Order under the Competition Act 1998, will enable the Premier League to conclude the renewals without conducting its normal broadcast rights tender process.
UK renewals for the next broadcast cycle – from seasons 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 – will be concluded at the same overall value as the current arrangements between the Premier League and its broadcast partners.
Under the current contract, Sky paid £3.75 billion for its 128 live games a season, BT paid £975 million for 52 games, including Saturday lunchtimes and some midweek games, while Amazon paid an undisclosed fee for 20 matches. But even during the last renewal period the value of the rights fell by some 10%.
During the Covid pandemic all of the broadcasters, including the BBC which holds a highlights package, have between them screened the majority of the Premier League programme while crowds have been absent.
Richard Masters, Premier League Chief Executive, said: “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.
“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.”
The Premier League says the renewal will safeguard its levels of financial support to the football community.