Amazon UK will have the exclusive rights to 20 matches per season for the 3 seasons 2019/20 to 2021/22. The landmark deal also marks the first time that a full Premier League round will be broadcast.
Premier League on Amazon UK
The deal will not affect other countries than the UK but when a relatively new player such as Amazon has the muscle to wrestle away broadcast rights to Premier League, we should take note. Combined UK Premier League rights for the three seasons 2019/20 to 2021/22 have a price tag close to Ł5 billion pounds.
BT and Sky will continue to broadcast the majority of the matches but Amazon now has the rights for two full rounds, including all the Boxing Day games just after Christmas. Amazon will also be allowed to show highlights from all matches in the each season.
- ”This will be the first time a full round of Premier League fixtures will be broadcast live in the UK,” said Amazon. ”The Premier League is the most watched sports league in the world. Over these two December fixture rounds Prime members will be able to watch every team, every game, so no matter which Premier League team you support, you’re guaranteed to see them play live on Prime Video.”
Price not disclosed
Amazon has not disclosed how much it has paid but it is clear that the company is very serious about participating in TV sports. The company has just bought some of the most expensive sports rights in the world. Just like that.
Amazon is also broadcasting US Open Tennis, ATP World Tennis, and NFL in the UK.
- ” Amazon is an exciting new partner for the Premier League and we are very pleased they have chosen to invest in these rights,” said Richard Scudamore, Executive Chairman, Premier League. ” Prime Video will be an excellent service on which fans can consume live Premier League football – including for the first time in the UK a full round of matches – and we look forward to working with them from season 2019/20 onwards.”
Netflix has on several occasions reiterated that it has no interest in live sports. Amazon and Netflix are the two only TV companies with near-global direct-to-consumer reach.
Also read: LaLiga planning to launch streaming service this summer
So, what’s next? Will Amazon succeed in breaking up the cable TV bundle one step at a time? That is too early to say but this is a very important development and if successful Amazon may decide to take a bigger slice of the pie come 2022.
The matches will be exclusively available on Amazon Prime Video in the UK for no extra cost to subscribers. Non-members will need to sign up to Prime for Ł7.99 per month.
- Source: Amazon, Premier League
