The Premier League have confirmed plans for eight Saturday evening fixtures from 2019/20.
The additional evening slot has been created for the new broadcast package that is going to tender and it will allow broadcasters to bid for rights to show 200 live matches across the season of 2019/20 and into the future and does represent a significant uplift on the current 168 games agreed to.
It also represents more than 50% of the 380 games during a campaign.
The new package also includes broadcasters to show midweek matches in their entirety and the new deal will replace the current £5,136billion struck back in 2015 and it goes without saying that the Premier League are once again looking to break that fee this time round.
The new Saturday kick offs will be 7.45pm affairs and will be screened in prime time family viewing slots, competing with the likes of Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor, but will obviously create issues for travelling fans with weekend public transport services.
All matches in three midweeks per season and one Bank Holiday round per season will also be included in the new deal.
However, no single buyer will be able to purchase rights to more than 148 games per season and the auction will take place in February – so even the armchair fan will see an increase as to watch ‘everything’ it will no doubt require multiple subscriptions once again, but with hopes that the likes of Amazon et al will come into play this time round, fans could be looking at three or more subscriptions depending on what happens.
Broadcast packages to be available:
Package A: 32 matches on Saturdays at 12:30
Package B: 32 matches on Saturdays at 17:30
Package C: 24 matches on Sundays at 14:00 and eight matches on Saturdays at 19:45
Package D: 32 matches on Sundays at 16:30
Package E: 24 matches on Mondays at 20:00 or Fridays at 19:30/20:00 and eight matches on Sundays at 14:00
Package F: 20 matches from one Bank Holiday and one midweek fixture programme
Package G: 20 matches from two midweek fixture programmes
Source: BBC.
