The Premier League has requested that clubs grant broadcasters the right to film inside dressing rooms or conduct in-game player interviews during live coverage beginning next season. Sky Sports and TNT Sports are seeking more for their £6.7 billion domestic TV deal, which begins in August. The league supports their demands.
The league is reportedly consulting with clubs about increased access for rights holders and hopes to reach an agreement before its AGM next month. Some clubs are more willing to allow broadcasters to film in their locker rooms, while some managers are hesitant to allow cameras into what they consider their inner sanctum.
The traditional Big Six are thought to be pushing back. Some clubs suspect that the Big Six are resisting because they want to save behind-the-scenes content for their own channels, where they can market to their fans and increase their already significant commercial advantage. If the league is to make a contractual commitment to the broadcasters, it must secure the support of 14 clubs.
According to the league’s proposals, each club would be required to provide dressing room access, a half-time player interview, or an interview with a substituted player at two home games. The broadcasters are most interested in dressing-room footage, but the other options have been included to appease the most hesitant clubs.
The league is said to have warned clubs that unless broadcasters are given more access, the value of future TV rights deals is likely to fall. Although the value of the league’s TV contract has increased for the next cycle, this has been accomplished solely by offering 70 more live games per season.
Sky and TNT’s per-game fees have dropped significantly, from £10.19 million between 2016-17 and 2018-19 to £6.2 million over the next four years.
Overseas TV rights are increasing, with the league’s contracts from 2025 to 2028 worth £6.5 billion, but foreign rights holders, particularly NBC in the United States, are demanding more.
Several clubs, including Brentford, Brighton, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest, have conducted trials with cameras in their dressing rooms in recent years. After winning the Premier League trophy, the champions must allow crews to film celebrations in their dressing rooms.
Bournemouth was the first club to offer a substituted player interview, with Marcus Tavernier speaking to Sky Sports after he was taken off in their 3-1 win over Southampton last October.
An audio clip of Thomas Frank giving a pre-match team talk before Brentford hosted Arsenal in January went viral after being posted on TNT Sports.
Sky Sports will broadcast at least 215 live Premier League games next season, up from 128, and believes it must provide more value to its subscribers.
Next season, Premier League camera crews will be permitted on the pitch to film goal celebrations. Camera operators using so-called Steadicams, who frequently enter the field at the final whistle, will be able to record players’ reactions, bringing viewers closer to the action.
