Premier League owners are reportedly set for a US$2bn windfall as executives close in on a record US broadcast rights deal.
Major television and streaming firms including Disney’s ESPN are engaged in an auction process which advances to the second round later this week, closing on November 18, and, according to a report in the FT, the league is on-course to seal a new record deal which exceeds the expectations of club executives.
The Premier League aims to sell the rights all 38 rounds of fixtures in a single block instead of prior deals where it split packages across multiple buyers, the FT noted.
If confirmed, the new TV rights deal will buoy club bosses in the wake of the pandemic as the UK broadcast rights were rolled-over in 2020 on the same terms as a prior package.
It may also throw the cat among the pigeons in wider football business which has appeared close to a state of flux since a breakaway of elite clubs sought to set up a European Super League. The deal would potential further expand the money-gap between English clubs and other elite European clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid which comparatively continue to face financial difficulties.
For the Premier League it underlines the position of strength (and financial disparity) for the brand and the underlying clubs.