BT SPORT are set to slash salaries for pundits such as Rio Ferdinand while not offering viewers’ discounts on their TV packages.
The coronavirus pandemic has meant no English team has been on television since Liverpool’s Champions League exit on March 11, leading to plummeting demand for on-screen experts.
Ferdinand is among the stars to regularly appear on BT SportCredit: BT Sport
According to the Mail and Mirror, the channel has told pundits they will not be receiving their end of season pro rata payments.
Typically, each panel member is allocated a number of games at the start of the season and will be paid for them once the campaign ends even if they hadn’t appeared on the show.
Pundits have to only make themselves available for selection and, during the pandemic, they are theoretically down as available for the limited BT schedule.
But it is now being reported that the broadcaster will not be making up their usual payments, in contrast to Sky who are said to be paying their panel throughout the crisis.
Both broadcasters are operating a reduced schedule during the suspension of play, BT showing their Early Kick Off show with host Jake Humphrey and guests such as Peter Crouch.
On the roster for the channel are the likes of Ferdinand, Martin Keown, Chris Sutton, Michael Owen, Robbie Savage and Karen Carney.
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Furthermore, several TV presenters and experts are freelance and expected to rely on government support if deprived of income during this period.
Broadcasters do hope the season will be completed, providing an opportunity to further work, in the summer.
Should the Premier League fail to provide the contractually stipulated number of games agreed with TV networks, teams face paying back as much as £750million.
In the meantime, Sky are offering customers the opportunity to pause subscriptions while BT donate funds to the NHS or offer a one-month credit system.
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Frank Lampard cheekily claims blue suits Rio Ferdinand as Man Utd legend wears Chelsea coat
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
