THE PREMIER LEAGUE are set to announce a huge change from next season but fans fear the “country won’t be able to cope”.
With just six weeks to go until the start of the new season, changes are already being made for the 2024/25 campaign next year.
The Daily Mail report that the Premier League plan to have every Sunday match shown live on television from the start of that season.
The revamp is part of planned alterations to the league’s broadcast rights strategy, with the number of televised matches increasing from 200 to 270.
However, the changes mean that fans will face midday and 7pm kick-off times to accommodate the additional televised games.
Friday and Monday evening matches will also increase as part of the proposals.
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The Premier League are keen to attract higher offers from broadcasters, with their current domestic rights deal worth £5billion.
Clubs playing in the Europa League stand to profit from the changes as they will receive £1million per televised Sunday match.
Supporters are not convinced, though, with one tweeting: “Fans don’t want 7pm. This country can’t accommodate (the) travel.”
Another wrote: “They could achieve this by changing the ‘normal’ game time to 2pm Sunday, rather than messing up away fans’ chances of getting home.”
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A third also commented: “3pm blackout must stay cause of fans in stadiums but Sunday 7pm will keep fans there.”
Meanwhile, one more argued: “We don’t want changes to the times, just put them all on the TV. Simple.”
The proposed changes come ahead of the next tender document for broadcasters being released in October.
According to the report, the number of television packages available is set to decrease.
Instead, each package will contain more games, with the 20-match package currently held by Amazon Prime set to disappear.
The Premier League hope that this will increase the value of the deal they can agree for the period from 2024 to 2027.
Sky Sports and TNT Sport, formerly BT Sport, are expected to table major bids amid interest from Amazon, Apple TV and Disney.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
