Reasons why Amazon Prime Video will stop broadcasting the Premier League
For the past six years, Amazon has offered every Premier League match, two per season. However, this partnership is set to end at the end of 2024 as the Premier League enters into new broadcast rights negotiations. Amazon’s exclusive 20-game season package was not available when the Premier League sold its rights last year. Instead, rights from 2025-2026 onwards have been split between Sky Sports and TNT Sport (formerly BT Sport).
Also read: LeBron James sets Christmas Day record with Lakers’ thrilling win over Warriors
According to The Athletic, Amazon would have to pay more than 10 times the £30 million a season it was previously paying to continue broadcasting the Premier League beyond this year. As the report explains, Amazon declined to participate in the auction, leaving Sky and TNT to secure the new broadcast rights. Despite hopes that Amazon could bring long-term competition to the market, the change marks a return to the “old guard” for broadcasters.
For many soccer fans, Amazon Prime Video was the only platform that offered live Premier League coverage at home. With millions of households already subscribing to Prime for shopping benefits, watching a Premier League match has become an added bonus. Amazon also used to offer free trials to attract new members, but those days are long gone. From next season, fans will need access to TNT or Sky to legally watch Premier League matches at home.
Also read: AI Startup CTO’s Green Card Denied by USCIS and Why – Relationship with Apple
The good news for those who still have access to Sky or TNT is that a record 270 of the Premier League’s 380 games will be available to watch live. Although Amazon’s reign is over, fans who subscribe to these platforms have a variety of options and will continue to receive extensive coverage.
FAQ:
Why did Amazon stop bidding for Premier League rights?
Amazon chose not to bid on the new Premier League rights because the cost of continuing to broadcast them was significantly higher than before. The new rights package will likely cost more than 10 times what Amazon was paying previously, but how will Amazon’s coverage differ from Sky and TNT?
Amazon’s coverage was unique, with exclusive live coverage of all 10 games each matchday, and no kick-off blackouts that Sky or TNT don’t have.
Disclaimer: This content is created by a third party. The views expressed here are those of the respective authors/organizations and do not represent the views of Economic Times (ET). ET does not guarantee, endorse, endorse, or in any way be liable for its content. Please take all necessary steps to ensure that the information and content provided is correct, updated, and verified. ET disclaims all warranties, express or implied, with respect to the report and its contents.
