Football on TV: The Changing Landscape of Broadcasting Rights in 2025

Record-Breaking Deals Shape Football’s TV Future

Sky Sports is set to broadcast more Premier League matches than ever before from 2025/26, with rights to show at least 215 live games in the new deal.

The unprecedented coverage will include:
– At least 215 live games each season
– All first-pick matches through May 2029
– Super Sunday remaining the flagship 4:30pm slot
– More live games on Fridays and Mondays
– All final day matches broadcast live in one place

International Broadcasting Landscape

The Premier League has secured new broadcasting agreements for 2025/26-2027/28 across multiple territories. Major broadcasters include Sky Deutschland in Austria and Germany, CANAL+ in France, and Viaplay in Nordic countries.

Recent developments in European football broadcasting show varying trends:
– France had to cancel and renegotiate its media rights auction for 2024-2029
– Italy’s Serie A approved bids from DAZN and Sky worth 4.5 billion EUR
– Spain’s La Liga partnered with Telefonica and DAZN in a deal worth approximately 990 million EUR per season

Digital Transformation and Streaming Innovation

Viewing options have expanded significantly:
– Sky Sports subscribers can watch directly from the Sky Sports app
– NOW streaming service offers access to all 12 Sky Sports channels
– Streaming is available across over 60 devices
– Flexible day or month membership options are available without contracts

Looking ahead to the future, there’s potential for a significant shift toward streaming platforms, though this could impact market dynamics and valuations in the sports broadcasting industry.

Impact on Viewers and Fan Experience

The new broadcasting arrangements will bring more football to fans than ever before. The number of live Premier League games has increased significantly, from 168 games under the 2016/17 – 2018/19 deal to approximately 270 games per season under the new agreement.