The deal would be a boost after fears of a lull in the rights market
The Premier League is reportedly close to sealing a US rights deal worth around $2 billion (£1.49bn).
According to the Financial Times, ViacomCBS, Disney’s ESPN, and Comcast’s NBC are all competing for the rights, driving the price up from the $1 billion (£740m) that the latter paid for the last rights cycle in 2015. The rights are being sold with all matches in a single block, rather than in separate packages.
The new deal would begin in the 2022/23 season and run until the end of the 2027/28 campaign, with second bids from interested parties due by 18 November. If it reaches the heights expected, it would be the most lucrative overseas rights deal the Premier League has signed to date.
This will be a major boost to the Premier League, after top European leagues have seen a lull in the rights market. Its domestic deal with Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime Video, and BBC Sport was rolled over this year amid fears that the pandemic would adversely affect the chances of a successful auction.
Meanwhile, other leagues have had to settle for less than their prior agreements, with Serie A turning to OTT streamer DAZN and Ligue 1 partnering with Amazon Prime Video after Mediapro dropped out of its deal during the pandemic. LaLiga is currently open to bids for its domestic broadcast rights, offering four and five-year deals for the first time in an attempt to boost interest.
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