Media

Premier League nears record sale of US TV rights for about $2bn

ViacomCBS and Walt Disney Co-owned ESPN bidding for the rights with Comcast’s NBC

Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe celebrates with teammates after scoring the winner in their Premier League match against Watford. Photo: Facundo Arrizabalaga/EPA

Mon Nov 15 2021 - 07:20

The English Premier League is nearing the sale of its US television rights for about $2 billion, setting a new overseas record, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing sources familiar with the matter.

ViacomCBS and Walt Disney Co-owned ESPN are among the broadcasters bidding for the rights with Comcast's NBC, the current holder, with second-round bids due on November 18th, the FT report said. Under the deal, which will be functional from the 2022-23 season until the 2027-28 season, Premier League will sell all 38 matches in a single block rather than in separate packages.

Deal discussions occurred amid fears revenue from football’s domestic broadcast rights deals will fall across Europe’s top leagues this year, due to a lack of competition between broadcasters.

If a deal comes through, it could set a record for Premier league’s US broadcasting rights, making it the soccer league’s most lucrative overseas deal, according to the FT report.

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Disney’s ESPN, the Premier League and Comcast did not immediately respond to a Reuters requests for comments after business hours, while ViacomCBS could not be reached for a comment.

- Reuters

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