Rival broadcasters could swoop for Match of the Day’s £211 million Premier League television rights, creating more turmoil for BBC Sport.
Richard Masters, chief executive of English football’s top tier, recently confirmed that auctioning for its next domestic television packages would begin this year. Premier League sources maintain the temporary walkout prompted by Gary Lineker’s tweet furore will have no bearing as deal-making begins.
However, as rivals look to exploit budget cuts at the BBC, one broadcast insider says competition could be “fiercer than it has been for years”. Since ITV’s ill-fated Premiership program was axed in 2004, the BBC has had a stranglehold on terrestrial highlights.
But there was no auction for the current three-year cycle, as all parties had agreed to a rollover during the pandemic. ITV lost live coverage of the Champions League in 2015 but recently explored a potential deal to acquire BT Sport. Channel 4, which bought England team Uefa Nations League rights, is also becoming a bigger player in sporting rights.
Sources close to ITV said no decision had been made about bidding. The BBC’s rights package is worth £211.5 million, covering three seasons until 2024-25. Fears that Lineker could quit the BBC over the impartiality storm have eased in recent days, but if the BBC were to lose the rights, a renewal of his deal – due to run out in 2025 – would be in doubt.
Insiders say ITV would inevitably be circling as executives consider options to boost the ITVX streaming service. ITV previously snatched England’s top-tier highlights and Des Lynam, the corporation’s star anchor, for 2001 to 2004.
Its Saturday night show was widely criticized, however, and the return of MotD to BBC One offered Lineker a chance to establish himself as the main host. The Premier League this month ruled out scrapping the 3pm blackout when it offered up its latest rights packages for tender.
That gives the English Football League a rare edge in negotiations as it is ready to ditch the 3pm rule as it finds a new television partner from the 2024-25 season.