How Amazon Prime could spark the European Super League | The Journos

A new deal worth £ 5 billion by Amazon Prime for the English Premier League rights may happen soon - is this the end of European football or will it cause the European Super League to happen? Also on The Journos: Malky Mackay has been sacked by Ross County - are football clubs too quick to sack managers?; the best English football managers ranked; how do we balance the cinch Premiership and much more!

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00:00:00 Intro
00:01:35 Malky Mackay sacked
00:12:51 Rangers FC recruitment
00:15:00 cinch Premiership relegation
00:19:14 Amazon Prime EPL deal
00:34:10 Top 10 British football managers

Amazon Prime Eyes Expansion in Premier League Live Rights

Amazon Prime is reportedly weighing up a strategic bid in the latest auction for live Premier League match rights, signalling a potential expansion of its footprint in the lucrative football broadcasting market.

Early Steps and Current Stake

Having entered the Premier League broadcasting arena in the 2019-20 season, Amazon Prime secured a package of 60 live matches over three seasons, primarily focused on the festive period. The deal, valued at around £90million, was retained under the same terms when the Premier League extended its domestic TV deal for an additional three years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Industry sources suggest that the Premier League initially offered Amazon a discounted entry to entice the streaming service into the competitive broadcasting market. This strategic move aimed to diversify the range of broadcasters and tap into the streaming market's vast potential.

Despite scepticism about Amazon's participation in the last auction, the prospect of securing rights at a more accessible price point remains. Broadcasters anticipate that the least expensive of the five available packages could command a yearly fee of around £300m. Amazon's interest appears to be piqued by the prospect of a longer-term deal, offering greater stability and justifying production investments.

In a significant development, the English Premier League has introduced a four-year deal starting from 2025, extending the usual three-year bidding cycle. This change is expected to appeal to broadcasters, with current rights holders like Sky Sports and TNT Sport keen to acquire additional matches.

Amazon's bid would likely focus on the more economically viable packages, particularly with the entry of DAZN into the fray. DAZN reportedly considers the expanded Amazon pack within reach, as the premium weekend slots may remain with heavyweights Sky Sports and TNT Sport.

The fifth package, potentially on Amazon's radar, includes complete midweek rounds and Sunday matches involving Europa League teams. The Premier League seeks a substantial increase from the current £ 5 billion three-year domestic deal, buoyed by the availability of approximately 270 matches, up from 200.

Amidst the competitive bidding environment, the BBC has secured the rights for 'Match of the Day' for four more years from 2025, continuing as the home for free-to-air Premier League highlights.

As the landscape of sports broadcasting evolves, Amazon Prime's potential bid could further transform how fans consume live Premier League football. With the allure of a longer-term deal and the expansion of available matches, Amazon's commitment to sports broadcasting seems poised for a significant leap forward.

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