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Premier League: Games not selected for broadcast in October will be available to fans on a pay-per-view basis

Last updated on .From the section Premier Leaguecomments2154

Callum Wilson goes to kiss a TV camera
Premier League football has been played behind closed doors since the competition resumed in June

Premier League games not selected for broadcast in October will be available to fans on a pay-per-view basis.

The five fixtures per round not already picked to be shown live, will be available on BT Sport Box Office or Sky Sports Box Office, priced at £14.95.

Clubs have agreed this "interim solution" to allow fans to continue watching their teams live.

Premier League clubs voted 19-1 in favour of the move, with Leicester City the only one to vote against it.

The move has drawn criticism from football supporters, while the Premier League said it and its clubs "remain committed to the safe return of fans as soon as possible".

Spectators have been unable to attend Premier League games since football was halted on 13 March because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The top flight resumed on 17 June with the remaining 92 games of last season being played behind closed doors and the opening games of this season have followed suit.

The Premier League and UK government had hoped to bring fans back into stadiums from 1 October but those plans were scrapped following an increase in coronavirus cases.

Sky Sports managing director Rob Webster said: "Our subscribers still get more than 140 of the very best matches, while supporters of individual clubs won't have to miss out on any games during this period."

BT Sport said fans without a subscription would still be able to access their Box Office service.

Former Manchester United and England right-back Gary Neville, now a Sky pundit, said on social media it was a "really bad move" by the Premier League.

In a statement, the Football Supporters' Association urged broadcasters to "reconsider their pricing".

"Today's announcement shows that fan power works," the FSA said. "At the start of this season the Premier League and its broadcasters had planned to leave match-going fans entirely locked out of their side's matches; now thanks to the sustained pressure of our #LetUsWatch campaign all games will be available for fans.

"Many Premier League clubs have already taken money from fans for matches they can't attend, so we urge them to get refunds out to those supporters as soon as possible, particularly season ticket holders."

Alex Hurst, the chair of Newcastle United's Supporters Trust said:external-link "The idea that Premier League clubs need to implement PPV because of economic needs would carry more weight if they hadn't just spent £1bn on players, furloughed staff, received government loans, weren't charging fans for games they aren't going to and hadn't just made thousands of staff redundant."

Supporters of EFL clubs can buy match passes to watch their teams for £10 using the iFollow service.

'The Premier League's move has raised eyebrows within government' - analysis

BBC sports editor Dan Roan

Ever since last season resumed, all Premier League matches have been available to watch live via the top flight's broadcast partners. This was partly to help the government encourage fans to stay at home while games stayed behind closed doors, rather than congregating outside grounds or in pubs.

But having had their hopes of a partial return of fans inside grounds from 1 October dashed, despite the success of pilot events, the clubs have had enough of generating nothing from these matches.

Their annoyance at being told turnstiles must remain shut when pressure is also building on them to come up with a bailout for the EFL, is likely to have hardened their stance.

But after clubs spent more than £1bn in the summer transfer window, and at a time when many supporters will be struggling financially, there will be anger about having to pay £15 for matches fans had grown used to watching for no extra cost, on top of their subscriptions for Sky and BT. Those who have also bought season tickets will be particularly infuriated.

I understand the Premier League's move has raised eyebrows within government, and clubs will now come under renewed pressure to refund season ticket holders, and perhaps reduce the pay-per-view cost going forward.

October fixtures

Saturday 17 October

Everton v Liverpool - BT Sport (12:30 BST)

Chelsea v Southampton - PPV on BT Sport Box Office (15:00 BST)

Manchester City v Arsenal - Sky Sports (17:30 BST)

Newcastle v Manchester United - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (20:00 BST)

Sunday 18 October

Sheffield United v Fulham - PPV on BT Sport Box Office (12:00 BST)

Crystal Palace v Brighton - Sky Sports (14:00 BST)

Tottenham v West Ham - Sky Sports (16:30 BST)

Leicester City v Aston Villa - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (19:15 BST)

Monday 19 October

West Brom v Burnley - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (17:30 BST)

Leeds v Wolves - Sky Sports (20:00 BST)

Friday 23 October

Aston Villa v Leeds - PPV on BT Sport Box Office (20:00 BST)

Saturday 24 October

West Ham v Manchester City - BT Sport (12:30 BST)

Fulham v Crystal Palace - PPV on BT Sport Box Office (15:00 BST)

Manchester United v Chelsea - Sky Sports (17:30 BST)

Liverpool v Sheffield United - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (20:00 BST)

Sunday 25 October

Southampton v Everton - Sky Sports (14:00 GMT)

Wolves v Newcastle - Sky Sports (16:30 GMT)

Arsenal v Leicester - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (19:15 GMT)

Monday 26 October

Brighton v West Brom - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (17:30 GMT)

Burnley v Tottenham - Sky Sports (20:00 GMT)

Friday 30 October

Wolves v Crystal Palace - PPV on BT Sport Box Office (20:00 GMT)

Saturday 31 October

Sheffield United v Man City - BT Sport (12:30 BST)

Burnley v Chelsea - PPV on BT Sport Box Office (15:00 BST)

Liverpool v West Ham - Sky Sports (17:30 BST)

Sunday 1 November

Aston Villa v Southampton - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (12:00 GMT)

Newcastle United v Everton - Sky Sports (14:00 GMT)

Man Utd v Arsenal - Sky Sports (16:30 GMT)

Tottenham v Brighton - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (19:15 GMT)

Monday 2 November

Fulham v West Brom - PPV on Sky Sports Box Office (17:30 GMT)

Leeds v Leicester - Sky Sports (20:00 GMT)

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2154 comments

  • Comment posted by IR, at 15:14 9 Oct 2020

    Don't think so. I've already paid for my season ticket and now they want more? Ain't gonna happen. Money is all they think about

    • Reply posted by Mr and Mrs Banks, at 15:18 9 Oct 2020

      Mr and Mrs Banks replied:
      If you’re a season ticket holder, they should send you a code or something so you can watch it for free. Totally agree with you.

  • Comment posted by Mertornottomert , at 15:23 9 Oct 2020

    Pop down your non league clubs. They'll appreciate that 15 quid much more. Game of footy and a pie aswell. Boycott tv companies

    • Reply posted by KRR, at 15:25 9 Oct 2020

      KRR replied:
      You're absolutely right, but at the moment we can't, can we? (And by cracky, £15? My non-league Scottish team is £6 at the gate.

  • Comment posted by Jonoridge, at 15:22 9 Oct 2020

    As a Villa fan I've been played like a right muppet. I have BT Sport, Amazon Prime and grabbed a NOW TV Sports subscription this month. Now I find out I have to pay £14.99 per Villa game this month on top of all that.

    Be right back. I'm going to get 'MUG' tattooed on my forehead (whilst socially distancing of course).

    • Reply posted by Chris, at 15:31 9 Oct 2020

      Chris replied:
      Sky Sports would normally have had 128 games this season, BT 52, so you're not losing out, you're just not getting the bonus additional games that we've got used to seeing since football came back.

      As a Leicester fan I'm quite relieved as it means I won't have to see viller give us another kicking.

  • Comment posted by WhenDovesCry, at 15:15 9 Oct 2020

    The final nail into the premier league's financial coffin.

    The greed is getting worse... And I did t think it could.

    • Reply posted by The Old Trafford Career Derailment Scheme, at 15:21 9 Oct 2020

      The Old Trafford Career Derailment Scheme replied:
      I definitely thought it could. There's no depths people will plunge for the sake of profit

  • Comment posted by SebastianR, at 15:14 9 Oct 2020

    If you don't like it, don't pay. Simple.

    It will encourage people to watch it illegally online.

  • Comment posted by El Matador, at 15:20 9 Oct 2020

    Another mechanism purely designed to fleece the average fan. Not something I'd spend a single penny on, but who am I to judge what other people choose to spend their money on?

    I urge people to be mindful of how the elite institutions in this sport have behaved during the pandemic.

  • Comment posted by User0323066196, at 15:24 9 Oct 2020

    Absolutely disgarceful decision, how can the Premier League justify a charge of 14.95 to watch a match in tele at a time when a lot of people are out of work or short of dispisable income.

    This is going to push more and more people to look for unofficial streams.

    • Reply posted by matti, at 16:36 9 Oct 2020

      matti replied:
      Imagine how much a real fan has to pay to watch his team when they arent on TV. They are still offering their normal service just extra at an extra cost. How is that wrong?

  • Comment posted by Pavster, at 15:26 9 Oct 2020

    Really this was the best they could come up with. That’s 16.6p a minute to watch 90 minutes. It used to cost around 6.99 to watch a match on setanta (years ago) which would be more reasonable than this. Haven’t football fans put enough money in the pockets of sky and the premier league. Time to give something back. Shocking

    • Reply posted by arcadian, at 17:24 9 Oct 2020

      arcadian replied:
      90 minutes ? On average, the ball is actually in play for 54 minutes in the Premier League.

  • Comment posted by mgotb, at 15:15 9 Oct 2020

    Bloody disgusting Premier league you see a disgrace

    • Reply posted by D1679061219718, at 16:44 9 Oct 2020

      D1679061219718 replied:
      Its the globalist reimagining sports , without fans
      Fans as people are no longer required for the elite product

  • Comment posted by Billy BongBong, at 15:25 9 Oct 2020

    Sky are taking the p???...Their prices recently went up, now they want more...what a joke

    • Reply posted by Silentbobni, at 17:32 9 Oct 2020

      Silentbobni replied:
      I'm no fan of sky but this isn't from them bt or amazon, this is the clubs and the prem league double dipping.

  • Comment posted by idontwantadisplayname, at 15:20 9 Oct 2020

    there's more chance of me climbing mount everest dressed as a penguin than me paying 15 quid to watch a football match on my pc. or on anything really. even if they invented a toaster that can live stream the internet, i'm still out.

    • Reply posted by chris sapsford, at 16:37 9 Oct 2020

      chris sapsford replied:
      Funniest comment on here

  • Comment posted by Joe, at 15:23 9 Oct 2020

    Squeezing every last penny out of the punter, think I'll be sticking with the radio!

  • Comment posted by emmsea, at 15:15 9 Oct 2020

    Put them on for free, or at least for an optional payment. It is not the time to squeeze money out of loyal fans.

    • Reply posted by Used to be fast, at 17:45 9 Oct 2020

      Used to be fast replied:
      Agree, player's salaries in the Premier league should be helping make up the shortfall. The money they are on it is obscene that they haven't been hit in the pocket during this pandemic.

  • Comment posted by Hex, at 15:16 9 Oct 2020

    So you can get BT Sport for a fiver but if you want to watch a game of hey haven't picked it'll cost you fifteen quid?!

    • Reply posted by kenco, at 15:50 9 Oct 2020

      kenco replied:
      Also 50% more than a 1 day pass for all of the sky sports channels. PL just ripping fans off.

  • Comment posted by evac1973, at 15:16 9 Oct 2020

    Greed, pure greed. I got a now tv pass to watch the football, as all the games were being shown. That will quickly be de-activated now!

    • Reply posted by mchnelson, at 15:20 9 Oct 2020

      mchnelson replied:
      I went for this as well, knowing fans would not be allowed back, so thought all games would be shown on one system or another. I already have Amazon Prime and EE mobile phone comes with BT sport. I was using NowTV Mobile but decided if it was continuing to show all games I would buy the full screen. At least it can be cancelled after a month. Good to see no Spurs match is set as PPV this month.

  • Comment posted by Boris no no no no yes, at 15:18 9 Oct 2020

    Pure greed
    All about profit, no interest in fans

    • Reply posted by AnotherIdiotCommentator, at 16:17 9 Oct 2020

      AnotherIdiotCommentator replied:
      Can't see how they will make profit by driving consumers away.

  • Comment posted by D1713346643628, at 15:29 9 Oct 2020

    I've really fallen out of love with top-flight football since lockdown. From Spurs and Liverpool trying fast ones with furlough to Arsenal laying off 50 odd staff members while signing Willian days later. Pure greed. I don't know if anyone feels the same but I went to watch Hendon and Corinthian Casuals play in the last few weeks. Local clubs do care about their communities and deserve support.

    • Reply posted by D1679061219718, at 16:48 9 Oct 2020

      D1679061219718 replied:
      Product is soiled , with no heart or soul, only selfish BLM privileged virtual signallers, might just outlast irrelevant BBC

  • Comment posted by Steve, at 15:23 9 Oct 2020

    £15 per game + sky + BT Sport o dear!....Amazingly, I also like to watch baseball, it costs £100 per year for an MLB subscription, that gives you every single game live and on play back; that's 2,456+ games per season or about 4p per game!

  • Comment posted by Gild-Ath, at 15:19 9 Oct 2020

    Premier league clubs should organise their own coverage and stream it to their own fans for a decent price.

    • Reply posted by El Matador, at 15:22 9 Oct 2020

      El Matador replied:
      or if they could somehow give season ticket holders a unique code to stream games; not the real deal, but at least cover some of the outlay of their loyalty to the club by buying the season ticket. For those just after the match day, a small subscription wouldn't be unreasonable.

  • Comment posted by OmNom, at 15:18 9 Oct 2020

    £15 a game? The Premier League is never going to learn.

    • Reply posted by Pinno, at 00:07 10 Oct 2020

      Pinno replied:
      they don't care all they want is the revenue, the likes of us are irrelevant a total boycott for a few weeks might make em think ?

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