The Premier League will earn £1.4 billion over a three-year period to 2103 for its overseas broadcasting rights. But it sees great potential for expanding this stream of income, much more so than in the domestic market.
The Premier League will earn £1.4 billion over a three-year period to 2103 for its overseas broadcasting rights. But it sees great potential for expanding this stream of income, much more so than in the domestic market.
At one time it placed its faith in the idea of a 39th game which would bring a competitive game to, say, Dubai, Hong Kong or Shanghai. But that is now dismissed as a rather old-fashioned idea which is not going to be revived. Instead of flying the players to the fans, the plan is to use new technology to give the armchair fans the feeling that they are actually at the match.
The Premier League is in talks with several companies about developing software that would allow fans around the world to select matches and choose they own sightlines creating the illusion that they are sitting in the stands. It would even be possible to choose a friend to sit next you so there would be no need to suffer the opinions of the Bloke Behind as one does in real matches. If you turned your head one way you would be looking at one goal and turning the other way would bring the other goal into vision.
For those hoping to enjoy the ultimate armchair experience in the UK, it is likely to be available on a much more limited scale with matches at 3 p.m. on Saturday being excluded. So there will be no escaping parking problems or overcrowded trains or over priced refreshments of often dubious quality. But then perhaps that is part of the whole match day experience.