The Premier League, on Friday, announced that the non-televised games of the competition will be made available via pay-per-view (PPV) in order to compensate with the matchday income for the clubs, as the games are still being played behind closed doors, and also for the fans to help them continue to watch their team play.
As per the agreement, the scheduled games will run as it is, while the remaining five matches - which have not been selected - will be available on a pay-per-view basis.
"Football is not the same without supporters at matches," a statement read. "The Premier League and our clubs remain committed to the safe return of fans as soon as possible."
As things stand, only 200 of the 380 games of the season are scheduled to be aired domestically in the UK whereas the global audience is able to watch all of them live. Since the temporary halt due to the global pandemic in March, the Premier League aired every league game live in the UK on Sky, BT, Amazon or the BBC. But now that the clubs are facing a significant drop in the match revenue, the 20 teams decided to work on a temporary system to compensate with the loss.
Just in, the likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Leicester and Newcastle will all have their games added to the PPV list for the first weekend back after the international break.
That said, a fee of £14.95/€16.95 has been set for a single pay-per-view game, and the fans as well as the pundits have rightfully voiced their degression over the move. This is what they are saying:
£14.95 to watch a game on pay per view is disgraceful. £5, ok, but £14.95? It's disgusting. At a time when PL clubs spent £1.2bn on players. When they'll give agents £200m. When so many families are struggling. The creed of greed is in DNA but this truly stinks.
— Henry Winter (@henrywinter)
Understand were the only club to vote against pay-per-view at today's Premier League meeting. Result was apparently 19-1. A lone voice of reason ....
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph)
The premier league is charging £14.5 per game on pay per view..... insane.
We actually blessed in SA with TV. We get every game, every weekend, with a friends DSTV catch up login deets
— Muzz (@muzz_robertson)
It is a stupid decision by the Premier League, clubs and tv broadcasters to charge £14.95 for pay-per-view matches, as people struggle with the effects of the coronavirus on their finances. If it was a £5, that may be reasonable.
— Scott Rose (@srose93)
The Premier League and Sky have literally tried this pay-per-view model before (Premiership Plus from 2001-2007 — long before the advent of illegal streaming). It was a huge disaster.
— Gavan Casey (@GavanCasey)
Premier league having a pay per view is bad enough but charging £15 is absolutely criminal all about the money and not about the game now
— Lee Anderson (@leeanderson1874)
This is a really bad move by the to charge £14.95 for single matches that have been shown free for 6 months !
— Gary Neville (@GNev2)
Here’s a morning debate. How do people honestly think clubs will survive paying big money transfers for players without pay per view services implied in the current climate? What are the alternatives?
— Benny J (@BennyJay84)
Loyal season ticket holder for over 30 years home and away, along we many many people the same or longer. Currently paying my ST DD and you think you’re gonna manipulate fans into a pay per view scenario. No thanks. Football is nothing without fans UTC
— Rocket (@rocketron138)
So Sky decide to charge people £15 a match, at a time when most of the north of England are going into lockdown and people are losing their jobs. Their greed is unreal!
— paul (@paul72375887)
Feature image courtesy: AFP / Rui Vieira
