https://i2-prod.football.london/incoming/article18134912.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/0_BT.jpgThe Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has revealed Sky Sports and BT Sport are considering making some action freely available for supporters to watch. Oliver Dowden confirmed in a briefing on Wednesday afternoon that he is talking to the Premier League about the possibility of screening games on free-to-air channels. The move is in a bid to stop people going round to a friend’s house with a subscription package once the action restarts.
Oliver Dowden said “I’ve raised this challenge to the Premier League in the conversations I have had with them. I have said to the Premier League, in particular, I think it wouldn’t send the best signal if they were the first or one of the first major sports to resume behind closed doors and the public at large couldn’t have access to it. The sports themselves are reliant on the revenue, so I don’t want to be in the position of issuing some blanket mandate or trying to change things round. But I do think they need to be mindful of that, and in fairness they are mindful of it. There are different ways you can both have elements of protecting revenue from broadcasts but also whether there are ways at increasing access. I have urged them to do that, and that is what they are considering as they go through the ideas of how it might work if they resume behind closed doors.”
The Premier League has been suspended since March 13 due to the Covid-19 outbreak, but clubs are committed to resuming and finishing the season once it is safe to do so. However, there is believed to be an acceptance among clubs that the campaign will be finished behind closed doors. Broadcasters are believed to be looking at plans to broadcast every match live once the campaign returns. And Dowden is hopeful that a solution with the Premier League and the broadcasters can be found.
