The Premier League is pushing clubs to either allow broadcasters to film in the dressing room or conduct player interviews during live matches starting next season. With new domestic broadcasting contracts worth £670 million over four years kicking off in August, Sky Sports and TNT Sports are seeking more value, and the league is backing their requests.
Consultations with clubs are underway, aimed at enhancing access for rights holders, with hopes for a resolution before the annual general meeting next month. Some clubs seem more willing to show their dressing rooms, while others, particularly certain managers, view it as a private space off-limits to cameras.
Interestingly, there seems to be some resistance from the traditional Big Six, possibly because they want to keep certain behind-the-scenes content exclusive to their platforms. For this agreement to move forward, at least 14 clubs need to get on board.
The proposed agreement would require clubs to grant access for dressing room footage, conduct halftime player interviews, or allow alternative player interviews during two home games. Although broadcasters are mainly interested in dressing room content, other options could be included to persuade less cooperative teams.
It’s been indicated that the league has communicated to clubs that failing to provide broader access could result in diminished future television rights values. Even though the league’s recent TV contracts increased, this was largely due to the provision of 70 live games per season. The cost per game has notably dropped from £101.9 million in the 2016-17 to 2018-19 period to a mere £6.2 million in the upcoming four-year cycle.
International rights continue to grow, with league contracts estimated between 2025 and 2028 potentially reaching £6.5 billion. This growth is also reflected in additional demands from foreign broadcasters like NBC in the US.
Some clubs, including Brentford, Brighton, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest, have been utilizing cameras in their dressing rooms over the past few years. Premier League champions are even required to allow filming during their trophy celebrations in the dressing room.
Bournemouth was the first club whose player Marcus Tavernier spoke with Sky Sports after a 3-1 win against Southampton last October, showcasing how clubs are adapting. Similarly, an audio clip from Thomas Frank provided a glimpse into Brentford’s pre-match preparations before playing against Arsenal in January.
Sky Sports believes that next season should feature at least 215 live Premier League games to make subscriptions more appealing. Additionally, cameras will be positioned to capture on-pitch celebrations, as operators frequently enter the field post-match to capture players’ reactions, which aims to enhance viewer engagement.
