Premier League matches are a big draw for fans but the league faces some issues that need to be addressed. One of these is the way it sells rights to its games.
When a firm acquires exclusive vertical rights, it gains a competitive advantage and competitors suffer a loss. This is called a negative externality in economics.
Broadcasting Rights
The rights to broadcast Premier League matches are among the most lucrative in professional sports. Yet since their first auction in 1992 BSkyB has used these rights as a battering ram to dominate the British pay-TV market, despite numerous interventions by the European Commission and UK competition authorities.
BSkyB signs exclusive vertical contracts with upstream rights sellers, such as the Premier League, and then resells these exclusive rights to downstream pay-TV companies at variable, or per subscriber, prices. These contractual arrangements create powerful incentives for monopolistic firms to charge supranormal prices and result in substantial consumer welfare losses.
Clearly, this is an issue that needs to be addressed. A more effective remedy would be to reform the way that Premier League rights are sold so that these exclusive rights are only sold nonexclusively once, at an upstream auction, rather than being resold multiple times, as is currently the case. This would also ensure that all pay-TV providers are able to access Premier League games and avoid exclusion.
Streaming Services
Stream Premier League games without cable on a variety of streaming services. You’ll find ad-supported options (like Paramount+) and subscription packages that offer live and on-demand streams.
Philo is a multichannel service that seeks to replace cable for cord-cutters. Its channel bundle includes many cable TV staples like AMC, Comedy Central, The Hallmark Channel, HGTV and IFC.
However, it doesn’t include ESPN or other big sports networks. Philo does have local ABC, CBS, Fox and NBC channels in most areas, along with PBS and some regional sports networks.
This year, NBCUniversal is bringing six Premier League clubs to the US for a pre-season tournament. Those matches will be streamed on its new Peacock streaming service, though some NBCUniversal shows will remain on Hulu. For example, the current season of Bravo’s “Law & Order” and “Chicago Fire” will stay on Hulu while new episodes of those shows move to Peacock. Similarly, the new ad-supported Warner Bros. Discovery service, which hasn’t launched yet, will probably leverage content from its HBO Max and Scripps brands.
TV Schedule
As the fall TV season kicks off with premieres like the next part of You, Anne Rice horror stories and more, a variety of new and returning shows will make their way to your TV screen. This page will update as more premieres are announced, so bookmark it for your reference.
NBC has its exclusive rights to broadcast Premier League matches in the USA. The network typically airs one televised game each week on its network channel and a number of games each weekend on streaming service Peacock. You can access Peacock by signing up for a subscription through fuboTV (purchase a subscription through this affiliate link), YouTube TV, Hulu with Live TV or Sling Blue.
Most EPL matches can also be watched on NBC’s linear channels NBC and USA, but you will need a cable or satellite subscription to get those. Streaming service fuboTV offers a package that includes NBC and USA, which can be accessed with a free trial. 프리미어중계