• The domestic TV rights auction is set to conclude before the end of the year
  • Sky Sports want to show more than 200 Premier League games a season
  • Why we should get excited about Cole Palmer – Listen here to It’s All Coming Up

Sky Sports are expected to entrench their position as the home of Premier League football following the domestic TV rights auction, which is due to conclude next month.

Mail Sport has learned that Sky plan to bid for four of the five packages available, which would give them more than 200 live games a season from 2025 to 2029 if they are successful.

TNT Sports are understood to be prioritising retaining the Saturday lunchtime slot, with industry insiders casting doubt on whether the Discovery-owned company will be able to wrestle another package from Sky, who are aiming to keep hold of Saturday night games, two slots on Sundays and the combined Friday night/Monday night package. 

Amazon Prime are expected to bid for the new-look 2pm Sunday slot, which will involve multiple games being screened simultaneously following midweek European fixtures, but Sky value having exclusivity on Sundays and will fight hard to retain them.

With the number of games available rising from 200 to 270, the Premier League are confident of securing an increase on the existing £5billion deal.

Sky Sports want to win the rights to show more than 200 Premier League games a season

Sky Sports want to win the rights to show more than 200 Premier League games a season

Sky Sports, who have Gary Neville (left) and Jamie Carragher (right) as regular pundits, want to cement their place as the home of Premier League football

Sky Sports, who have Gary Neville (left) and Jamie Carragher (right) as regular pundits, want to cement their place as the home of Premier League football

The Premier League could replace Hawk-Eye as their VAR operator at the end of next season when the contract is due to expire. 

Rival technology and data companies are planning to pitch for the contract amid repeated complaints from Premier League managers.

The Premier League have worked with Hawk-Eye since introducing goal-line technology for the first time in 2013, with a new five-year contract between the two parties signed when VAR was introduced at the start of the 2019-20 season. 

Hawk-Eye are still regarded as world leaders in capturing data after pioneering their ball-tracking system in tennis and cricket 15 years ago, but there is an acceptance that its application in football has proved challenging.

Hawk-Eye is the current VAR operator in the Premier League but that may change next season

Hawk-Eye is the current VAR operator in the Premier League but that may change next season

The FA’s reluctance to enter into a collective bargaining agreement with the Lionesses has been highlighted by the generous financial packages offered by other federations. 

Football Australia this week announced a four-year deal for the Matildas, which will see all prize money split 50/50 between the federation and the players, guaranteeing minimum salaries of £60,000 plus match fees and bonuses. 

The Lionesses in contrast have yet to secure an agreement despite six months of talks with the FA, who only agreed to the squad’s World Cup bonus demands a month after the tournament. 

The FA say they have a good relationship with Sarina Wiegman and her England squad and that the demands are being pushed by the PFA rather than the players.

The Matildas have received more generous financial packages than the Lionesses

The Matildas have received more generous financial packages than the Lionesses

The Premier League’s shortage of video assistant referees is being exacerbated by a bizarre IFAB rule which prevents assistant referees from acting as VARs. 

Only top-flight referees and former referees are permitted to work as VARs despite the fact that the role has much in common with that of an assistant referee, as it often involves judging offsides and line calls.

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube, Apple Music and Spotify.

[ad_2]
Post source: Daily mail

You May Also Like

Postecoglou Spars with Sky Sports Interviewer After Fulham Defeat

In a detailed and long interview with Sky Sports, Ange Postecoglou, the…

Ratcliffe confident in Southgate for Man United emerges as the first choice for England boss

The speculation surrounding Gareth Southgate’s potential appointment as Manchester United’s next manager…

Dani Alves’ £4.5m villa party continues until 5am, days after his release on bail from rape conviction

The case of Dani Alves, a Brazilian soccer star and former player…

Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga’s injury not serious; staff expects quick recovery for Athletic match this weekend

Eduardo Camavinga, a key midfielder for Real Madrid, recently faced an injury…