Rising cost of Premier League live rights

Up for grabs in the Premier League auction of live rights are 168 matches, including – for the first time – Friday night games. The TV rights for the 2016-19 period could generate up to £4.4 billion
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Cost of live TV rights

Average cost per game

1992-97 £191 million £0.6m

1997-01† £670 million £1.6m

2001-04 £1.2 billion £2.9m

2004-07 £1.0 billion £2.5m

2007-10 £1.7 billion £4.1m

2010-13 £1.8 billion £4.3m

2013-16 £3.0 billion £6.5m

2016-19 £4.38 billion (estimate) £8.7m

Bidders for  season 2016-19

39% owned by Rupert Murdoch. In last Premier League auction, Sky bid £2.28bn to broadcast 116 matches a season

Landed heavy blow on Sky by snatching 38 Premier League games a season in 2012 with shock bid of £738m

Potential new bidder for “must-have” content. Last year it acquired controlling stake in Eurosport

Owned and operated by Qatar Sports Investments. Subscribers have access to host of European football leagues

*1992-1997 is for five seasons

†1997-2001 is for four seasons – rest are for three seasons

Sources: Premier League, UBS estimates    

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