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NBC Sports has retained its position as lead US broadcaster of Premier League matches, having agreed terms on a $2.7 billion (£2bn) renewal of its media rights contract.
The US broadcaster is reported to have doubled the value of its existing contract to fend-off suitors ESPN, CBS and Warner as NBC extends its Premier League coverage for a further six years until 2028.
NBC Sports has served as the Premier League’s US broadcaster since 2013 and disclosed that matches are averaging +600,000 viewers this season, its highest average for football since the 2015-16 season.
The renewal will allow NBC Sports to broadcast all 380 Premier League matches per season, with a bonus caveat of allowing NBC to simulcast matches in Spanish language.
The deal sees the Premier League maintain course to break its existing media rights record of £11 billion.
In the UK, the Premier League has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with DCMS that will allow the league to renew its broadcast contracts with Sky and BT Sports uncontested.
The concession was granted to settle COVID-19 disputes, as, during the interrupted 2020/2021 football season, the UK government allowed re-scheduled matches to be broadcast on terrestrial TV Channels during national lockdown.
The Premier League will maintain its domestic broadcast contracts at £5.5 billion for the next three years. However, the league will likely break its existing records through foreign media rights which are set to surpass its takings for the first time.
The Premier League has yet to settle major contracts for the Middle East and India, whilst in Australia, current rights owner, Optus, faces a four-way bidding battle with Stan Sport, Paramount+ and Amazon.
“Interest in the Premier League is going from strength to strength and it is great to see the growing global demand to watch our matches and engage with the league,” said the league’s chief executive, Richard Masters.
“Our international and domestic broadcast revenues over the next cycle will give stability and certainty to the game as a whole, which is particularly important as football recovers from Covid-19 losses.
“We are proud to provide more investment into our football pyramid than any other football league in the world.”
