Premier League set for 'TV bonanza' when season resumes

T he Premier League is hopeful of resuming the season in June and there could be plenty of matches available to watch on TV.

The Premier League is pushing ahead with Project Restart plans and it could see five back-to-back matches televised every Saturday and Sunday, handing fans a TV bonanza.

Staggered kick-offs at 12pm, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm and 8pm will hand supporters a feast of action every week as the league pushes to complete the 2019/20 campaign following a lengthy suspension due to the coronavirus crisis.

A report in the Mirror says the Premier League is also looking to get the majority of the 92 remaining matches this season played on weekends, meaning the end of the season is likely to be in August - which will push back the start of the 2020/21 campaign.

However, it’s added that there is also a push from broadcasters to show games in a Champions League style format that sees double headers with games at 6pm and 8pm.

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The fixture list is set to be discussed at length in the next shareholders' meeting along with plans for the TV schedule, as they look to find a balance of finishing the season quickly but also spreading out games for TV and helping clubs reduce the risk of injuries.

Premier League clubs are said to be keen to accommodate the broadcasters demands as they face huge bills of £340m to pay back to TV companies even if the campaign is completed and a staggering £762m if the remaining matches cannot be played.

The Premier League have got a ‘strategy for rebate minimisation’ on Thursday’s agenda which means they will try to keep live rights holders Sky, BT Sport and Amazon happy.

Government officials have urged the Premier League to make some of the games free-to-air on terrestrial TV but the idea of BBC getting live games is unlikely to go down well with Sky and BT.

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Sky and BT have the live rights to 47 games/ The remaining 45 - which would all be shown by foreign rights holders - would be shared with Sky getting 32, BT would get eight, five to Amazon and the BBC.