Christmas joy for Premier League fans! All top-flight matches between now and January to be shown on live TV in complete U-turn from the pay-per-view debacle… with Fulham vs Everton on November 22 to be shown on BBC
- All Premier League matches will be shown on live TV between now and January
- Matches will be shown on Sky Sports, BT Sport, BBC and Amazon Prime
- England’s top-flight has performed a U-turn after the pay-per-view debacle
- Fulham vs Everton on November 22 will be shown live on the BBC
The Premier League has announced that all top-flight fixtures between now and the Christmas and New Year period will be shown on TV.
England’s top-flight was previously criticised for bringing in a pay-per-view service charging fans £14.95 for non-selected TV matches but the scheme was scrapped ahead pf the November international break.
In a full U-turn, matches between November 21 and January will be shown on Sky Sports and BT Sport’s usual channels, as well as BBC Sport and Amazon Prime.
All Premier League games between now and January will be shown on TV as per normal
BBC has announced that Fulham vs Everton on November 22 will be shown on free-to-air television. Crystal Palace vs Newcastle on November 27 will be shown on Amazon Prime.
The Premier League has announced a revised TV schedule for November with these changes in mind, with a December and January plan to be announced in the coming weeks.
A Premier League statement read on Friday: ‘There is a full schedule of Premier League games over the festive period and clubs are committed to an accessible solution for fans.
‘These plans have been made with the co-operation of our broadcast partners, working with us to deliver these additional matches while stadiums are missing the supporters who are such an integral part of the game.
Fulham vs Everton on November 22 will be shown on free-to-air television via the BBC
Crystal Palace vs Newcastle later this month has also been chosen for Amazon Prime coverage
‘The agreement will be reviewed in the new year following consultation with clubs, broadcast partners and in line with any decisions made by Government regarding the return of spectators to stadiums.
‘The Premier League and our clubs remain committed to the safe return of fans as soon as possible.’
The pay-per-view move drew immediate criticism from supporters who in many cases opted to give the money to charitable causes such as food banks instead.
The Premier League’s chief executive Richard Masters said last month the £14.95 price was ‘defensible’, while BT also defended it, saying it was only covering its costs in screening the matches.
Sky Sports and BT Sport had previously charged fans £14.95-a-match for pay-per-view games
The pay-per-view model came in at a time when the October 1 return of fans had been indefinitely delayed but when the English professional game continued to lobby Government to allow them back in.
The country faces different circumstances now, with England under lockdown restrictions until at least December 2.
The decision taken on Friday moves the league back to the arrangement which was in place at the start of the 2020-21 season back in September.