The Premier League clubs are set to discuss a series of radical innovations in British football broadcasting this week, which could see Sky Sports have TV access to dressing rooms when the season restarts next month.
Sky Sports is likely to ask for extended access to Liverpool’s title celebrations as well as to the post-match dressing scenes when teams qualify for the Champions League or avoid relegation.
It has also long been a wish of broadcasters to get cameras into the dressing rooms before the match.
Premier League clubs are set to discuss broadcasting innovations, including access to Liverpool’s potential title celebrations
However, all of the above will require complex negotiations with the 20 clubs on Thursday, especially considering the continued need for social distancing, which will hamper the usual celebrations.
Clubs will not want to embarrassed by being seen to set a bad example in the euphoria of a celebratory moment.
But the clubs are acutely aware that broadcasting innovations could further mitigate the rebate they are due to pay to broadcasters, which already may be as low as £170m if the current schedule starting on June 17th and finish in July is met.
Broadcasters also want half-time interviews and further access to managers before games
It is understood that Sky’s share of the rebate – likely to be about half of the £170m – will be spread over two years, further softening the blow for Premier League clubs.
But at next Thursday’s Premier League meeting, as well as the discussing the crucial issue of how to curtail the season should the restart and fail to finish, the clubs will debate requests from the broadcasters.
These are likely to include:
– Extended dressing room access for significant celebrations, such as Liverpool’s title win or a team securing Champions League qualification or retaining their Premier League status
– Pre match dressing room access
– An extended interview link with club managers to analyse and reflect on the game after the final whistle. This will be especially relevant to Jurgen Klopp when Liverpool win the title
– Further access to managers on the day before a game, such as is often afforded to American broadcasters, to run through tactical plays
– Interviews at half time with managers or players
Although the clubs will know that some managers will be extremely reluctant to cede more of their time to media commitments, the exceptional circumstances have provided a window of opportunity to discuss innovations.
And if it can reduce the rebate bill for the clubs, it will be hard to resist.
Sky and BT are known to have been concerned by Amazon’s encroachment into their territory, buying up the rights to behind-the-scenes documentaries, which recorded Manchester City’s 2017-18 season and Tottenham’s current season.
If Liverpool win the title, the broadcasters will want to analyse the game with Jurgen Klopp
The City Amazon documentary provided extensive dressing room coverage of team talks and celebrations, which is exactly the sort of access that Sky, who pay £1.19billion a season for their TV rights, would love.
The rebate is being paid to broadcasters on the basis that the product has now changed, as fans are an integral part of the visual package.
The Premier League is also mindful that without fans, the spectacle will be diminished and so are keen to cooperate. They will argue that it isn’t just about securing further reductions in rebates, but also about making the televisual experience as compelling as possible.
However, the 20 clubs may be reluctant to concede too much ground, sensing a crossing of the Rubicon moment. There is a view that any requests granted now – such as dressing room access – will then become standard broadcast demands and there will be no stepping back in the future.
There will certainly be clubs demanding for a further reduction in the £170m rebate if concessions are made.
Clubs are aware that innovations could mitigate the rebate they are due to pay to broadcasters
Thursday’s meeting is likely to be another lengthy one, with the vexed issue of how to settle the season should the restart fail, due to a second spike in infections.
Clubs are considering the Premier League’s recommendation that, like the Football League, they curtail the season on a simple points per game method, without any weight given to home and away form. At present that would see the current bottom three relegated.
However, the crucial and potentially contentious vote on the issue may yet be delayed another week.
It is clearly necessary for the clubs to have signed up to a backstop position by the time they restart on June 17th – but Premier League chiefs will allow as much time as possible for a consensus to develop before risking a vote.
There are still some clubs trying to resurrect the idea that there should be no relegation if the season were curtailed – but the Premier League and the FA will continue to resist that suggestions and it is not expected to garner majority support.
The Premier League requires 14 clubs of the 20 to approve a rule change and they are not likely to push for a vote until they know there is a clear majority.