Premier League season tickets spiral as Lib Dems call for free-to-air football
EMBARGO: 22:30 31st May 2024
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Liberal Democrat manifesto to include free-to-air Premier League games
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Ed Davey calls for a “free-to-air revolution” including selection of Premier League games back on either BBC or ITV
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Subscriptions for the three channels showing Premier League matches tops £870 as the average season ticket price rises by another £33 a year to £585
The Liberal Democrats have announced their manifesto will call for a “free-to-air revolution” with Premier League games being aired on channels including BBC and ITV.
The policy would see 10 Premier League games a season put on free-to-air TV, in response to rising ticket prices and soaring subscription costs.
New research by the party has revealed the average price of a season ticket for Premier League Clubs will rise by £33 next season.
The worst offender for rising season ticket prices was Nottingham Forest which saw prices rise by 15%. The cheapest season ticket for Arsenal now tops £1,000.
Further analysis by the Liberal Democrats reveals football fans are left to fork out £870 a year in subscriptions to Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime Video if they want to see Premier League games.
The Liberal Democrats manifesto would put Premier League games back on free-to-air channels, as well as 10 games from the Scottish Championship and 20 games from the English Football League, such as the Championship.
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:
“The Conservative government has completely failed football fans, from breaking their promise to create a football regulator, to allowing greedy broadcasters to hide Premier League football away from millions.
“We need to tear down the paywall and give Premier League football back to the country. It is a scandal that the country is locked out of watching the best teams.
“The next generation of fans and players are unable to watch the likes of Foden, Saka and Palmer. That is a tragedy for the sport.
“It is time someone got tough on money grabbing broadcasters and Premier League clubs. Fans can no longer be priced out of watching live football.
“It is time for a free-to-air revolution. We need a change of government that is willing to stand up to these broadcasters, starting with putting games back on free-to-air.”
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS:
Methodology:
- 10 month season - Prices subject to change month-to-month
- Sky £46 x 10 months plus £20 set up costs = £480.00
- TNT Sports £30.99 x10 months = £309.90
- Amazon Prime £8.99 x 10 months = £89.90
- Total subscription cost: £879.80
- Average cost of premiership season ticket in 2023/4 was £552
- The average cost of premiership season tickets in 2024/5 will be £585 a rise of 6%
| Club name (sources) | 2023/4 | 2024/5 | % increase |
Manchester City | £490 | £540 | 10% |
Arsenal | £973.50 | £1073 | 9% |
Liverpool | £699 | £713 | 2% |
Aston Villa Aston Villa's season tickets have risen by a whopping 91% in the last 10 years | £610 | £641 | 5% |
Tottenham | £807 | £856 | 6% |
Chelsea Chelsea increase season ticket prices for first time in 13 years | £750 | £787.50 | 5% |
Newcastle | £630 | £662 | 5% |
Manchester United The club had frozen costs for 11 years prior to last season, when a five percent increase was confirmed for 2023/24 | £551 | £579 | 5% |
West Ham | £310 | £345 | 11% |
Crystal Palace | £440 | £440 | 0% |
Brighton | £565 | £595 | 6% |
Bournemouth | £594 | £633 | 6% |
Fulham Season ticket price hikes of 33% over two years have been a gut punch to the loyal fanbase and it felt like the club were lining up the knockout blow. | £455 | £473 | 4% |
Wolves | £525 | £525 | 0% |
Everton | £515 | £555 | 8% |
Brentford | £419 | £460 | 10% |
Nottingham Forest | £465 | £550 | 15% |
Leicester | £385 | £404 | 5% |
Ipswich | £353 | £381 | 8% |
Southampton | £499 | £499 | 0% |
Source: relevant football club websites and media reports