Lib Dems call for free-to-air Premier League football as season returns

16 Aug 2024

EMBARGO: 22:30 Thursday 15th August

Liberal Democrat MP writes to Culture Secretary to call for “this to be the last season locked behind a paywall”
New calls by the party for free-to-air game over Christmas period
Leagues including WSL and Spain’s La Liga have already put games on free-to-air

The Liberal Democrats have written to the Culture Secretary, calling on the government to convene a meeting with the Premier League to discuss free-to-air options.

Calum Miller MP, has called on the government to build on the success of free-to-air Olympic Sport to inspire the next generation of boys and girls to play sport.

The party, which called for at least 10 Premier League games a season to be free-to-air in their recent General Election manifesto, have now also suggested some of those take place around the Christmas period when more games than usual are played.

The letter to the Culture Secretary also notes the WSL and Spanish top division La Liga has made games available on free-to-air as part of a deal with broadcasters.

In the letter to the Culture Secretary, Liberal Democrat MP for Bicester and Woodstock, Calum Miller said:

“This must be the last Premier League season to be locked behind the paywall.

“Football remains the most popular sport in the United Kingdom, deeply rooted in our country's culture and tradition, attracting millions of passionate fans and players. But ticket prices for matches have continued to soar during the cost of living crisis and many fans are now priced out of watching the team they support.

“I am calling on you to have discussions with the Premier League to tear down the paywall and give football back to the country.

“Perhaps with your intervention, the Premier League and associated television companies might be persuaded to give us all a live Premier League match as a Christmas present.

“It is time for young boys and girls, and their mums, dads and grandparents, to watch Cole Palmer’s penalties, Saka’s dazzling footwork and Pep Guardiola’s record breakers.

“I hope you are able to make this happen.

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITORS

Full text of the letter here from Calum Miller MP

The Rt Hon Lisa Nandy MP

Secretary of State

Department of Culture, Media and Sport

100 Parliament Street

London SW1P 2BQ

[by email]

15th August 2024

Dear Secretary of State,

This Friday, 16th August, the 2024/25 Premier League season will start, a campaign which will run over the next nine months. And, yet again, not a single one of the 380 matches being played will be available to watch live on free-to-air television.

This must be the last Premier League season to be locked behind the paywall.

Not only will this year’s matches be behind a paywall, but the deal signed in December 2023 will see Sky Sports and TNT Sports have the rights to show Premier League matches for a four-year period starting in the 2025/26 season. That means those without a subscription will have no opportunity to watch a live match on television until the 2030/31 season at the earliest.

Football remains the most popular sport in the United Kingdom, deeply rooted in our country's culture and tradition, attracting millions of passionate fans and players. But ticket prices for matches have continued to soar during the cost of living crisis and many fans are now priced out of watching the team they support.

While certain sporting events, like the FIFA World Cup, are legally protected for free-to-air broadcasting, the Premier League enjoys no such protection.

I am calling on you to have discussions with the Premier League to tear down the paywall and give football back to the country. This is happening elsewhere in Europe, for instance in Spain one La Liga game a week is free-to-air, and of course, our very own WSL manages to have free-to-air games.

The Liberal Democrats have called for 10 Premier League matches to be available on free-to-air television each year, a small fraction of the matches being played, to ensure that fans are not being priced out of watching live football.

Perhaps with your intervention, the Premier League and associated television companies might be persuaded to give us all a live Premier League match as a Christmas present.

We should be building on the success of the Olympic Games, which was free-to-air and will inspire the next generation of athletes.

It is time for young boys and girls, and their mums, dads and grandparents, to watch Cole Palmer’s penalties, Saka’s dazzling footwork and Pep Guardiola’s record breakers.

I hope you are able to make this happen.

Calum Miller