Amazon Broadcasting Ed Woodward Facebook Manchester United Premier League Television

Facebook and Amazon will ‘enter the mix’ for Premier League TV rights, says Manchester United chief Ed Woodward

September 22, 2017

Facebook and Amazon will “enter the mix” when the next Premier League television rights deal is negotiated, according to Manchester United’s executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward.

Premier League action has predominantly been broadcast on Sky Sports since the division’s inception in 1992, while BT Sport entered the market three years ago. The current domestic and overseas deals, which end in 2019, are worth a staggering total of £8.3 billion.

But the broadcasting sector is shifting as fans’ viewing habits change. Facebook recently showed an interest in digital rights for the Indian Premier League while Amazon has agreed a deal to live stream NFL games.

The 2019-21 Premier League rights package will be sold early next year and Woodward expects the internet giants to throw their hats into the ring: “Absolutely I think they will enter the mix and we would welcome the interest.

“Anecdotally there was strong interest in the last cycle. We are hearing it round the Premier League table now and from a European perspective as well in terms of the Champions League rights and Europa (League),” Woodward said on an investors’ conference call discussing the club’s latest financial results.

“We are going to see an increasing engagement from these organisations and it is going to be increasingly important to digitally engage with fans. We think we can be complimentary to partners like this.”

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Amazon Broadcasting Ed Woodward Facebook Manchester United Premier League Television