Sky to cut free Premier League matches once football gets back to normal
SKY is expecting to cut free Premier League matches once football gets back to normal.
It comes as an analyst estimated that 80 per cent of its customers paused their sports subscribtions during the coronavirus lockdown.
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Premier League football is finally set to return to our screens tomorrow, June 17, with Sky Sports screening the first two matches, although not for free.
Sky will show 64 of the remaining 92 Premier League matches this season with 25 of them on its channel Pick.
Sky Pick is free and is available on Sky, Freeview and NowTV.
To watch Sky Sports, you'll need to be a subscriber - it costs from £25 a month on NowTV or £39 a month on Sky.
The other matches will be screened on BT Sport, Amazon Prime and the BBC.
But the number of free screenings at Sky Sports will likely be reduced in future, the broadcaster said.
Sky Sports has previously shown three Premier League matches for free in August 2013, which was the only season ever with free games.
The move to screen 25 free matches is a reflection of "exceptional circumstances", Rob Webster, managing director of Sky Sports, told the .
He added that Sky unlikely will make such concessions in future.
It comes as the broadcaster is currently negotiating rebates from the billions it has paid out on sports rights.
For example, Premier League has reportedly agreed to pay back £170million to Sky, part of a £330million sum being demanded by broadcasters.
This will be deferred until next season in order to help the 20 clubs who'll be missing out on ticketing income with games played behind closed doors.
Sky has reportedly also been negotiating rebates with Formula One, the ECB and other sporting events it holds the rights to.
How to watch Premier League games cheapest
SPORTS fans will be able to watch 33 of the games for free, screened on Sky Sports, Amazon Prime and the BBC.
You don't need to be a paying member of Amazon Prime to watch the games for free.
Alternatively, if you plan to watch every single Premier League match, you'll need to pay for both BT Sport and Sky Sports, said Nick Baker, TV expert, at uSwitch.
This costs £59 a month if bought separately at Sky Sports and BT Sport.
While Virgin Media is selling a package with both sports packages for a pricier £72 a month - but unlike the other deals this includes broadband and landline, which pushes up the cost.
Mr Baker added: "If you’re keen to watch the matches on Sky Sports but don’t want to sign up for a lengthy contract, NOW TV offers a monthly pass to watch all the Sky Sports channels, which can work out cheaper."
This currently costs £25 a month, down from £33.99, and is available until July 2.
But François Godard, analyst at Enders Analysis, told the Financial Times the rebates would not fully offset Sky’s losses, which he estimated to be £623million ($800million) in total.
He also predicted that 80 per cent of customers have paused their sports subscriptions.
Sky Sports customers who've paused their subscriptions are set to start paying again this week when live sports returns to TV.
Rob Webster, managing director of Sky Sports, said: "It’s too early to definitively look at how the sports market may evolve or have changed as a result of Covid-19.
"We need to get through this period first . . . then, through a very clear lens [Sky will] take a look at . . . what the long-term investment may be for sport."
List of matches and the channels they're on
THE 92 remaining matches will be screened by Sky Sports, BT Sport, Amazon Prime and the BBC. Below are the games that have been confirmed so far.
Wednesday, June 17
- Aston Villa v Sheffield United 6pm - SKY
- Man City vs Arsenal - 8.15pm - SKY
Friday, June 19
- Norwich v Southampton 6pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
- Tottenham v Manchester United 8.15pm - SKY
Saturday, June 20
- Watford v Leicester 12.30pm - BT
- Brighton v Arsenal 3pm - BT
- West Ham v Wolves 5.30pm - SKY
- Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 7.45pm - BBC FREE TO AIR
Saturday, June 20
- Watford v Leicester 12.30pm - BT
- Brighton v Arsenal 3pm - BT
- West Ham v Wolves 5.30pm - SKY
- Bournemouth v Crystal Palace 7.45pm - BBC FREE TO AIR
Sunday, June 21
- Newcastle v Sheffield United 2pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
- Aston Villa v Chelsea 4.15pm - SKY
- Everton v Liverpool 7pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
Wednesday June 24
- Manchester United v Sheffield United 6pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
- Norwich v Everton 6pm - BBC FREE TO AIR
Thursday June 25
- Burnley v Watford 6pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
Sunday June 28
- Watford v Southampton 4.30pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
Monday June 29
- Crystal Palace v Burnley 8pm - AMAZON FREE TO AIR
Tuesday June 30
- Brighton v Manchester United 8.15pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
Wednesday July 1
- Bournemouth v Newcastle 6pm - Sky Pick FREE TO AIR
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We explain how to watch ALL 92 remaining Premier League fixtures on TV.
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BT Sport initially refused to offer coronavirus refunds, but later let customers claim one month worth of subscription costs.
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