Premier League Restart: Key Takeaways and Statistics on Broadcasting Arrangements

Strategic Insights -

The Premier League restarted on Wednesday, June 17, after a near four-month hiatus due to the coronavirus pandemic. The resumption saw Liverpool crowned as the champions, ending their 30-year wait for Premier League victory. The English top-flight season is expected to break viewing figure records for live Premier League games, with a high proportion of matches available on free-to-air TV or non-paywalled versions of subscription channels.

Key Takeaways:

  • Liverpool won the Premier League title, ending their 30-year wait for the championship.
  • The Premier League restart saw Manchester City lose 2-1 to Chelsea, confirming Liverpool's title win.
  • Sky Sports is showing 64 games, including 25 that are available for free on the 'Pick' Channel and simulcast on Sky Sports.
  • BT Sport is not making any games available for free, unlike Amazon Prime, which has four free-to-air matches.
  • The BBC has confirmed four free-to-air matches, but the details of the fourth game are still being finalised.
  • The first Premier League fixture back was Aston Villa vs Sheffield United on June 17, with a large audience watching on Sky Sports.
  • Sky will be making 25 matches available for free, with the Merseyside derby being the first free-to-air game on June 21.
  • Amazon Prime has announced that fans in the UK will be able to watch their four matches live on Twitch and the Prime Video app without requiring a subscription.
  • The BBC's free-to-air matches include Bournemouth vs Crystal Palace, Norwich vs Everton, and Southampton vs Manchester City, with the fourth game still unconfirmed.

Statistics:

  • The record for the most-watched live Premier League game is 4.04 million, which was set by the Manchester derby in 2012.
  • Sky Sports is showing 64 games, including all 39 originally scheduled and an additional 25 games.
  • BT Sport is showing 20 matches, with 12 additional games.
  • Amazon Prime has four free-to-air matches.
  • The BBC has four confirmed free-to-air matches.
  • Sky will make 25 games available for free, starting with the Merseyside derby on June 21.
  • The Premier League season has seen a significant increase in online viewership, with many games available on streaming services and subscription channels.

Sources:

  • Telegraph Sport
  • Sky Sports
  • BT Sport
  • Amazon Prime
  • BBC Sport
  • Premier League