Sky Sports and BT Sport will resist pressure to screen for free the 47 Premier League matches they have left this season, despite calls from Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden this week for any remaining games played this season to be made available to all.
The Premier League’s domestic rights holders have paid £421million for matches that remain outstanding, including some of the biggest properties of the season in which the title, Champions League qualification and relegation issues were to be decided, so are unwilling to give them away.
The Premier League have held talks with both broadcasters and the Government and are attempting to broker a compromise whereby the other 45 matches, which are less attractive, are screened for free.