Sky Sports are expected to entrench their position as the home of Premier League football following the domestic TV rights auction, which is due to conclude next month.
Mail Sport has learned that Sky plan to bid for four of the five packages available, which would give them more than 200 live games a season from 2025 to 2029 if they are successful.
TNT Sports are understood to be prioritising retaining the Saturday lunchtime slot, with industry insiders casting doubt on whether the Discovery-owned company will be able to wrestle another package from Sky, who are aiming to keep hold of Saturday night games, two slots on Sundays and the combined Friday night/Monday night package.