Six Broadcasters Asked To Resubmit Premier League Rights Bids

The Premier League reportedly opened a second round of bids for the league’s U.S. broadcasting rights last week, and more details are emerging about the proposals before the Nov. 18 deadline.

Out of the nine companies that submitted initial bids, six of them — NBC, Amazon, Fox, WarnerMedia, CBS, and ESPN — were told to resubmit for a six-year rights deal, per Sports Business Journal. CBS and ESPN are submitting a joint bid.

A majority of the companies are expected to rebid, though Amazon is reportedly on the fence. The tech giant would need a linear television partner to secure a deal. 

Reports from the London Times expect the rights to reach at least $1.5 billion, with the Financial Times projecting a record $2 billion. NBC has held the rights since 2013 at $150 million per year, averaging 897,000 viewers during the 2020-21 season.

Since the first set of bids, the world’s richest soccer league has changed criteria for proposals.

• The Premier League previously asked for both six- and nine-years bids but is now asking for just six.
• Companies were initially able to bid for partial or non-exclusive rights but are now required to bid for exclusive rights individually, unless a partnership had already been approved (CBS and ESPN) by the league.

In May, BT, Sky BBC, and Amazon extended domestic rights deals — worth a combined $7 billion — until 2025.