Sports league aims for expanded television coverage during games
The Premier League's Dressing Room Dilemma
Blood, sweat, and tears: The new frontier forbroadcasters in the English Premier League
Get ready to peer behind the curtain as the Premier League is pushing for more access to dressing rooms and player interviews during live coverage starting from the 2025-2026 season.
The English football giants have signed a hefty £6.7 billion (US$8.9 billion) domestic TV deal, with broadcasters Sky Sports and TNT Sports demanding more bang for their buck. The league's support for this enhanced access is clear as the new four-year cycle kicks off in August '25.
It's a contest of wills, with the league consulting with clubs over the broadcasters' demands. An agreement is sought before the annual meeting next month.
Not every club is thrilled about the idea of cameras swarming their dressings rooms. Some managers might argue that it's their inner sanctum, while others are more open to the idea.
The so-called "Big Six" – Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City – are thought to be standing firm, raising suspicions that they're protecting their behind-the-scenes content to generate more revenue and fan engagement through their own channels[1][2].
The Premier League expects14 clubs to back its proposal, which requires each team to grant dressing-room access, a half-time player interview, or a post-substitution interview during two home games.
Broadcasters are keen on dressings-room footage, but the additional options are provided to address the concerns of the more reluctant teams[2].
The league has warned that future TV rights deals could suffer if broadcasters are not offered more access. The value of the league's TV deal has increased for the next cycle, but that's primarily due to offering 70 more live games per season. The price per game has dropped significantly from £10.19 million between 2016-17 and 2018-19 to £6.2 million over the next four years[2].
Overseas broadcasters, including NBC in the U.S., are also pursuing increased access[3]. Several clubs, such as Brentford, Brighton, Wolves, and Nottingham Forest, already have cameras in their dressings rooms, with previously recorded content including goal celebrations and Thomas Frank's pre-match team talk[4].
Several clubs, like Bournemouth, have also experimented with substituted player interviews, with Marcus Tavernier speaking to Sky Sports in October 2023[4]. With compelling content like this, it's no wonder that broadcasters believe they need to offer viewers more for their subscription[5].
Moreover, the 2025-2026 season will see camera crews on the pitch to capture players' reactions during goal celebrations[5]. The addition of so-called Steadicams, which might enter the field at the final whistle, aims to offer viewers a more immersive experience[5].
In the upcoming 2025-2026 season, the Premier League is pushing for increased access to dressing rooms and player interviews, with broadcasters seekings more footage from European leagues, such as the Premier League, to provide a more immersive experience for viewers. Some clubs, like Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham, Chelsea, and Manchester City, are standing firm on protecting their behind-the-scenes content to potentially generate more revenue and fan engagement.
