Amazon Gets EPL Rights In U.K.-Focused Deal Starting In '19

Amazon has acquired a package of EPL media rights starting in the '19-20 season, and the company said U.K. Prime members "will have exclusive access to watch 20 matches per season, comprising two full fixture rounds ... featuring live coverage of every Premier League team." This adds to Amazon Prime Video's "growing list of live sports, including U.S. Open Tennis, ATP World Tour tennis events and NFL games" (HOLLYWOODREPORTER.com, 6/7). EPL CEO Richard Scudamore "has been seeking to lure a deep-pocketed technology company" to "help continue to drive up earnings from media rights." Amazon has been in "negotiations about the two packages for months -- against rivals including BT -- after the completion of the sale of the most valuable TV rights packages in February" (THEGUARDIAN.com, 6/7).

BT paying £1.5m per game in its package of 20 matches per season. Amazon reckoned to be the same. Compares with £9.3m per match for BT's other package of 32 weekly (ish) matches in Saturday at 12.30. So a v steep discount.

— Chris Williams (@cg_williams) June 7, 2018