Premier League: launching of the tender for the 2016-2019 domestic TV rights

The Barclays Premier League is launching the first two tenders for the domestic broadcasting rights for the 2016-2019 cycle of the first English division, on 12/12/2014. The two calls for applications relate to the live broadcasting rights to 168 matches per season (in five lots of 28 matches and two lots of 14 matches, and no bidder can acquire more than 126 matches per season), as well as the rights to broadcast, for free, highlights and summaries of the 380 matches of the championship each season.

The main novelty of the tenders is the increase in the number of live matches broadcast, up from 154 per season during the 2013-2016 cycle to 168 for the 2016 to 2019 period. This increase is explained in part by the introduction of a new broadcasting slot on Friday nights, which will affect up to 10 matches per season. The seven lots of domestic broadcast rights to the 2013-2016 Premier League cycle were sold for a total of £3.018bn (€3.8bn today), said the league on 12/12/2014.

• The tenders for the domestic TV rights to the Premier League 2016-2019 cycle will be completed later with…