Premier League clubs give green light to more live matches

Chairmen of English Premier League football clubs have backed plans to increase the number of games available for live broadcasts each season from 168 to between 190 and 210.

The change will be introduced from the start of the 2019-20 season, according to multiple reports.

The league had already assured the UK’s media regulator, Ofcom, that it would make at least 190 matches available to domestic broadcasters in the next three-year rights cycle, from 2019-20 to 2021-22.

The chairmen voted unanimously yesterday (Thursday) to support the move, but the league did not reveal the exact number of games that will be available.

The increase in the number of live matches will almost certainly lead to the introduction of a primetime Saturday night fixture.

The Daily Telegraph newspaper said the number of games would be finalised by the end of the year, when an invitation to tender will be issued for sealed bids for several different rights packages. The rights are expected to be awarded by the end of February.