AHEAD OF THE GAME: Premier League will offer TV companies new FOUR-YEAR deal from 2025 with up to 270 games available… with the organisation unconcerned by the Saudi Pro League’s money moves

• The next cycle is likely to be the last to observe the traditional 3pm blackout 
• PLUS: Transfer guru Jim White prepares to share an insider look in his new book 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’

The Premier League are planning to offer TV companies a four-year deal for the first time when issuing the tender for the next cycle of live domestic games from 2025 later this month.

The addition of an extra 12 months to what has previously been a three-year contract is likely to prove popular with broadcasters, with existing rights holders Sky Sports and TNT Sport both eager to buy more matches.

The Premier League’s move reflects their desire for more stability and greater financial security at a time of flux in the broadcast market, with incumbents Sky and TNT expected to pick up the bulk of the matches on offer. 

As previously reported by Mail Sport more games will be available to purchase than ever before, with the Premier League planning to include up to 270 in the tender document, including every fixture that taking place on a Sunday.

The impending auction will be the first time the Premier League have taken their domestic rights to the market in five years, as the current three-year cycle covering 2022 to 2025 is a rollover from the previous deal that was agreed during the Covid-19 pandemic, with both contracts worth around £5billion to the clubs. 

The Premier League will offer TV companies a four-year deal for the first time ever from 2025

The organisation is believed to be unconcerned by the rampant spending of the Saudi Pro League, which has lured stars such as Jordan Henderson with big-money moves

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Industry experts are predicting that the expected four-year domestic deal between 2025 and 2029 will be the last one to include the 3pm Saturday blackout, with the Premier League wanting to televise every match in subsequent years.

With around 70 extra games for sale the Premier League are confident of securing a significant increase on their existing £5billion deal in a process they hope to conclude before Christmas.

Premier League unconcerned by Saudi might 

English football’s lack of response to the growing threat posed by the Saudi Pro League has raised eyebrows throughout the rest of the European game. 

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters claimed to be unconcerned by the SPL’s increased financial firepower by saying ‘we are way off worrying about that at the moment’ in a pre-season briefing last month, while the subject was not even discussed in an FA Board meeting which took place last Thursday, the final day of a Saudi transfer window that saw their clubs spend an extraordinary £765m on acquiring new players.

Transfer guru reveals all 

Sky Sports’ award-winning presenter and transfer guru Jim White has written his first book, Deadline Day, which will be published next month. 

The veteran broadcaster has resisted pressure from publishers to focus entirely on the glamour of the transfer window to produce an insider’s guide to football journalism co-written by his colleague Kaveh Solhekol, Sky Sports News’ Chief Reporter.

Jim White (left) will lift the curtain on the realities of football journalism in his new book

Nike still silent over Earps jerseys 

Nike have yet to inform the FA or England number one Mary Earps when her goalkeeping shirt will be made available commercially. 

The US sportswear giant announced on 23 August that ‘limited quantities’ of Earps’ replica shirt would go on sale ‘in the coming days’ after they failed to release any in time for this summer’s World Cup, but detailed plans have yet to materialise.

Nike is yet to inform the FA whether they will make good on their decision to sell Mary Earps’ England jersey

IT’S ALL KICKING OFF! 

It’s All Kicking Off is an exciting new podcast from Mail Sport that promises a different take on Premier League football, launching with a preview show today and every week this season.

It is available on MailOnline, Mail+, YouTube , Apple Music and Spotify

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