EPL on verge of record overseas broadcast rights deal

The English Premier League is reportedly close to a US$2 billion broadcast rights deal in the US.

According to the Financial Times, the league is set to receive what would be a record international broadcast rights deal. Current rights holder NBCUniversal is facing competition from major players ViacomCBS and Disney-owned ESPN, with second-round bids due by November 18. 

The EPL is selling its US broadcast rights in a single block which will run from 2023/24-2027/28.

In September, it was reported that NBCUniversal was on the verge of renewing its rights agreement which would see the Comcast-owned broadcaster double its US$150 million per season deal. 

Streaming is likely to be at the heart of whichever bid ultimately proves to be successful. The EPL has been attributed as one of the biggest drivers of subscribers of NBCU’s Peacock service. ViacomCBS and ESPN would likely seek to emulate this success with their respective streamers Paramount+ and ESPN+.