Pay-per-view system to continue in the Premier League until November 8 which means that some games scheduled for November 6 to 8 can only be accessed through BT Sport Box Office or Sky Sports Box Office.
While announcing the development on Thursday, the Premier League noted that the system will be reviewed after the Fifa international break which means that there is a possibility that the policy might change before November 21 when the Premier League is scheduled to return to action after the break.
A Premier League statement read, “In consultation with clubs, all elements of the pay-per-view service, including the price, will be reviewed ahead of Premier League matches returning after the international break later next month.”
This development is coming amidst widespread criticism against the system which demands that viewers must pay an extra £14.95 fee per selected Premier League game
Recall that when the Premier League returned from the three months induced coronavirus break in June, the league matches were played behind closed doors and transmitted to fans via free-to-air TV. This policy was to encourage fans of the league to remain at home during coronavirus lockdown.
However, when the 2020-2021 Premier League season resumed, the league body insisted on the Pay-Per-View system to raise revenue for clubs. The clubs have been very particular about having fans at match venues but the government of the United Kingdom doesn’t want that to happen amid the coronavirus pandemic. Hence, the clubs fell back on the Pay-Per-View system.
Below are the Premier League fixtures that will be showed via the Pay-Per-View system from this weekend to November 8:
Aston Villa vs Southampton – Sunday, Kick-off 12 pm
Tottenham vs Brighton – Sunday, Kick-off 7.15 pm
Fulham vs West Brom – Monday, Kick-off 5.30 pm
Brighton vs Burnley – Friday 6 November, Kick-off 5.30 pm
West Brom vs Tottenham – Sunday 8 November, Kick-off 12.00 pm
Arsenal vs Aston Villa – Sunday 8 November, Kick-off 7.15 pm
Newcastle United to refund fans
Meanwhile, Newcastle United have agreed to refund the club’s season ticket holders since Premier League games have continued to go on behind closed doors.
Based on the practice of Newcastle United, the club always deduct match tickets fee from the bank accounts of fans who subscribe for it at the beginning of every season. The club did the same thing ahead of this season with the assumption that fans will be allowed in match venues. Unfortunately for the club, the league has to go on behind closed doors.
“Despite months of work to plan for a safe, socially distanced return of supporters, clubs across the country have not yet been given the go-ahead by authorities and an outlined date for the return of spectators has yet to be confirmed by the government,” said Newcastle in a statement.
“In an online meeting with supporters and supporter groups to discuss a potential safe return to matches last month, the club made a broad commitment to refunding season ticket holders at designated stages throughout the season.”
