[jfman]

Originally Posted by Phunkenstein

I remember this story when it was Amazon

Also remember it when it was BT

Also remember it when it was ESPN

Also when it was Al Jazeera and/or BeIn

These stories usually come up every few years and it’s more likely speculation in order to rev up the bidding process rather than anything significant.

We know Apple are moving into sports but the speculation doesn’t mean anything until the auction starts… if anything there’s more evidence to suggest the current EPL structure for the U.K. doesn’t suit Apple’s ambitions given their global MLS deal where they own the entire things so to speak and the reports about how bad their NFL negotiations went where they were trying to get in-market and international rights that weren’t part of Sunday Ticket.

I wouldn’t read much into it - most likely someone from the PL eyeing a rights increase for the next deal and just trying to get the party started early!

The fact it’s coming from the Daily Mail sports reporter tells me the source for the exclusive isn’t sunning themselves up in Silicon Valley.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...ue-rights.html

The Premier League’s current three-year deal with Sky Sports and BT Sport expires in 2025, with the tender process for the next set of rights due to begin later this year.

A serious bid from Apple is the biggest threat to Sky Sports’ dominance of Premier League coverage since they gained exclusive rights to the competition in 1992, as they have the financial clout to challenge them.

Interesting that their journalist/source clearly doesn’t consider Amazon, who got their rights in the bargain bucket, under threat or part of the conversation for more.

The attempt to shakedown Sky/BT couldn’t be more obvious.