The English top flight will begin broadcasting matches directly to fans for the first time next season, launching a subscription-based streaming service in Singapore as part of a broader strategy that could expand globally.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters announced on Thursday that the platform, branded “Premier League +”, will mark a historic shift from the league’s long-standing reliance on third-party broadcasters.
If the rollout proves successful, the model may be introduced in other markets.
The move positions the Premier League alongside major American sports organisations such as the NFL, NBA and Major League Baseball, which already operate direct-to-consumer streaming services.
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, Masters described the Singapore launch as a carefully evaluated first step into owning and managing a subscriber base.
“For the first time, we will have a direct relationship with our customers,” he said, noting that the league would now handle elements traditionally managed by broadcast partners, including marketing, pricing strategy, distribution and subscriber retention.
ENigeria Newspaper gathered that the decision represents a significant evolution for the competition, which has historically sold domestic and international media rights to established broadcasters. In the United Kingdom, matches are shown primarily on Sky Sports, while in the United States, NBC holds broadcast rights.
Singapore was selected as the pilot market amid the league’s strong following across Asia, where clubs such as Manchester United and Liverpool command sizeable fan bases.
The streaming launch will coincide with the opening of a new production facility, Premier League Studios, at Olympia in London, aimed at strengthening the league’s in-house content capabilities.
Masters indicated that the initiative is both a commercial venture and a learning process, suggesting that its long-term value may lie in testing a model that could reshape how the Premier League distributes its content worldwide.
