The new service will bring "Premier League +". If this model is successful, the organizers can expand it globally, Premier League CEO Richard Masters said.
This is the first time the top English football league, with great commercial value and global appeal, has broadcast its own content. Previously, the Premier League always sold television rights to intermediary partners such as Sky Sports in England or NBC in the US, according to SCMP on February 27.
The transition to live streaming marked an important strategic shift. For decades, the Premier League has built a financial empire based on selling rights by market.
Television stations and regional platforms pay huge fees to own exclusive broadcast rights, then redistribute them to viewers through cable television, satellites, or OTT services.
This model brings stable revenue and helps the tournament maximize copyright value in each country. However, it also makes fans dependent on intermediaries, bearing high subscription prices and being limited in content access.
With "Premier League +", the organizers for the first time directly approach end users through the digital platform operated by themselves. This approach allows the tournament to control viewer data, be flexible in terms of packages and expand the content ecosystem, from live broadcasts, highlights to exclusive behind-the-scenes programs.
If successful in Singapore, this model can be applied in other markets such as Hong Kong (China), where the demand for watching English football is very large.
This also reflects the general trend of the global sports industry: major tournaments are increasingly wanting to reduce dependence on traditional broadcasters, shifting to a direct model to consumers to increase profits and content control.
However, this step also poses a significant challenge. Self-operating the platform requires investment in technology, transmission infrastructure and customer care. At the same time, the tournament must consider relationships with long-term television partners, units that have contributed to creating the huge commercial value of the English Premier League for many years.
