Members of Parliament could soon vote on a landmark proposal that would make at least 10 Premier League matches per season available on free-to-air television, significantly expanding public access to top-flight football.
The proposal is part of an amendment to the Football Governance Bill, tabled by the Liberal Democrats, which is currently progressing through the UK Parliament. The bill seeks to establish a new, independent football regulator tasked with overseeing the men’s game across the top five divisions of English football.
If adopted, the amendment would mandate the regulator to ensure that select Premier League games, the League Cup Final, and the Championship, League One, and League Two playoff finals are broadcast free-to-air.
The Liberal Democrats, long-time advocates for accessible sport, say they are optimistic that the amendment will be debated and voted on in the House of Commons. The party argues that current paywalls around top-tier football deny millions of fans access to the national game.
“I’m urging MPs of all stripes to back our amendment to tear down the paywall and make Premier League games available on free-to-air channels,” said Max Wilkinson MP, Liberal Democrat spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport.
“For too long, the jewel in the crown of British football has been locked behind an expensive barrier that keeps fans out while lining the pockets of broadcasters. That must end today—with a free-to-air revolution that gives the Premier League back to the country.”
The Liberal Democrats point to Spain’s legal requirement for La Liga to broadcast one game per week free-to-air, introduced in 2022, as a model worth emulating.
However, the UK government appears less enthusiastic. A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport said:
“The government has no plans to review the listed events regime.”
The Premier League declined to comment on the matter.
The legislation has now reached the report stage in the House of Commons, where amendments can be debated in greater detail. A similar proposal was previously tabled at the committee stage last month but did not advance.
At that time, Sports Minister Stephanie Peacock defended the existing “listed events” policy, which safeguards key events like the FA Cup Final for free-to-air broadcast, while allowing football leagues and broadcasters to secure revenue through exclusive rights deals.
“We all want to see more matches televised free-to-air, but that must be balanced against investment,” she said. “It would not be appropriate for the regulator to intervene in commercial decisions between broadcasters and rights holders.”
The Liberal Democrats argue that fans are being priced out. Their research suggests that watching all live Premier League matches next season would cost viewers £660 annually in subscription fees.
Their push comes amid concerns over a decline in Premier League TV audiences, with Sky Sports viewership down 10% and TNT Sports suffering a 17% year-on-year drop last season.
The outcome of the proposed amendment could mark a pivotal moment in the accessibility of English football and reshape the relationship between fans, broadcasters, and the Premier League.
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