18th February 2026
February 17 – The Premier League has secured a 25% uplift on its broadcast deal in South America and the Caribbean after agreeing a new long-term extension with ESPN**,** understood to be worth around £450 million through to 2031, according to reports.
Clubs were briefed on the deal at last week’s shareholders’ meeting, alongside updates on other international rights packages soon heading to market. With the domestic rights somewhat plateauing, the news that international rights are still climbing is music to the ears of the bean counters.
In the UK, the Premier League squeezed only a modest increase in its latest four-year deal with Sky Sports and TNT Sports**,** rising from £1.63 billion per season to £1.67 billion. Interestingly, that growth came not from a higher value, but from increasing the number of live matches from 215 to 270.
Internationally, the Premier League has long been a dominating force in the football rights acquisition market.
Overseas rights generate £2.1 billion annually, almost £500 million more than domestic rights, and with U.S. broadcaster, NBC Sports’ deal set to expire in 2028, that number will surely go higher as the competition to land the rights increases. NBC currently pays £378 million per year.
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