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Customers of Sky’s (Sky Broadband etc.) Pay TV services, such as Sky Glass and Sky Stream, may like to know that the UK provider has extended its partnership with the Premier League for the coming year and increased the exclusively live matches they carry from 128 to a minimum of 215. But that’s not all – new features are also coming to their streaming platforms.
The big increase in games all in one place also includes every displaced match at 2pm on Sundays, which is claimed to be a “first for any UK broadcaster“. In addition, for viewers wanting to keep an eye on all the live action, a new programme called Multiview will launch across all Sky TV platforms, NOW TV and the Sky Sports app – this will feature every live match concurrently.
Multiview is said to be a dynamic format that moves from ground to ground covering all the goals and big moments, complete with dedicated commentary and half-time analysis. It will sit alongside all games available to watch individually, ensuring fans never miss a moment. A new analysis and reaction show – Extra Time – will also be launched to help end any supersized Super Sundays (i.e. when four or more matches are played).
On top of this Sky has agreed to a new partnership with Fanalysis, which will offer supporter-driven player ratings, manager verdicts, and perspectives will feature in live match build-up, post-match reaction and across Sky Sports News, social and digital. Fans will also have access to instant vertical highlights in the Sky Sports app, giving a mobile-first experience of the action for the first time.
Chief Sports Officer for Sky, Jonathan Licht, said:
“This is a landmark season for Sky Sports and the Premier League. For the first time, we’ll bring fans over 215 live matches, including every 2pm kick-off on Super Sunday. We’re introducing new innovations like Multiview, new programmes like Super Sunday: Extra Time, and a new look schedule for Sky Sports News. From the moment the season kicks off, we’ll be helping fans stay across all the biggest stories and making sure they never miss a moment of the action.”
Sky is also introducing a range of new features to Sky Glass and Sky Stream “throughout this season“. Updates said to be “coming soon” include on-screen match reminders across any channels in the TV guide for live sport. Team pages and the ability to add teams to Playlist will make it easier for fans to see their club’s upcoming matches and content across Sky Sports, other channels and apps, in one place. Fans will also be able to watch a game from the start if they’ve missed the beginning or replay the full match after the final whistle – both these updates will also be coming to Sky Q soon.
Finally, “later this year“, Sky said that all live events currently streamed on Sky Sports+ via the Sky Sports app on TV will be integrated into the main Sky OS experience on Sky Glass and Sky Stream, making matches easier to find and introducing the option to add these additional live streams to Playlist. On Sky Q, live events will continue to play via the Sky Sports app, which will also have a refreshed look and feel.
Sky added that they remain the home of the Premier League football and will “show a record number of fixtures every season until the end of the decade“. The offering of top-flight football secured for Sky Sports customers includes:
• At least 215 live games each season
• All first pick matches, giving fans the best matches week in week out until May 2029
• First and last word on a Premier League weekend with more live games on Fridays and Mondays
• Super Sunday remains the flagship kick-off slot at 16:30
• For the first time, all the final games on the last day of the season will be live in one place, creating a real moment for fans
• Most of the festive season fixtures, with Boxing Day Premier League football back on Sky
Just don’t be surprise if prices continue to rise with this expansion, as so often seems to be the case when annual hikes hit.