The Premier League is under pressure to scrap pay-per-view games and make more matches free-to-air following the government’s new lockdown measures.
The controversial scheme in which fans are asked to pay £14.95 to watch matches that have not been picked up by broadcasters as part of existing packages has been a PR disaster for the Premier League and clubs.
A ferocious backlash from fans and criticism from politicians led club chairmen to consider a £5 reduction in the cost of games at the Premier League’s shareholders’ meeting last week.
The Premier League’s pay-per-view plan averaged fewer than 40,000 viewers per match
However, since viewing figures were better than expected, averaging 39,000 per match, and slightly above the league's target, it was decided that the £14.