MPs to vote on making Premier League games free to air as Lib Dems demand paywall must be “torn down”
EMBARGO: 22:30 Monday 7 July 2025
- MPs set to have their first ever vote on lifting the pay wall on Premier League games
- Lib Dem amendment would make at least ten Premier League games available on free to air channels every season
- Liberal Democrats call for a “free to air” football revolution similar to approach taken by Spanish league
MPs are set to vote today [Tuesday 8th] on a Liberal Democrat amendment to make at least ten Premier League games available on free to air TV.
It is the first time ever that MPs have had the opportunity to vote on making more Premier League games free to view.
The Liberal Democrat amendment to the Football Governance Bill would require the Government’s new Independent Football Regulator to ensure that every season, at least ten Premier League football matches are made available on free-to-air television channels such as the BBC or ITV. It would also require the League Cup Final and the Championship, League One and League Two playoff finals to be free-to-air.
La Liga, Spain’s top football league, has a deal with streaming service DAZN that offers one free game a week to fans – with the Liberal Democrats suggesting that a model similar to that of the Spanish league could be adopted in the UK to give the game back to fans.
The Liberal Democrats committed in their manifesto at the 2024 election to widen public access to major sporting events by ensuring more are available to view without expensive subscription TV packages.
The coming 2025-26 season is the first season of the Premier League’s new TV rights deal with Sky Sports and TNT Sports. No games are required to be broadcast free-to-air under the deal. Analysis of subscription prices shows that to watch each Premier League game, fans will now have to stump up an eyewatering £660 a year.
Recent figures suggest that amidst a continuing cost-of-living crisis, these skyrocketing prices are starting to bite. Premier League viewership figures fell 10% on Sky Sports last year, and fell a shocking 17% on TNT Sport.
Max Wilkinson MP, Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Culture, Media and Sport said:
“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.
“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.
“Fans are being rinsed of every last penny to watch the beautiful game, while the next generation of Bellinghams and Bronzes are priced out of the chance to see football played at the very top level.
“That must end today - with a free to air revolution that gives the Premier League back to the country.”
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
Liberal Democrat amendment is available here
Details of Premier League TV deal here.
Details of Spanish TV deal here.
Subscription prices here.
Viewership figures here
