Poll reveals half think Premier League subscriptions poor value for money as Lib Dems launch new bid for free-to-air games

EMBARGO: 18:00 Friday 15th August 2025

Half of Brits (51%) think Premier League subscription packages are poor value for money, new polling commissioned by the Liberal Democrats reveals as the 2025-26 league kicks off today.

The Premier League 2025-26 season is the first to be broadcast under the League’s new broadcasting deal with Sky Sports and TNT Sports. Under the deal, the number of games screened behind a paywall is set to reach its highest ever number at 215.

Liberal Democrat analysis of subscription prices estimate that watching this year’s season could cost each fan up to a staggering £660 a year. 

The Liberal Democrats have pledged to table a bill as soon as Parliament returns in September aimed at increasing the number of free-to-air games, as pressure mounts on the government to bring football back to fans. The “Free Football for Fans Act” would scrap the paywall for at least 10 games a season. The Liberal Democrats are urging Labour MPs to back the bill and not miss an “open goal” for fans increasingly priced out of following their own teams.

Earlier in the summer, the Liberal Democrats put forward a proposal modelled on the La Liga approach – whose deal with the streaming service DAZN offers one free game a week to fans – to bring at least ten Premier League games a season out from behind the paywall. Those proposals were voted down by Labour MPs last month, despite substantial grassroots support for the move. The polling data reveals that 48% of Brits were disappointed with Labour MPs for voting against the free to air package, with 1 in 4 (25%) saying they were “very disappointed”.

Max Wilkinson MP, Lib Dem Culture, Media and Sport Spokesperson, said:

“Fans across the country have for years been paying expensive subscriptions to watch the game we love. With the Premier League set to kick off this week and a record number of matches due to be televised, they’re rightly wondering why not a single game will be on a free-to-air platform. If it can work for La Liga in Spain, surely it can work here.

“Liberal Democrat plans for Premier League games to be broadcast free-to-air were blocked once – but as all dedicated football fans know, the new season brings a fresh chance for victory.

“That’s why we’ll be bringing back a proposal to Parliament. The government has missed an open goal once - surely they won’t do it again.”

ENDS