Premier League bosses are debating whether to livestream games directly in a bid to end illegal streams, rumours suggest.

Organisers are considering whether streaming matches in the US and UK would significantly cut the value of its multi-billion-pound TV deals, according to sources with knowledge of the matter.

As many as a third of football fans watch the sport illegally, with many streaming games via illicit websites or through prohibited add-ons to so-called Kodi boxes.

Should the League decide to start streaming matches it could give current Kodi box users a new way to watch football online without fear of legal action.

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Premier League bosses are debating whether to live stream games directly to fans or stick to with its lucrative TV deals. Should the League decide to start streaming matches it could give Kodi box (pictured) users a new way to watch games online without fear of legal action

KODI BOXES Premier League chiefs are being forced to innovate the way they show games in response to the rising popularity of illegal streaming. The latest estimates suggest over seven million UK homes have some kind of streaming device, including Kodi boxes, which many users run with illegal add-ons that allow them to stream movie and sport for free.

In March, the Premier League took out a court order to help it fight illegal free streaming of football matches using so-called Kodi TV boxes. The court order allowed Premier League bosses to blanket block internet servers that are powering the illegal streams. The league previously only had the power to block individual streams, which were easy for hosts to re-establish using a different link. Advertisement

Premier League chiefs are keen to offer options that reduce the number of people who illegally stream games, a figure that has dramatically risen in recent years.

But organisers are reluctant to do anything that saps the value from the £8.2 billion ($10.6 billion) broadcasters paid to show matches between 2016 and 2019, Digiday reports.

There is a growing recognition at the organisation that livestreaming could help to address an imbalance in the current broadcast model.

While rights fees for matches are soaring, viewing figures for sports broadcasters such as Sky and NBC are plummeting.

Last season saw the biggest fall in live Premier League TV viewing figures for seven years, with both Sky and BT hit by the drop.

Sky saw a 14 per cent fall in viewing numbers, while BT channels dropped by 2 per cent.

A source close to Premier League bosses told Digiday that the League is unlikely to build its own subscription-based streaming service.

Instead, it will join with an over-the-top sports media provider that will first be made available to smaller markets to avoid heavily damaging TV revenues.

Organisers are considering whether streaming matches directly to fans would significantly cut the value of its multi-billion-pound TV deals, according to sources with knowledge of the matter (stock image)

WHAT IS KODI TV? Kodi is a free service that streams apps and on-demand services onto your TV. The software, which is legal, can even be downloaded onto an Amazon Fire stick. Blank boxes can be bought from most major retailers for as little as £20 ($24), with the software uploaded afterwards. Users can play BBC iPlayer, Youtube, Soundcloud and other free catch-up apps on the device. But many of the plug-ins the box offers are illegal. Be wary if the box is pre-loaded to include subscription sport, TV and movies for free. Commonly the 'fully loaded' boxes let users watch Premier League games or Sky Movies without paying a subscription fee. Advertisement

US sports media company Perform's recent deal with America's National Football League (NFL) is similar to how the Premier League's direct-to-consumer streaming service will work, the source said.

He explained: 'This [NFL] deal is based around a joint venture where Perform are going to market the [NFL's] direct-to-consumer offering for streaming live games in more than 100 markets including Australia, Argentina and South Korea.

'The Premier League, like the NFL, would want to do something similar in a market that is not domestic because there are concerns that people will no longer be able to spend more on TV.'

Football chiefs are being forced to innovate the way they show games in response to the rising popularity of illegal streaming.

The latest estimates suggest over seven million UK homes have some kind of streaming device, including Kodi boxes which many users run with illegal add-ons that allow them to stream movie and sport for free.



In March, the Premier League took out a court order to help it fight illegal free streaming of football matches using so-called Kodi TV boxes.

The court order allowed Premier League bosses to blanket block internet servers that are powering the illegal streams.

The league previously only had the power to block individual streams, which were easy for hosts to re-establish using a different link.