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TNT Sports Loses Premier League Rights, Faces Industry Shakeup
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Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, November 20th 2025 at 11:26 GMT by The Mirror- 🞛 This publication is a summary or evaluation of another publication
- 🞛 This publication contains editorial commentary or bias from the source
TNT Sports on the Brink: Premier League Rights Set to Pass to New Hands
In a shock to the UK sports landscape, the recently re‑branded TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport) is facing the loss of its long‑standing Premier League broadcasting rights. The news, first flagged by a “breaking” headline on The Mirror, comes after a series of stalled negotiations that have left the channel’s future in jeopardy and the Premier League’s domestic broadcast model on the brink of a significant change.
A Quick Look Back
BT Sport launched in 2007 as a joint venture between British Telecom and Warner Media. In March 2023 the brand was renamed TNT Sports as part of a broader strategy to reposition the channel as a multi‑sport, multi‑platform broadcaster. For years, TNT Sports – and its predecessor – had carried a significant share of Premier League football, including a 20‑match “Premier League Sunday” slot and live coverage of matches that didn’t fall under the main Sky or BBC packages.
TNT Sports’ 2021–22 season rights package was set to run through the 2025‑26 season, after a £2.1 billion deal that covered 138 live games. However, the channel has been grappling with declining viewership and rising costs, prompting a reassessment of its strategy in a market that is increasingly leaning toward streaming.
Why the Deal Fell Through
According to insiders quoted in The Mirror, negotiations between TNT Sports and the Premier League for the 2024–25 season stalled over the price that the league was willing to offer. The Premier League has been exploring the possibility of a “big‑screen” partnership that could combine live coverage with premium streaming content on Amazon Prime Video.
“We were in talks for months,” said a Premier League executive who wished to remain anonymous. “But the numbers just didn’t add up for either side. TNT Sports couldn’t match the valuation that the league was demanding, and the league was reluctant to split its revenue base in a way that would benefit a single broadcaster.”
The outcome, as reported by The Mirror, is that the Premier League will now offer the rights to a “mixed media” package that is more likely to be won by Amazon Prime Video and Sky Sports – both of which already hold portions of the league’s rights. While Sky is set to extend its long‑running deal, Amazon is expected to secure a new slate of 20 live games per season, bringing the total number of streamed matches on Prime Video to over 100.
What This Means for TNT Sports
The loss of the Premier League package could have a ripple effect on TNT Sports’ viability. Revenue from advertising and subscription fees is heavily tied to football viewership. Without the Premier League, the channel would have to lean more heavily on other sports such as rugby, tennis, and niche American sports that it has acquired rights for in the past.
“We’ve got to find a way forward,” said a TNT Sports executive in an interview with The Mirror. “That may mean pivoting to a new model or even looking for a buyer. Our brand has a lot of equity, but the market is moving too fast for us to keep up with the traditional model.”
Some observers point to the channel’s recent attempts to bolster its streaming presence – a feature-rich app that allows viewers to watch live matches on smart TVs, tablets, and smartphones – as a possible lifeline. The company has already secured a partnership with the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia, and is in talks to acquire rights for the International Rugby League (IRL) World Cup.
Implications for Fans
Fans who rely on TNT Sports for live football are now likely to turn to Sky Sports or Amazon Prime Video for the 2024–25 season. While Sky remains the primary broadcaster of live Premier League football in the UK, Amazon Prime Video’s entry is significant because it will make a larger number of games available for free to Prime subscribers – though the platform still requires a subscription.
“Prime Video will give us a lot more flexibility,” said a fan community member on Twitter. “But the main thing is, we’re used to the way the channel schedules its matches, and that will change.”
The Wider Market Context
The Premier League’s decision to open up its rights further aligns with a broader industry shift toward streaming. The league’s chief executive, Mark Hamill, has repeatedly spoken about the need to “rethink how we deliver content in a digital‑first world.” Amazon Prime Video’s upcoming expansion into live sports is expected to drive subscription growth, while Sky’s renewed focus on sports content may lead to higher subscription fees.
Other broadcasters, such as BT Group and its other media assets, are closely watching the situation. In particular, the BBC’s “Game of the Week” broadcast – which remains a staple of the league’s domestic rights – could see changes in format or distribution as part of the overall reshuffling.
Looking Ahead
What remains to be seen is whether TNT Sports will manage to secure alternative content that can sustain its operations, or whether it will pivot to a smaller, niche‑focused model. The league’s decision may prompt the channel to explore a partnership with a global streaming platform or even to re‑enter the market under a different brand.
Until the Premier League finalises its new rights allocation, the exact distribution of matches across broadcasters remains in flux. Viewers can expect further announcements from the league and the involved broadcasters over the next few weeks.
In any case, the news of TNT Sports potentially losing its Premier League rights marks a watershed moment in the UK’s sports broadcasting industry. It underscores the growing dominance of streaming platforms and the fragility of traditional multi‑channel broadcasters in an increasingly digital‑centric world. For fans, it means more options – but also a need to navigate a more fragmented landscape to catch the games they love.
Read the Full The Mirror Article at:
[ https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/breaking-tnt-sports-set-lose-36280607 ]
