BBC hopes of screening biggest Premier League matches live met with resistance

BBC hopes of screening the biggest remaining Premier League games will meet resistance when the first free-to-air live matches are decided over the coming days.

The corporation will screen four live matches for the first time in the league's modern history as part of the behind-closed-doors return agreed by clubs.

However, broadcasting sources told The Telegraph that any temptation among league officials to hand the BBC four glamour ties would cause upset its rivals.

Rights packages from the likes of Sky and BT dwarf the BBC's and, after weeks of tortuous meetings, league administrators are now keen to avoid any further upset as football returns from Covid-19-enforced absence.

The Premier League refused to detail how the fixtures will be shared between Sky, BT, Amazon and the BBC, but one broadcaster said: "It won't be done out of a hat". An announcement is expected next week.

"There is pecking order here," the source added. "We would be extremely surprised to say the least if the BBC gets more than one match of significant influence at either end of the table."

Regardless of the matches they get, there is great excitement at the BBC at the prospect of recording the highest ever viewing figures for Premier League matches. “This opportunity creates an historic moment for the BBC and our audiences,” said Barbara Slater, the corporation's head of sport. “This will offer audiences, who haven’t had the opportunity in the past, live, free-to-air access to the best football league in the world.”

Sky will screen the return of champions-in-waiting Liverpool as they return to action against Everton. The subscription broadcaster will make that match and 25 others available on its Pick channel for non-Sky Sports subscribers.

BT Sport, the second biggest rights holder, has decided against broadcasting any matches for free, with sources citing the financial hit it has already taken during the pandemic.

All of the final 92 Premier League matches of the season will be split across four different broadcasters to ensure fans can watch all their remaining fixtures while staying at home. Sky receive an extra 25 matches, taking their total allocation to 64. BT Sport will screen 20, while Amazon Prime and the BBC both get four.