Amazon plans bid for Premier League streaming rights

Amazon is expected, according to various media sites, to bid for the rights to stream Premier League football in the UK. The company has held talks with "industry experts" about the logistics of adding the competition to its range of sporting content.

While Amazon refuses to confirm or deny whether it is exploring bidding for 2019-22 coverage, the news was apparently confirmed to Telegraph Sport - and Bloomburg cites a "source familiar with the matter".

Amazon's competition will, of course, come from Sky, who paid £4.2bn during the last auction. As Sky is one of the elements in the ongoing negotiations around Disney's desire to acquire 21st Century Fox, it might yet have even more money to back its bid next time.

Amazon's annual revenue (£100bn or so) currently dwarfs Sky's, though, and that of its other potential rival: BT. Since Sky and BT signed a deal allowing each company to share the other's channels, perhaps a joint bid would make sense.

This wouldn't be the first time Amazon has spent big bucks to broadcast sport. Last year it took the rights to both the US Open and the ATP World Tour, paying a total of £80 million (and recouping a fair bit more).

Having a dedicated streaming source across major platforms (Prime Video features on both Apple and Android smartphones) as well as integrated into the company's array of Fire tablets, Fire TV Sticks and boxes, could mean even more people might be watching even more live and on-demand sport via Amazon.

MORE:

What Hi-Fi? deals of the week

17 of the best TV shows to watch on Amazon Prime Video

Amazon's Alexa products could start playing adverts

CES 2018 preview: news, rumours and what to expect

LG reveals its first 4K HDR projector just prior to CES 2018 debut

8K TV – everything you need to know

Adam was a staff writer for What Hi-Fi?, reviewing consumer gadgets for online and print publication, as well as researching and producing features and advice pieces on new technology in the hi-fi industry. He has since worked for PC Mag as a contributing editor and is now a science and technology reporter for The Independent.