Premier League to make live BBC debut on the South Coast 

Credit: Tim Goode/PA Wire/PA Images

The Premier League has announced its first batch of fixtures for the revised campaign, with AFC Bournemouth’s clash against Crystal Palace on 20 June being the competition’s first-ever televised match on the BBC.

In total England’s top-flight has released its full schedule, including match times, for the first three-match rounds of the resumed 2019/20 season, if all safety requirements are put in place. 

Within the fixture list, two of BBC’s allocated four matches have been selected, with the other being Norwich City vs Everton on 24 June. The last time a top division game was broadcasted live on the BBC was during the 1987-88 season.

Sky Sports will broadcast 22 of the firm’s allocated 32 matches, with eight of the fixtures available for free on Sky’s free-to-air television channel, Pick, which includes both season re-openers and the Merseyside Derby between Everton and Liverpool on 21 June.

Sky Sports director of football Gary Hughes stated: “Huge thanks to the Premier League and its clubs for working so closely with Sky Sports to get these fixtures agreed for the restart.

“It is unprecedented times and a huge number of games live on our screens, everyone at Sky Sports is looking forward to getting the games back on and sharing our live coverage with the fans from 17 June.”

On Monday 29 June Amazon Prime will live stream Crystal Palace vs Burnley with the subscription service offering out all of its allocated matches for free. Moreover, BT Sport will air the remaining seven fixtures.

The Premier League has also revealed on its fixture list that two matches, the Merseyside Derby and Man City vs Liverpool, could be moved to a neutral venue with the competition’s website labelling the matches as ‘Venue TBC’. 

The decision to not announce a venue for the two clashes coincides with statements made by Mark Roberts, the head of UK’s football police unit, where he expects certain matches to be played at neutral venues.

The Deputy chief constable of South Yorkshire Police stated last week: “Our discussions with the Premier League throughout this process have been positive, with a shared focus on the priority of public health. As such we have reached a consensus that balances the needs of football, while also minimising the demand on policing.

“The majority of remaining matches will be played at home and away as scheduled, with a small number of fixtures taking place at neutral venues, which, contrary to some reports, have yet to be agreed.”

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