Supporters of Newcastle United have recently fumed following a Twitter post from Mark Douglas regarding the plans to televise all Premier League matches.
On Friday, it emerged that every upcoming Premier League game is to be broadcast, however, some could cost as much as £14.95 each on a pay-per-view basis (via The Mirror).
The upcoming Newcastle versus Manchester United clash is supposedly expected to be one of the first games screened on a PPV system.
This news was relayed to supporters by Douglas on social media and he branded the idea as ‘absolutely shocking’.
Lots of fans then flocked to the Twitter post from the reporter to air their frustrations.
Newcastle fans face paying £14.95 for the #mufc game under new plans to televise all of the games.
Absolutely shocking, that.
— Mark Douglas (@MsiDouglas) October 9, 2020
Absolute madness that my uncle, in Florida, can watch all our games yet people in Newcastle are potentially paying three times to watch them!
— Andy NUFC (@Andy83H) October 9, 2020
This is the PLs problem they go on about illegal streaming but fans need affordable access to the matches. I live in Spain and until fairly recently only 2 or 3 matches were shown over a weekend legally. Now it’s better but still only one 3 o’clock game. What option do I have?
— Jordi Ridley (@mridley81) October 9, 2020
The idea arose due to games being played behind closed doors which led to ‘a fear‘ that supporters could go weeks without watching their side play.
It is also claimed that Sky and BT are ‘fed up‘ of ‘giving away‘ matches for free.
What do you think of this idea to televise all Premier League matches?
It's awful, shouldn't happen
It's fine, seems reasonable to me
If you’ve got the money and you feel justified in paying it then fair enough. However there’s no way I can rationalize paying this on top of what I pay for Sky. I’m very lucky in that I get BT for free as my partner works for them but this is scandalous.
— Bedlington Social Club United (@BedlingtonClub) October 9, 2020
I refuse to do it, already paid for my season ticket and already paid tv subscriptions, they arnt getting another penny off me, in a time when people are loosing there jobs and everyone is struggling to survive I think it’s extremely cheeky for TV companies to have done this
— Chris Cossey (@Cosseycj) October 9, 2020
Thought they wanted to beat illegal streaming not make it more enticing
— Don (@NUFCDon) October 9, 2020
It is also explained in the Mirror’s report regarding the pay-per-view matches, that there is a ‘concern’ that broadcasters may demand another rebate from the Premier League.
The top flight has already signed off on a rebate which totals £330m and is set to be split between Premier League clubs.
So we put a sky sports fee through sky subscribe to Bt for another few and now they want to charge for individual matches? This is a joke and exploits fans.
— Dan Holmes ??????? (@DanToon4Life) October 9, 2020
Unbelievable https://t.co/nDW46a9veV
— Newcastle Fans TV (@NewcastleFansTV) October 9, 2020
It’s utterly indefensible charging that much no wonder people use illegal streams. Charge £5 per game and I’m sure more people would buy into that surely ????
— IanBurns (@ll370) October 9, 2020
As can be seen in these responses from Newcastle supporters, many were clearly furious about the idea of the pay-per-view system.