The Premier League are formulating plans to broadcast their matches themselves at the end of their next multi-partner deal, according to a report.

The Mirror report that the Premier League are discussing ditching the likes of Sky Sports and BT Sport in favour of showing their own games in the future.

As it stands, the Premier League rights are split between Sky, BT, and Amazon, and there’s talk of the likes of DAZN and Disney+ entering the bidding for the next rights deal.

The current deal expires in 2025, and the next one would run until 2028, so the Premier League wouldn’t be taking control until then at the earliest.

But if and when it happens, it would be a big boost for everyone involved – except the current broadcasters.

The Premier League clubs would be able to keep all the profits for themselves, and the fans would likely end up paying significantly less for one subscription than the host of services they currently have to sign up for to watch all the games.

The league would also then have more control over kick-off times, as opposed to the current system where they have to work with broadcasters to agree on the scheduling.

Whether that would actually result in putting the match-going supporters first is another matter, but at the very least it would make it easier to identify exactly who was responsible for any changes and hold them accountable.

For those of us not working for one of the current broadcasters, it’s hard to see the downsides. Even those working at Sky and BT would probably be able to find alternative employment with the Premier League when the rights changed hands.

But it will likely be a long while until we get official confirmation of the potential changes, and we’re set for at least five more seasons of the old system in the meantime.