Hammers could benefit from US TV rights windfall

US TV rights to Premier League games are expected to reach up to $3 billion dollars (£2.17Bn) with serious competition expected from traditional and streaming platforms including Amazon.

All Premier league clubs including West Ham would receive an equal share of any increase next season.

Comcast-owned US media giant NBC is favourite to pay more than US$300 million (£217.29m) per season to renew its broadcast partnership with the Premier League but other packages could also be sold with the Premier League now popular in the states.

TV rights to top flight league are set to hit the US market as the league’s deal with NBC has entered into its final season. NBC is very keen on retaining its Premier League but currently pays only US$150 million (£108.65m) per year fee it currently pays, meaning that a six-year contract could top US$2 billion (£1.45Bn) for NBC alone.

NBC said: ‘We certainly want to continue our great relationship with the Premier League. Now in our ninth season, we have worked together to drive major growth for the sport in the US with innovative production and unmatched promotion.’

Disney, WarnerMedia and CBS are all reportedly set to bid and will offer a mix of linear broadcast and streaming to secure the deal, with Amazon also said to be interested as a pure streaming option.