Getty Images
- IMG to continue operating league’s production suite for next three seasons
- Pact will take collaboration to 18 years
The Premier League and IMG have struck a new three-year agreement for the Endeavor-owned sports agency to continue operating the league’s production suite.
The partnership for Premier League Productions (PLP) will kick in from the 2022/23 season and run until the end of 2024/25.
PLP produces and distributes the Premier League’s international content, including the broadcasting of all 380 matches per season from English soccer’s top flight. PLP also creates and delivers digital content and support programming, as well as the Premier League Content Service, which is broadcast by some of the league’s partners as a full 24/7 channel.
Additionally, PLP offers international broadcast partners studio-based output, fan focused agenda shows, magazine programming, classic matches, and other long-form storytelling. PLP also provides satellite distribution and onsite services for all matches and programming, as well as connectivity to all 20 Premier League grounds and training facilities via IMG Studios.
The latest renewal will coincide with several new innovations offered to broadcasters, including a multi-cam service via the cloud providing more content and matches produced in Ultra High Definition (UHD). The Turnstile content management platform is also being rolled out.
Furthermore, PLP is utilising virtual technology to develop a new production space that will create a multi-room studio complex, while a new PLP digital and creative team will look to expand PLP’s digital capabilities.
More original, video on demand (VOD) friendly content is also in the offing from next season with the launch of ‘PL Originals’, which will focus on documentaries, lifestyle interviews and archive programming. Digital content will be part of this strand, with two to three digital films produced each week.
The Premier League and IMG’s previous PLP tie-up was due to expire at the end of the 2021/22 season. This extension will stretch the pair’s production partnership to 18 years.
“Our international broadcast partners are able to leverage the outstanding outputs of PLP to showcase the League to new and existing fans all over the world,” said Paul Molnar, the Premier League’s chief media officer.
“We are excited to launch new innovations that will considerably enhance the content offering and production services in the upcoming cycle, and we are grateful for the expertise of the IMG team that will ensure world class delivery over the three seasons ahead.”
Barney Francis, executive vice president and head of global production at IMG, added: “As the world of sports consumption continues to evolve, we are consistently developing and delivering innovative, compelling, multi-platform content for our partners to reach new and existing fans, and I am excited for everything PLP has in store for the coming seasons.”
