Why Premier League Viewing Figures Are On The Decline

By all means, the Premier League is viewed as the biggest league in the world. The best players – Mohamed Salah, Erling Haaland, Bukayo Saka. Globally renowned teams – Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea.

With 128 games shown on Sky Sports and a further 52 on TNT Sports, fans across the world can watch the Premier League, with many even supporting teams through this medium, despite being in different corners of the world.

However, after two record-breaking seasons in 2022/23 and 2023/24, the viewing numbers of the English top-flight decreased last season, with Sky’s viewership falling around 10% and TNT Sports losing 17%.

But why is the viewership for the Premier League decreasing?

Domination In The Title Race

All aspects of the Premier League are decided by one thing – the division’s title race. Deciding who lifts the league trophy, but also keeping fans engaged and entertained with the action on the pitch.

For the 2024/25 season, there was a clear correlation between the decrease in viewership numbers and the division’s title race. In 2022/23 and 2023/24, Sky and TNT experienced record-breaking views as Manchester City and Arsenal competed in dramatic title fights.

LIVERPOOL ARE PREMIER LEAGUE CHAMPIONS 🏆🔴

THEIR 20TH LEAGUE TITLE 😤 pic.twitter.com/v31PSsiZ3R

— CBS Sports Golazo ⚽️ (@CBSSportsGolazo) April 27, 2025

However, last season, Liverpool ran away at the top of the division, becoming a powerhouse under Arne Slot, and wrapped up the title at the end of April with four games remaining.

The Reds were dominant, sitting at the top of the table for 234 days – 193 days longer than any team in the 2023/24 season.

That meant that the Premier League lacked intrigue going into the business end of the season, fans already knew who was going to win the title, and with a large proportion of international fans supporting teams at the top, many would’ve tuned out of the action as Liverpool were set to become champions.

Weak Relegation Battle

But the table was not only concluded just at the top, as the three relegation spots were almost decided at the beginning of the season as all three promoted sides went straight back down.

Throughout the season, Southampton were notoriously bad, picking up just two wins and 12 points. The Saints went through three different managers in the season and at no point looked particularly competitive in the Premier League, with their relegation almost being decided by December.

Next came Ipswich Town, with the Tractor Boys spending a large amount of money to strengthen their squad in an attempt to compete with the giants in the Premier League.

Ipswich are going back down to the Championship 👋

It's the first time in Premier League history all of the relegations were confirmed with as many as four games to play.

It's also the first time all three promoted teams went back down in consecutive seasons 😬 pic.twitter.com/Pb4NcS2uRS

— B/R Football (@brfootball) April 26, 2025

However, despite the success of signings such as Liam Delap, Ipswich were relegated with 22 points and went down without too much of a fight – despite early promise.

Finally, Leicester City finished in the final relegation spot to be knocked down to the Championship, with 13 points separating them from Tottenham Hotspur in 17th.

While the title race is the main event in the Premier League, the relegation spots are often what keep the division entertaining until the final day, with teams scrapping for their lives at the bottom of the table.

But with the three relegated teams decided in April, viewership numbers incredibly decreased due to the lack of a narrative, and as the league’s top and bottom of the table were concluded.

New Deal For The New Season

Looking forward to the 2025/26 season, viewership could be at an all-time high due to a new £6.7bn domestic broadcast deal.

215 top-flight games will be shown live on Sky Sports – an increase from 128 games in the previous season and including all of the games that will be moved to Sundays because of club’s participation in European football.

TNT Sports will also retain its 52 games, broadcasting the Saturday 12:30 kick-offs and two-midweek fixtures in the season. However, Amazon Prime will not have any coverage for the first time in six seasons.

🚨BREAKING🚨: Sky Sports agree new Premier League rights deal

Sky Sports to show 70% more matches – a record 215 games - in a new four year-deal from 2025/26.

More Premier League action than any other broadcaster, with at least four matches every week. pic.twitter.com/Q9ye5w9Vzj

— Sky Sports (@SkySports) December 4, 2023

Going forward, the biggest issue for fans and companies is the pricing's for sports subscription - Sky Sport's subscription for the Premier League costing fans £34.99 while a singular day pass could cost £14.99.

The inflated prices of top-flight coverage leads several fans to illegal methods, such as pirating, with fans at home not being able to afford to watch their team.

However, ahead of the new season, it is hard to not see the division’s broadcasting numbers not booming again. Teams like Man City are spending big to be able to compete with Liverpool, while an increased number of games will be aired on TV.