City Xtra
·3 October 2024
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Yahoo sportsCity Xtra
·3 October 2024
A proposal put to all 20 clubs by the Premier League is centred around the possibility of mid-game match interviews, according to a new report.
At present, Manchester City and the other Premier League clubs are subject to a number of media obligations throughout the course of a season, as well as general media duties capturing content prior to a campaign starting on a top-flight ‘media day’.
With Pep Guardiola and his players being one of the most broadcasted teams in the division via the likes of Sky Sports, TNT Sports, and Prime Video, their obligations when it comes to the media are more demanding than most.
Such commitments include pre and post-match interviews, long-form interview content within their City Football Academy training base, as well as pitchside content depending on the broadcaster and how such a format is produced for viewers.
But it appears as though the list of media commitments undertaken by Manchester City could increase next season, creating a potential logistical headache for those managing such media output responsibilities.
According to the information of MailSport’s Sami Mokbel, the Premier League are currently in talks with all 20 of their clubs over introducing mid-game player interviews as a staple of their broadcasting packages from the 2025/26 season.
However, the report points out that there is ‘significant opposition’ towards the proposals from teams higher up the division, while those lower ‘see value in the idea’ despite a sense that the cons outweigh the pros.
From the side of the Premier League, it is detailed that the top-flight see the concept of capturing players’ views while play unfolds as an innovative way of bringing the viewer closer to the action.
Sky Sports trialled the idea for the first time earlier this week as part of their coverage of Bournemouth’s 3-1 win over Southampton, with the hosts’ Marcus Tavernier – substituted in 76th minute – interviewed by a pitchside reporter as he came off the field.