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BT Sport has confirmed that this weekend’s Merseyside derby will not be broadcasted despite government calls to do so.
Everton will face Liverpool at Goodison Park at 12.30pm on Saturday, and BT is set to broadcast the Premier League clash to its subscribers.
But after the Liverpool city region was placed under the strictest closure restrictions on the government’s new three-tier scale last week, pubs in the area were forced to close and homes are prohibited from mixing.
However, MPs and other city leaders fear that residents may break the rules to be able to watch the game at other people’s homes because the game is only available to BT subscribers.
Speaking at Wednesday’s Digital, Culture, Media and Sports Committee hearing, Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden said it would be “a great gesture” if the game were available for free due to current restrictions.
He said: “I wouldn’t accept the premise that people in Liverpool are going to break the rules at all, but if BT can [to make the match free to air] as a gesture, that would be great, of course. “
However, BT Sport responded to the request and dismissed such an approach, claiming that it is difficult to start applying different business models to different local lockdown situations.
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“Streaming revenue is critical to ensuring soccer clubs stay financially afloat, and together we help protect the overall soccer ecosystem,” said a spokesperson for the network.
“It is impossible to start applying different business models to the many different and dynamic local lockdown situations.”
While Dowden has also been less impressed with the Premier League’s new Pay-Per-View TV model that was confirmed last week.
He said: “I was not very impressed. These things collide with the idea of coming together in this period of crisis. ”
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