As the clock ticks down to the kick-off of the 2026/7 Premier League season on Friday 21st August, a new report has been published looking at its social and economic impact on the UK.
The report published by EY explores the League’s economic and social contribution to the UK.
During the 2025/6 season, UK coverage generated a 13 per cent increase in live viewer hours and a 5 per cent increase in the number of unique individuals watching, said the report. 127 matches across Sky and TNT Sports drew audiences in excess of 1 million viewers, while an estimated worldwide cumulative live audience of 1.5 billion watched the League.
The report added that a significant proportion of the League’s broadcast revenues is generated from international markets, with exports valued at £1.8 billion in 2024/25.
Broadcast revenues almost match the rest of the UK’s TV sector combined (£2 billion), said the report.
Peter Arnold, EY UK chief economist, said: “Over more than three decades, the Premier League has grown from a domestic football competition into one of the UK’s most successful global exports. Watched by audiences around the world and followed by more than a billion supporters, its influence and positive contributions extend far beyond the pitch.”
The full report is available to read here.
