Sunderland could cash in from bumper Premier League deal - Keith Wyness

Everton’s former chief Keith Wyness has claimed Sunderland and other EFL clubs could benefit from being incorporated in the Premier League’s mooted direct-to-consumer streaming service.

Speaking on the new edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, the 66-year-old – who served as CEO at Goodison Park between 2004 and 2009 and now runs a football consultancy advising elite clubs – insisted discussions have previously taken place about merging media rights for the two organisations.

Wyness has previously told Football Insider (7 December) that Premier League clubs could “quadruple” TV revenue with a new streaming-based model which he claimed could be “revolutionary”.

It was announced on 22 November that top-flight clubs have unanimously agreed that they will establish a new in-house media operations business from the 2026-27 season.

The EFL, like the Premier League, sell games to Sky Sports but also already have an in-house broadcaster which brings games to overseas fans directly from the member clubs.

The top-flight’s domestic TV deal runs until the 2028-29 campaign, with the Football League’s deal also expiring in five years.

Premier League clubs currently pay a solidarity settlement to EFL clubs to aid in the growth of the pyramid, but discussions have stalled over an uplift in that payment.

EFL-Premier League merger could benefit Sunderland, says Wyness

Wyness claimed the top flight could incorporate the rest of the English professional clubs in any ‘Netflix of Football’ they set up in the coming years.

He told Football Insider‘s Insider Track podcast: “If the Premier League gets up and running, there could be room to take the EFL as a customer.

“They could help them out that way.

“That could be a potential reason why these discussions between the divisions are stalling right now. There could be negotiations about the Premier League selling the games directly to the consumer.

“There’s a possibility that could happen.

“It would give the EFL a huge lift.

“It’s an interesting idea, to bring the two organisations together. They’ve talked about selling media rights together before, but now it could become a reality.”

In other news, Sunderland “closer to Daniel Cummings deal” after surprise Celtic update.

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The post Sunderland could cash in from bumper Premier League deal - Keith Wyness appeared first on Football Insider.