Sub Secrets and Dressing Room Drama as the Premier League Goes Ted Lasso
Sub Secrets and Dressing Room Drama as the Premier League Goes Ted Lasso originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Starting next season, Premier League broadcasts will get up close and personal, with substituted players facing live touchline interviews during matches and cameras sneaking into dressing rooms for exclusive glimpses.
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This bold move, part of a massive $8.4 billion four-year TV deal, aims to deepen fan engagement. Sky Sports and TNT Sports will air up to 270 live games annually, amplifying the drama say premierleague.com.
Imagine the intensity: a player, fresh off the pitch, sweat dripping, answering questions as the game roars on. Substituted players will have a brief cool-down before facing the mic, ensuring they're composed but candid say the BBC. This American-style approach, common in sports like the NFL, is a first for UK football.
Will we see dressing room scenes that Ted Lasso made famous?
Camera operators will also dart onto the pitch for close-ups of goal celebrations, capturing raw emotion in real time. Dressing room access, however, comes with strict limits, no filming during team talks, preserving tactical secrecy. These changes, first reported by The Telegraph, promise to redefine how fans experience the game.
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The Premier League's new TV mega-deal, fuels these innovations. Sky Sports and TNT Sports will dominate live coverage, while the BBC retains its iconic Match of the Day highlights (albeit without Gary Lineker), Football Focus, and enhanced digital rights for online platforms. Details on the frequency of touchline interviews and which matches they'll feature remain under wraps.
The EPL will have in-game, on-field interviews of subbed off players next season.Photo by Todd Kirkland - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images
Related: World's Best Soccer Show Presenter Axed as BBC Woke Police Strike
This shift has sparked debate. Some fans crave the raw access, while others worry it could distract players or reveal too much. The Premier League insists the changes balance entertainment with respect for the game's integrity.
Team tactics will not be aired - but might we catch some Roy Kent language?
Clubs will need to adapt to this new spotlight. Dressing room footage, though restricted, could offer fans a rare peek into pre- and post-match moments, humanizing the stars. Touchline interviews might reveal unfiltered emotions, from frustration to triumph, straight from the players' mouths.
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Substitute interviews are going to be really unpredictable, a bit like the following quote maybe?
Soccer People say funny stuff...'You could fill two internets with what I don't know about football.' Ted Lasso.
The Premier League is betting big on fan engagement, drawing inspiration from American sports' in-your-face coverage. Yet, with such unprecedented access, the line between immersion and intrusion is razor-thin. Will players embrace the mic or shy away?
These changes mark a new era for Premier League broadcasts, blending high-stakes action with intimate storytelling. Fans will feel closer to the game than ever, but the success of this experiment hinges on execution and plenty of bleep-outs and blooper reels.
Next: Fake World Cup 2026 Tickets Are Here — How to Avoid the Scam
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 27, 2025, where it first appeared.
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