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Sky and BT Sport’s radical changes for Premier League’s return with screens in dressing room and mics in technical area

SKY SPORTS and BT Sport are set to introduce radical changes to their match-day coverage for the eagerly-anticipated return of the Premier League.

Top-flight chiefs are set to open talks with broadcasters over giving them unprecedented access to all areas on match-days.


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 Sky Sports and BT Sport want more access to Premier League games
Sky Sports and BT Sport want more access to Premier League games

Amongst other plans, Sky Sports and BT Sport hope to share footage from inside the dressing room, while broadcasting audio from the technical areas.

And Premier League bosses could well listen to their incredible demands in a bid to keep them on side over a potential near-£1billion rebate.

Top-flight officials would owe broadcasters a staggering £762million if the season is cancelled.

And even if the June 12 restart does go ahead, broadcasters could be entitled to compensation for the three months of action lost.

On top of that, games squeezed into a heavily-congested schedule and played in front of empty stadiums mean the likes of BT Sport and Sky Sports can't provide their usual level of broadcast.

They could go after a £330m compensation package because of that.

Now the broadcasting giants have sent an ambitious list of demands to Premier League bosses over big-scale changes.

And it's suggested those demands "will be taken seriously" at Monday's shareholder meeting in a bid to keep Sky and BT sweet and hopefully avoid a big payout.

Here's what Sky Sports and BT Sport are hoping to implement for the rest of the season...

TUNNEL & DRESSING ROOM CAMERAS

FEARFUL their end product - showing a live game devoid of any atmosphere - will be sorely hampered, broadcasters are keen to get fans interested in other ways.

And arguably their key weapon is to give supporters an incredible behind-the-scenes look at what teams get up to on match-days.

Sky Sports and BT Sport want cameras hooked up in both teams' dressing rooms and in the tunnel so fans can see what happens before and after the on-pitch action.

MICROPHONES IN TECHNICAL AREAS

AS well as being able to watch the players in the dressing room and tunnel, broadcasters want fans to be able to hear something.

After all, there won't be any fan noise to enjoy - with the muffled cries of the players on the pitch the best on offer.

But Sky Sports and BT Sport want fans to hear what's being screamed by bosses - and even the bench-warmers - by adding mics to the technical areas.

From hearing the staff and subs' celebration to the boss' tactical instructions, it's hoped fans could keep on watching from their TV even with games behind-closed doors.

HALF-TIME INTERVIEWS

PRE-MATCH and post-match interviews are nothing new - and very occasionally bosses may give a half-time update.

But under new plans, BT Sport and Sky Sports are hoping to get more access to both managers and players at half-time to catch their thoughts on how the game is going.

The idea is that fans won't switch off at half-time, gripped by the insight from the players.

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