Concerns about the rising cost of watching football matches on TV has led to a call for at least 10 Premier League games every season to be on free-to-air channels.
New research showed how supporters are forced to fork out £870 each year in TV subscriptions if they want see all televised Premier League games.
Over the course of a season, fans will have to pay up to Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime, who each hold TV rights for matches.
This was found to be more than 50 per cent more expensive than the price of an average season ticket at a Premier League club, which is £535.
The Liberal Democrats, who conducted the research, are now set to demand a ‘free-to-air revolution’ in the broadcasting of major sports events.
As well as 10 Premier League games, the party also wants 10 Scottish Premiership matches and 20 English Football League matches to be put on free-to-air channels.
Tottenham’s Son Heung-Min is challenged by Clement Lenglet of Aston Villa during a Premier League match at Villa Park
Over the course of a season, fans will have to pay up to Sky Sports, TNT Sports and Amazon Prime, who each hold TV rights for matches
The £870 total cost of TV subscriptions was found to be almost three times as much as the cost of the cheapest Premier League season ticket, which was £310 at West Ham’s London Stadium
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said: ‘It has come to something when it is more expensive to watch live football on your TV than to watch it in the stadium’
At their upcoming Spring Conference in York next weekend, the Lib Dems will unveil plans to put top sport back on public service broadcasters.
This will also include ensuring the men’s and women’s Six Nations, the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup, England men’s and women’s cricket matches, and the Wimbledon tennis championships are on free-to-air TV.
Over the course of a 10-month Premier League season, the Lib Dems highlighted how fans will have to pay £46 per month, plus £20 set up costs, to subscribe to Sky Sports.
They will also have to pay £29.99 for access to TNT Sports, and £8.99 per month for Amazon Prime.
The £869.80 total cost was found to be almost three times as much as the cost of the cheapest Premier League season ticket, which was £310 at West Ham for 2023/24.
It was also more expensive than the cheapest season ticket at all other Premier League clubs excluding Arsenal, where adult season tickets start at £973.
The cheapest season ticket at Manchester City for this season was £385, Chelsea was £595, and Tottenham was £807.
Lib Dem MP Tim Farron said: ‘It has come to something when it is more expensive to watch live football on your TV than to watch it in the stadium.
‘In a cost of living crisis, we need to make sports available for all and inspire the next generation. We need to tear down the paywall and give sports back to the country.
‘Greedy broadcasters are ripping off fans and preventing young boys and girls from being inspired to take up the sport.
‘Fans are being priced out of watching live football. That is frankly a disgrace. It’s time the Government committed to more free-to-air football on television.’