Will NBC's price hike end up hurting the Premier League's US expansion?


Until recently it was easier to watch the Premier League in the US than the UK. But now viewers must pay to watch many of the games online

As the executive director of Upper 90, which sells soccer shoes, jerseys, apparel, equipment and teamwear online and at four stores in and near New York, Zac Rubin has a keen interest in the Premier League’s success in the United States. It is literally a part of business: store customers can watch any match they want on TV while shopping.

NBC will continue to air 250 of the Premier League’s 380 matches live on any number its broadcast and cable channels – including NBC Sports and CNBC – this season. It is what is happening to the other 130 matches that has Rubin concerned. In the past, NBC had made those games available to watch online – providing a user had a cable subscription – making it easier to watch the Premier League in the US than in the UK. But now viewers must pay extra. How many will?

Related: How Rebecca Lowe went from England to become the US's face of football

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