Sky Sports told to ‘rethink’ pub subscription prices with landlords forced to sell ‘2,000 extra pints’

Sky Sports are being told to ‘rethink’ pub subscription prices with landlords being forced to sell ‘2,000 extra pints’ to afford access.

The tradition of going down to the pub to watch the footy is seemingly being killed off, with pub landlords arguing that the subscription costs for showing live football are so high that pubs need to sell around 2,000 extra pints a month just to break even on the expense.

For many independent pubs, this is a tall order – especially when profit margins on a pint are often less than a pound.

Critics, like the guy behind The Great British Pub Crawl, are saying this could push smaller venues out of the game entirely, leaving only the big chains able to afford it.

The plea is for Sky to have a rethink regarding their pricing model if they want to keep pubs as a viable viewing spot for fans.

Dale Harvey, part of the The Great British Pub Crawl, has posted photos showing a bill reportedly received by The Eight Farmers in Crewe, who were being charged £1,839.20 for a Sky Business subscription for the month of March 2025.

The post on the Facebook page read: “Absolutely outrageous pricing from Sky TV for pubs… This is from the Eight Farmers Crewe… Sky are contributing hugely to the downfall of pubs that show live sport. An absolutely disgusting monthly price..”

He said, per Daily Star: “That’s 2,000 extra pints on top of them just keeping their lights on and their doors open, that 2,000 extra pints every month just to be able to show live football.

“I speak to landlords near enough every day of my life now and I know some who have cancelled their Sky now, can’t do it,” Dale added.

“Their renewal price has come through and they’ve gone ‘look we can’t physically afford to do it.’ People who were using their pub to watch the sport in, they’re not going to be able to do it in that pub any more, so they’re costing them their customers.

“Any independent pub is getting priced out of the market by Sky’s prices by the fact that it’s not feasible to sell 2,000 extra pints in a month,” he said, pointing to the fact that many pubs make less than a pound in profit per pint poured.

When contacted, Sky have since said to the Daily Star that their costs were reflective of investments made in its products, noting that a record number of matches are due to be televised in 2025.

In a statement to the Daily Star, Sky Sports said: “We aim to keep prices as low as possible while still delivering the content and support that adds value to our customers’ business.”

Dale says: “I remember one a few weeks back, it was a Saturday afternoon, the 5:30pm game, it was Bournemouth and Brentford.

“No offence to either of those teams particularly, but for people who don’t support those teams, who is going ‘we need to go to the pub today’.

“It’s not getting anyone in the door. Man City-Arsenal, Liverpool-Man United, they’re games that even if you’re a neutral you’re going to go ‘right I want to watch that game so let’s go to the pub to watch it.

“But yeah, no offence, Bournemouth-Brentford, no one is going to pub to watch those games. So, Sky really need to rethink this pub pricing thing, they really do.”

In a statement made to the Daily Star, Sky Sports said: “We aim to keep prices as low as possible while still delivering the content and support that adds value to our customers’ business.”

SEE MORE: Football on TV this week

This is what fans are saying as Sky Sports are told to ‘rethink’ pub subscription prices with landlords forced to sell ‘2,000 extra pints’…

Christopher Mycock: Scandalous! I cancelled my sky subscription cus of the ever increasing cost. Now they are almost begging me to come back. Suggest pubs do the same

Ian Finlow: I’m DEFINITELY not a foil hatter, but it just seems that everything people enjoy is bring removed from them. Pubs, sport tv, live sport tickets, live music tickets, cost of travel, even treats in your shopping. Since covid pretty much every company has hiked prices through the roof. In 20 years time, most people will be removed from enjoyment.

Wayne Richardson: They need to sell around 10 pints a day at £6 a pint 7 days a week all year round just to pay to have sports on in the pub. Absolutely mental 🤯

The Winchester Sherwood: Agreed. It’s a joke. We are also paying for TNT and other music licenses. It’s just money after money.

Simon Wallworth: It’s a joke, exactly the same product as at home but because it’s “public viewing” you get shafted

Mike Latham: Crazy!! Nearly £26500 a year, that’s a hell of a lot of pints.

Paul Harrison: If every pub cancelled their sky subscription it might make sky rethink their charges for pubs? See who blinks first

Josh Dunderdale: Really don’t get a lot of the comments here that “a pub shouldn’t have a TV” or “I’d rather not go to a pub with Sky Sports”, I think you’re all missing the point of Dale’s page in general. Some pubs have real ales or craft beers galore and attract those crowds. Sound. Some are more focused on food and attract that crowd. Sound. Other pubs, which include some of my absolute favourites in Shropshire that do very well for themselves, look after people who just want to go to the pub, meet their mates, watch the match and have a few pints. Also extremely sound. Pubs aren’t obelisks but all of them are being ripped off one way or another.

Keith Stacey: That’s ridiculous no wonder pubs going to the wall ffs 🤦

Matt Smith: That’s our month?!?!? That’s outrageous. That’s a weeks takings in decent sized pub. In your local boozer that would come down to probably a months income. Make no wonder my local took it out.

James Ashbourne: Worked for greene king 8-9 years ago and they spent about £25 million a year across the company and reckon they broke even with sky sports and don’t forget the boxing one offs cost around 200-400 each

Michael Sharpe: Won’t change any time soon. Sky did the maths years ago, they make more if everyone is at home paying their own subscriptions than in pubs watching under one license sadly

Amanda Glut: This is what I have to point out to the customers at the pub I work in. The brewery only pays towards live music or sky sports. Because there’s two other pubs that have sky our pub has the live music. It’s too much of a risk for a lot of pubs to justify the costs of sky sports. It’s an absolute joke to be charging that much

Terry Jones: Absolutely shocking. Then they wonder why people have firesticks. Shocking amount to pay on top of all the other licenses insurance and tax. No wonder the pubs are dying or have to charge extortionate amounts for a pint

Hazlehurst Arms: Sky are absolutely ridiculous for pubs 😡😡 pay a hell of a lot more than residential but get less channels and service 😡😡 absolutely disgusting. And TNT are as bad too. Shouldn’t have to pay as much as we do it’s just not fair

Sophie Lianne Bailey: Used to be £2,900 at The Clubhouse Sheffield and you can see why I shut it 😂

Lee Blanco: Mate, you was down the other week in The Star Inn Whitby . We pay £1200 for our small pub.

Steven Rowlands: I had sky in my pub started off at £580 a month back in 2016 then by 2018 I was paying £860 a month😡 when it come to renewal by 2020 it shot up to £1000 a month I never signed up to them ever again!!!!