Premier League teams have the choice not to follow the new rules regarding allowing TV cameras into their dressing rooms.
It was confirmed last month that there would be multiple new features introduced this season to give broadcasters more access.
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The additions include half-time interviews with players or managers and in-game interviews with substituted players or managers.
Camera operators are also set to be allowed onto the pitch to capture more close-up footage of celebrations after goals.
And as well as that, dressing room access has been granted to TV broadcasters as part of a new deal with Sky Sports and TNT Sports.
However, Premier League clubs can refuse that part of the deal.
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Teams can block access to their dressing room if they are losing at the time the access was meant to be provided.
If they do so though, they have to let cameras enter when requested at another point later in the season.
Broadcasters have to make the requests for the extra access at least five days before a fixture and set out their plan.
Top-flight clubs then have to respond within three days, identifying which of the three types of access they want to provide.
Teams have to allow broadcasters to use one of the new features at least twice per campaign, according to Section K of the Premier League’s latest handbook.
But they only have permission to refuse dressing room access.
Premier League TV coverage additions
Teams must allow one piece of new access at least twice per season
- Half-time interviews with players or managers
- In-game interviews with managers or substituted players
- Dressing room access
- Camera operators are allowed onto the pitch (always allowed)
Dressing room access
Dressing room access can be given to TV broadcasters at a variety of times throughout a matchday.
It can be shown either between the end of warm-ups and the first bell before kick-off, between the ringing of the first bell and players departing the dressing room, at half-time or immediately after the match once all players have returned to the dressing room.
Audio may not be recorded though, as clubs have the final say on whether they want it to be at the time.
Half-time interviews
As for half-time interviews, the Premier League teams and broadcasters have to mutually agree no later than 24 hours before a match on whether a player or manager will be available.
Players will be picked from a shortlist of at least five selected by the broadcaster and provided to the club before the 40th minute.
The interviews will consist of a maximum of three questions, while they all have to be ‘related to the match’ and ‘positive’.
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In-match interviews
In-match interviews are set up similarly, with the player or manager made available for a chat no later than the 85th minute.
These interviews can only feature two questions.
All of the changes come as the new domestic rights deal gets started, which is worth over £6.7billion over four years.
Half-time interviews and dressing room access have been trialled already on a few occasions in the Premier League.
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But the new features will now be here to stay this season, which officially gets started on Friday, August 15.
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