Television broadcasters will battle it out once more after it was revealed yesterday that Premier League matches will be screened live on Friday nights from the start of the 2016-17 season.

Up to 10 games will be shown live on Friday nights under the terms of the new broadcasting agreement.

The Premier League issued invitations to tender (ITT) for the broadcast rights for three seasons starting in August 2016 with 168 matches to be live, meaning 44 per cent of all Premier League games will be available live.

With no broadcaster being able to show more than five packages — or 126 matches in total — a second broadcaster is guaranteed at least two packages (42 games).

The announcement is sure to spark a bidding war between BSkyB and BT Sport, with rumours that Qatar-based beIN Sports are eyeing up a few packages.

Regardless of whether they bid or not, the current £3.018 billion record deal for the rights to screen live matches is set to be broken.

The ITT also included bids for a free-to-air highlights package with ITV expecting to challenge the BBC which has held the rights since 2004.

The ITT came despite Ofcom’s investigation into how the Premier League sells its broadcast rights after Virgin Media filed a complaint, though the increase in the number of live games has been seen as move to try and satisfy the media regulator.

The Saturday 3pm kick-off “rule” that no matches played at that time will be screened live remains.

A statement read: “This creates an attractive offering for broadcasters and fans while allowing the continued protection of the Saturday 3pm ‘closed period’ — the purpose of which is to encourage attendances and participation at all levels of the sport at the traditional time at which English football takes place across the country.”

Bidding will be completed within four months, with a decision announced in March.