There's no real rebate if it doesn't actually happen. The matches look like they'll be happening, so any full rebate to the broadcasters will not be realized. The broadcasters are shitting bricks because they lost out on fixed advertising revenue for the last 9 matches on specific days and cord cutting is happening at an increasing rate because the premiums you pay is based on the sports you watch when subscribing to cable/satellite.
Thus the rebate talk. This rebate stuff isn't really talked about in America because the leagues have a really good relationship with the broadcast partners and understand that short-term pain cannot get in the way of long-term gain.
On the other hand, the Premier League should have done a better job of outlining some language about guaranteed payments and how that shakes outs for club payments, etc. because clearly it wasn't that comprehensive.
"Most contracts signed with the National Basketball Association and Major League Baseball don’t have clear provisions for media networks to demand refunds on already paid broadcast rights fees, according to familiar with the language of the contracts. While deals do have so-called “force majeure” provisions, or “act of God” clauses that allow for refunds in some cases, pandemics may not be specifically covered.
Even if they are, networks might not enforce them given the long-term importance of their relationships with sports leagues. In the past, when strikes have shortened seasons, media payments for broadcast rights haven’t been refunded. Networks can’t afford to be too aggressive with the NFL and MLB, who can make or break media companies by divvying out their rights to competitors.
“Let’s say it’s a one-time only event, obviously you’re not going to pay,” Pilson said. “But what you’re talking when you have a 10- or 15-year agreement, year after year, you work it out in an accommodation of some kind.”"
There's nothing stopping the PL in saying, okay we and the clubs will reluctantly pay your rebates that you're demanding. But in the next couple of years when the domestic deal ends, we're going to shaft you because you shafted us and that's part of considering/negotiation the type of partnership we will have.