Top Flight Clubs To Share TV Funds

Football is set to benefit from an unprecedented pay out from the top tier of the sport in England, after Premier League clubs announced that at least £1 billion will be shared on grassroots facilities, youth participation, fan engagement and matchday experience, solidarity with lower leagues and supporting disadvantaged groups.

The figure, which amounts to £50 million per club over three years, is a portion of the record £5.136 billion generated by the league in its latest domestic broadcast rights auction, covering the seasons 2016/17 to 2018/19.

The total could rise to around £8.5 billion once deals have been finalised for international rights.  

Sky and BT Sport secured the live rights to Premier League football in the UK until 2019 in February, with Sky committing £4.18 billion for five of the seven available match packages and BT paying £960 million for 42 live games per season.

A Premier League statement on Thursday said the sum is “unprecedented in world sport”.

Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, commented: “The clubs have always stepped up to the plate when it comes to sharing their success.

“They appreciate that the development of the Premier League is contingent to a high degree on continued high levels of passionate support and a vibrant football pyramid.

“These are unprecedented levels of redistribution in world sport, let alone football, which will deliver long-term progress for English football whether you are a fan, lower league club or involved in the grassroots.”

The numbers were unanimously agreed at Thursday’s summit of Premier League clubs.

The latest development follows news reported yesterday that Premier League clubs were collectively in profit, for the first time in 15 years.

Scudamore added: “Clearly this package is dependent on the outcome of our international live rights and the ongoing Ofcom investigation, so the detail won’t be known until later this year or in early 2016. The clubs also committed to adopting the Living Wage for all their permanent employees by the start of the 2016/17 season at the latest.

“All this demonstrates once again that a good result for the Premier League is good for the rest of the game and beyond.”

Meanwhile, the 20 Premier League clubs have also committed to paying the living wage, set at £9.15 an hour in London and £7.85 outside. Currently Chelsea are the only team to do so.