New details emerging about the Premier League’s TV deal illustrate exactly why it’s so important Newcastle United remain in the top flight next season and beyond.
The domestic TV deal may have dropped by some £400million but the overseas rights – powered by the league’s popularity overseas – have lifted by an incredible 30%. That means that the overall TV deal is worth 8% more than the last TV deal, which ended this year.
And Premier League interim Chief Executive Richard Masters said that it means clubs like Newcastle should be investing in their squad. He said the figures “allow the clubs to invest in their squads, and ensures another three years of competitive football.”
He revealed the figures at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit. The overseas rights have gone from £3.1billion to £4.2billion – which means, in theory, more money for United.
The Associated Press report that “Masters told the FT Business of Football Summit that domestic broadcast rights have dropped in value from 5.4 billion pounds to 5 billion pounds despite 200 games being sold rather than 168 in the 2016-19 cycle.
“(He said) overseas companies who can show all 380 games live each season are paying 4.2 billion pounds in the 2019-2022 cycle, up from 3.1 billion pounds.”
Last summer Premier League clubs voted to change the way the TV money was distributed, with the overseas TV cash being distributed according to position rather than equally. Newcastle voted against the proposal, which was criticised for widening the inequality in the Premier League.
But the rising TV deal is – in theory – likely to mean more guaranteed cash for teams that stay in the top-flight next year. The huge figures available should focus minds as Benitez contract talks continue.
