Premier League television rights – How you and your club will be affected

The Premier League yesterday struck a record television rights deal, worth a whopping £5.1bn.

The rights were again won by Sky and BT, who will share 168 top-flight matches a season between 2016 and 2019.

The 5.1bn fee is a rise of an incredible 71 per cent on the current package, with even the Premier League’s bottom club receiving a £99m pay-out.

But with all these huge numbers floating around, what does the new television rights deal mean for you and your club?

Where does the money go?

At present, much of the television money goes towards transfer fees, player wages and agent fees.

Of course, a fair bit filters down the leagues through transfers, but competitively, those outside of England’s top flight barely benefit in the grand scheme of things.

This has become an increasingly big talking point in recent years as the money has hit new heights and now Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore insists £800m of the money will filter through to the lower leagues and to charities over the three years.

Does any go to grassroots football?

In percentage terms, not really.

Every weekend, players young and old are playing on terrible surfaces and putting their kit on in dilapidated changing rooms. Meanwhile, coaches (often poorly paid) are having to fork out around £150 for a FA Level 1 coaching course, £340 to step up to Level 2 and as much as £2,450 (and meeting the prerequisite of coaching at a professional club’s academy) to do their Uefa B badge.

This is more than double the cost of the equivalent course in Germany and over six-times the price in Spain.

The Premier League says in each of the last three years it has invested £56m into grassroots football, but it remains unclear whether this will increase in line with the new deal.

Shadow sports minister Clive Efford said: ‘These are incredible sums of money and it would be nothing short of criminal if none of this extra money goes to expand participation at the grassroots of football.

‘The grassroots of the game must benefit from this bonanza through a boost in participation and improved facilities.’

Will ticket prices continue to rise?

Fans are continuing to lobby for clubs and the Premier League to subsidise ticket prices for supporters, with Scudamore insisting club will ‘have to address the issue of ticket prices. Part of our broadcasting attractiveness is full stadiums.’

According to the Football Supporters’ Federation, just one per cent of the new television deal could pay for a £20 cap on prices for away fans.

Over the past couple of seasons, several Premier League clubs have led the way in subsidising ticket prices for their supporters to travel to away matches, as well as laying on cheap transport options.

They by no means ‘have’ to continue to do so, but it would be incredibly hard for the Premier League and individual cubs to justify maintaining or even increasing prices under the new deal.

Will transfer fees and wages keep getting higher?

In theory with the new Financial Fair Play regulations, clubs cannot live beyond their means. However loopholes have already been discovered in the system and no doubt will continue to be so.

The Premier League claims clubs are investing more than ever in their academies, community projects and developing home-grown talent.

But clubs across world football aren’t daft. Following the announcement of the new television rights package, many will try to double the asking price for even the most average player when a Premier League club comes calling.

Whether English clubs will stump up the cash remains to be seen.

Are there any other knock-on effects for the match-going fan?

You may want to set aside a bit more of your annual leave, with the introduction of Friday night fixtures.

Sky won the rights to the new slot, meaning they will now show games on both Friday and Monday nights.

While for many fans it at least means they won’t have to get up for work the next day, there will still be logistical issues to navigate with the likes out Southampton supporters facing the prospect of a Friday night away match at Newcastle.

If your side gets a 3pm Saturday kick-off, cherish it.

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