Golden Goal: EPL May Draw More Int'l TV Money Than Domestic

Premier League Could Earn More From Int'l TV Rights Than Domestic Rights

The English Premier League could become "the first world sport to earn more money from their [fans] abroad than at home," according to Jeremy Wilson of the London TELEGRAPH.  If "growth rates continue, the revenue from overseas broadcast rights will eventually exceed" the US$3.54B paid by Setanta and Sky for domestic rights. Deloitte Sports Business Group Partner Dan Jones said, "I don't think it is inevitable but I have heard people in the industry predict that the next time around (in 2010) the overseas rights will match those domestically." Additionally, a new study from Deloitte shows that the Premier League has "risen well above" Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga "to become the richest league across Europe" by US1.45B  (London TELEGRAPH, 11/6).

MONEY TALKS: FourFourTwo released its annual Football Rich List Top 100, and "five of the top 10 wealthiest figures in British football are from overseas," as investors "with a combined value of over [US$22.94B] have become involved over the past year." Chelsea Owner Roman Abramovich leads the list with an estimated value of US$22.52B, and the total value of the top 100 is US$86.89B, 104% above the US$42.65B from the debut list four years ago. Newcomers to the list include  Arsenal co-Owner Alisher Usmanov, whose value is estimated at US$5.76B; F1 Management Chair Bernie Ecclestone, who took over Queens Park Rangers along with Renault Managing Dir Flavio Briatore; Sports Direct Deputy Exec Chair & Founder and Newcastle Owner Mike Ashley; and Kroenke Sports Enterprises Owner and Arsenal investor Stan Kroenke (London TELEGRAPH, 11/7).