Fans' groups such as Supporters Direct, anti-racism organization Kick It Out and the Football Supporters' Federation "will share a total" of more than £1M ($1.5M) a year in funding from the Premier League this season, despite the top flight "having boosted its TV income" to £5.5B ($8.5B) over three years, according to Owen Gibson of the London GUARDIAN. As part of a joint response to Sports Minister Hugh Robertson, the Premier League "has proposed a 20% increase in the amount of money awarded annually to the so-called Fans' Fund," which administers the funding for the '13-14 season. That represents an increase on the £800,000 ($1.2M) a year the fund currently receives, with the organizations "also encouraged to find new streams of funding so they are not wholly reliant on the arm's length Fans' Fund." But the overall response "is likely to disappoint those who hoped for more." Kick It Out, which will also continue to receive £125,000 ($914,000) a season from the FA, "had argued for an increase in funding" in light of the "serious discrimination issues the game still faces" (GUARDIAN, 8/15).
