Champions Manchester United Finish Atop Of EPL's TV Money Share List

ManU emerged as the EPL's top earner when it comes to TV revenue, according to Tom Sharp of the LONDON TIMES. The champion's total income from TV for the '12-13 campaign was £60.8M ($92.2M), but even the division’s bottom club "will earn more than that next season under the terms of the new broadcasting deal." The Premier League is close to finalizing a deal worth an estimated £5.5B ($8.3B) in broadcasting rights for the '13-16 period, amounting to £2B ($3B) more than at present. Next season’s champions will be close to earning £100M ($152M) in broadcast revenue while the last-placed side will see earnings that increase from £39.8M ($60.4M) to approximately £63M ($95.6M). Despite the financial gulf between the Premier League’s top and bottom sides, the division "distributes half its total money made from television, as well as dividing revenue from domestic and overseas deals equally between all 20 clubs" (LONDON TIMES, 5/21). In London, Owen Gibson reported according to the Premier League's formula, which officials insisted "make it fairer than most of its rivals, half of its domestic broadcasting income and all of its overseas TV money is split equally between the 20 clubs." Of the rest, half is split as "merit money" and awarded according to where a club finishes in the table and the rest paid in "facility fees" depending on how many times a club is shown on TV by Sky. Under the '10-13 deal, which expired this season, each club received a £13.8M ($21M) equal share each season plus £18.9M ($28.7M) from overseas rights. ManU "earned the most from the facility fees," totaling £12.9M ($19.6M) from 25 live appearances. (GUARDIAN, 5/21).

PAYS TO BE AT THE TOP: Also in London, Jack de Menezes reported "the huge sums once again demonstrate the financial importance of being in the top flight" (INDEPENDENT, 5/21). In London, Nik Simon wrote Chelsea "may have beaten Arsenal and Tottenham to third place in the Premier League," but it did not "win the battle for television revenue." Roman Abramovich’s side "was broadcast just 16 times this season compared to 21 Spurs and 22 Arsenal games." Chelsea's lack of TV coverage means that Chelsea received £54.9M ($83.3M) of revenue compared to £55.9M ($84.8M) at White Hart Lane and £57.1M ($86.6M) at the Emirates (EVENING STANDARD, 5/21).