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The "row" over a plot by ManU, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City to "grab more" of the Premier League's TV billions "intensified after their rivals rejected an offer to resolve the dispute," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. A "secret meeting of the other 14 top-flight clubs discussed a proposal" put forward by the league to change how its overseas rights revenue is allocated following "mounting pressure" from the so-called "Big Six" for them to be awarded a "larger share of the cash." But EPL Exec Chair Richard Scudamore "failed to convince enough teams to back a plan" that would see 35% of income that is currently distributed equally among all 20 sides "allotted instead as prize money based on the final standings each season." Only Everton, West Ham United and Leicester City supported a proposal that would "mean millions more for those clubs who finish at the top end of the table but millions less for those at the bottom." The summit at London's Pullman Hotel "saw the remaining 11 teams oppose the plan." It "remains to be seen how the Big Six will react to their rivals blocking their bid" (
TELEGRAPH, 9/27). In London, David Conn reported income from int'l TV rights 25 years ago "was negligible, so the clubs agreed to share that money equally." Only a third of British TV income "is divided equally," with the other two-thirds "shared according to where clubs finish in the league and how many times they are shown" on TV. Now, though, the EPL's popularity "has made it prime content for burgeoning pay-TV operations around the world," delivering approximately £3B ($4B) to the 20 clubs in the '16-19 round of deals (
GUARDIAN, 9/27).
TROUBLE AHEAD?: In London, Charles Sale reported the total of nine clubs backing Scudamore's plan "is more than expected but still less than the 14 needed for a rule change." There will be "plenty of lobbying" ahead of Wednesday's expected vote, but the mood of Wednesday's meeting organized by Crystal Palace Chair Steve Parish "was that the battle lines will not change much." The Big Six "want more of the bounty, claiming they are responsible for drawing the bigger TV audiences and a growth in interest." The "threat in the background is of the Big Six breaking away or more imminently causing trouble around the next TV rights tender this winter" (DAILY MAIL, 9/27). BLOOMBERG's Hellier & Soshnick reported next week’s agenda "will also cover proposals for the next domestic rights contract," which is currently shared by BT, Sky and the BBC, which shows highlights. For the first time, the league’s live and non-live rights "are expected to attract the attention" of companies such as Amazon and Facebook, "raising the prospect of a richer deal" (BLOOMBERG, 9/28).
