Premier League Exec Chair Richard Scudamore is "banking on a new formula for the distribution of overseas TV money solving an issue which is splitting the 20 clubs," according to Charles Sale of the London DAILY MAIL. Scudamore "staked his reputation on finding a solution" to the Big Six wanting more money from the overseas deal, while the league has always divided the proceeds equally. The issue will dominate this week's summer meeting, with Scudamore "not wanting clubs to leave Harrogate until there is the necessary 14-6 majority needed for a rule change." The new proposal is for the overseas cut to be based on the top club income from domestic and foreign TV compared to that of the bottom club. Last season, leading earner ManU received 1.6 times as much as Stoke City. The Big Six "would like a ratio of two to one while the others want that figure to be more like 1.3 to one." The "big hope" for Scudamore is that consensus can be reached somewhere around 1.6 (DAILY MAIL, 6/4).
LIVE RIGHTS BIDS: REUTERS' Rishika Chatterjee reported the Premier League has "succeeded in attracting interest" from a new online player to pay for live rights to top-flight football at a discounted price. The two packages of matches which "failed to meet their reserve prices" in a February auction were secured by BT Group and a "new rival whose identity is due to be unveiled at a meeting of top clubs on Thursday." Speculation is "still focused" on Amazon and Facebook. Under the deal, the total number of live matches for BT will rise to 52 per season, up from 42 under its previous contract (REUTERS, 6/4).
