Premier League clubs are concerned that their “big six” rivals will "seek another increase to their share of overseas TV revenue before the next rights deal" for '22-25, despite reaching an agreement on a new distribution formula, according to Matt Hughes of the LONDON TIMES. Their "fears are compounded by the impending departure" of EPL Exec Chair Richard Scudamore. There is no fixed period for the new ratio of 1.8 to 1 from highest to lowest-earning club that was announced on Thursday, and it "could be challenged by the big clubs" when negotiations for the next TV deal begin in two or three years. Any change would require the support of 14 clubs. The Premier League "considered introducing a fixed period of six or nine years" for the distribution mechanism announced after the AGM, but concluded that a "set term would make further change and a widening of the TV income gap between the biggest and smaller clubs inevitable." The smaller clubs fear that, now that the principle of equal payments of overseas TV money -- the only growing market -- has been abandoned, the "big six clubs will push for more at the earliest opportunity" (LONDON TIMES, 6/8).
