Liverpool beat City in TV money stakes

The Premier League has published its TV revenue for the 2018/19 season, ranging from £97m for relegated Huddersfield Town to £152m for Liverpool, who earned more than league winners Manchester City £151m, due to more matches broadcast live. Each club receives equal shares for 50% of domestic TV £34.4m, overseas TV £43.2m and commercial income £5.0m. Each league position is worth £1.9m (merit payment), while each match broadcast live is worth £1.1m (on top of £12.2m for a minimum of 10 games).

Liverpool's Premier League TV money increased by £6.5m from £145.9m to £152.4m in 2018/19, due to a £3.6m higher merit payment (for finishing 2nd, compared to 4th the previous season) and £2.4m more from overseas TV deals. They benefited from most live TV games: 29 versus City 26. Premier League TV money for City increased by £1.6m from £149.4m to £151.0m in 2018/19, due to £2.4m more from overseas TV deals. No change in league position or number of matches broadcast live (26), but this was fewer than Liverpool, which explains why they got less than the Reds.

Chelsea's Premier League TV money increased by £4.3m from £141.7m to £146.0m in 2018/19, due to a £3.6m higher merit payment (finished 3rd, compared to 5th the previous season) and £2.4m more from overseas TV deals, offset by £1.4m less for fewer live matches broadcast (25 vs. 26). Spurs had a marginal increase in their TV revenue of £0.8m. Arsenal were up by just £0.2m.

United's Premier League TV money decreased by £7.3m from £149.8m to £142.5m in 2018/19, due to £7.9m lower merit payment (finished 6th, compared to second the prior season) and £1.4m facility fees (fewer live matches broadcast: 27 vs. 28), offset by £2.4m more from overseas TV deals.

The club with the largest year-on-year increase in Premier League TV money was Watford, whose revenue rose by £7.6m from £106.3m to £113.9m in 2018/19, mainly due to improving three places in the league from 14th to 11th (£5.7m), boosted by £2.4m more from overseas TV deals.

The largest year-on-year decrease in Premier League TV money was Burnley, whose revenue fell £12.5m from £119.8m to £107.3m in 2018/19, mainly due to dropping eight places in the league from 7th to 15th (£15.5m), offset by £2.4m more from overseas deals and one more live game (£1.0m).

2018/19 parachute payments have not yet been published, but the authoritative Swiss Ramble estimates these, based on the percentage applied in 2017/18 to the PL equal shares (year 1 – 55%, year 2 – 45%, year 3 – 20%): Stoke, Swansea, WBA £43m; Hull, Middlesbrough, Sunderland £35m; QPR £17m; and Aston Villa £16m.

The Swiss Ramble notes, 'The Premier League TV payments are obviously massive, especially compared to the Championship, where most clubs only receive around £8m (including £4.5m PL solidarity payment and £2.3m EFL central distribution), which represents just 8% of the £97m for last place in the PL.'

He continues, 'In the latest chapter of the “rich getting richer” in football, the total Premier League TV rights will rise 8% for the next 2019-22 cycle. Despite domestic rights falling by 7%, overseas rights have shot up by 30%, leading to a net increase from £8.5 bn to £9.2 bn. This is important, as the increase in overseas TV money will for the first time be distributed based on league position. No Premier League clubs will be worse off, though the leading clubs will clearly benefit the most, but EFL clubs will not receive any of the growth.

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The Political Economy of Football V2

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