While there will continue to be arguments as regards the best football league in the world, the English Premier League appears to be making its even further stronger than it significantly was as the Premier League has secured a new record deal for its British television rights. Th new deal has seen the value of the rights rise by an astonishing 70 percent as leading broadcasters Sky and BT will pay a combined $7.8 billion to screen games for the 2016-19 seasons. The deal reinforces the position of the Premier League as the world’s most lucrative as broadcasters will pay as much as $15.2 million to screen a game.
Reacting to yet another milestone under his stewardship as boss of the league, Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore attributed the increase in value of the rights to the competition between clubs in the league. “Premier League clubs deliver competitive and compelling football to fans in stadiums and on television, driving interest levels to new heights,” Scudamore said. “It is an endorsement of what the Barclays Premier League delivers that these broadcast partnerships have been extended and enhanced today. We are grateful for the continued belief that Sky Sports and BT Sport have in the Premier League and our clubs, both as a sporting competition and organisations to work with,” he added.
Scudamore was also quick to emphasize that the league still enjoyed great attendances while thanking broadcast partners Sky and BT for the role they have played in the development of the league. “Last season saw record levels of attendance with the highest top-flight crowds since 1949-50, as well as increased viewing figures across all our UK rights holders,” he said. “Both Sky Sports and BT Sport have done a tremendous job in bringing the game to the fans as well as providing the revenue that allows clubs to invest in football, facilities, youth development and their communities,” he added.
The new multi-billion dollar deal ensures that the Premier League is now the world’s second most lucrative deal second only to the National Football League (NFL). Perhaps a clearer indication of the might of the Premier League’s revenue generation potential is that noting that this new deal only involves television rights in Britain. The body envisages raking in around $10 billion once international rights are sold just as the British Broadcasting Service already confirming a deal valued at quarter of a billion pounds to retain its rights to screen Premier League highlights.
Perhaps local leagues in Africa can take a leaf from the Premier League and focus on creating well organized football leagues which can attract widespread interest and is compelling enough to engage an audience which in turn could result in significant television deals.
