West Brom respond to Big Six cash grab: Premier League success built on competitive edge
Albion chief executive Martin Goodman has responded to the big six clubs trying to grab more television money by pointing out the Premier League’s success is built on its competitiveness.
Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham are attempting to take a larger share of the cash generated by overseas television rights
That £3billion three-year deal for 2016-19 is currently distributed evenly among all 20 Premier League clubs, giving each club £39m a year.
But the so-called big six want some of it to be shared on merit, based on the final standings of the season.
Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore presented the plan to the 14 other clubs last month and it was discussed again at a league meeting last week.
But the majority of the other clubs were unhappy with the proposal and the meeting was adjourned without a decision being made.
The current deal for domestic television rights is £5.1bn for 2016-19, but it is thought that growth in that market may be slowing down.
On the other hand, overseas television contracts are expected to keep growing in the coming years, and the Big Six are determined to line their pockets because they believe they are the main attraction to the international market.
Goodman, however, believes that giving more cash to the top clubs will removing the whole reason the Premier League is so desirable abroad.
“The success of the league has been built over the last 25 years on it being a compelling and competitive league,” he said.
Last season, champions Chelsea received £150m in prize money while bottom club Sunderland were given £93m. Albion received £114m after finishing 10th.
Half of the domestic TV money was shared equally among all 20 clubs, giving them all £35m.
A quarter of it was handed out on merit based on final league position, with Chelsea picking up £38.8m and Sunderland £1.9m, and a quarter of it was handed out based on how many times the teams were shown live on TV, although no club received less than £12.3m.
The overseas TV money was shared equally among all 20 clubs, giving every club £39m.
Goodman is worried that splitting the international money on merit will simply make the rich richer, and make it even more difficult for other teams, like Albion, to compete with the Big Six clubs who already have much larger turnovers.
