Record annual revenues at United

Manchester United achieved record annual revenues in the year to 30 June 2017.  Revenues increased 12.8 per cent compared to the previous season to £581.2m,   Earnings before deductions for tax, depreciation etc. increased more than 17 per cent to just under £200m.   Pre-tax profits increased 7.7 per cent to £39.2m.   The improved performance was largely due to higher broadcasting income and Europa League success.

New EFL television deal

The English Football League has agreed a new five year television deal with Sky worth £600m, 36 per cent more than the current deal.   Outside of the 3pm Saturday blackout, clubs will be able to stream their own matches online.  All midweek Championship matches will be available for selection by television viewers.

Concerns have been raised about the impact of the deal on attendances and how the money will be distributed between clubs.

EFL wants a slice of the action in China

The draw for the much derided Carabao (i.e. League) cup took place at 4.15 am UK time.  Mouthy Charlton manager Karl Robinson will sound off at any opportunity to get a quote, but this time I agreed with him when he said that he could not respect a competition which held its draw in the small hours of the morning (not to mention the mistakes in earlier draws with Charlton drawn twice in the first round).

Premier League a case of hyper-inflation

Knocking copy about the Premier League is pretty much standard and we’re seeing a lot of it on the 25th anniversary.  A journalist once said I took a Panglossian view of the Premier League, but someone has to recognise that there are positives as well as negatives.

Arsenal fan Jeremy Corbyn slams owner

Jeremy Corbyn told the owner of Arsenal to ‘stick to football’ yesterday after it was revealed that the American billionaire Stan Kroenke had launched an online hunting channel that shows lions and elephants being killed for sport.   My Outdoor TV has been described as the Netflix of the hunting, shooting and fishing world.

Big boost in Championship television coverage

There will be a big increase in the number of Championship matches shown live on television according to a tender document issued by the English Football League.  

The EFL would allow the number of league games broadcast live to almost treble from 112 to 324 matches a season in 2019-20. Up to 228 of the 552 Championship matches would be live, compared with 92 at present.

Evening games on Saturdays?

Premier League clubs are considering playing games on Saturday nights with a 7.45 pm kick off.  Up to 30 more fixtures will be shown live in the next broadcasting deal which runs the risk of market saturation unless new formats can be found.

However, fans are unlikely to welcome the idea as it would make it more difficult for them to attend away matches without an overnight stay.

Premier League viewing figures fall

Premier League football has suffered the biggest drop in viewing on Sky’s TV platorm for at least seven years.  Average viewing on Sky’s live TV platform fell 14 per cent and total viewing hours 6 per cent over the season.

Sky is paying £10m a game, two thirds more than previously, to screen matches in a three year deal.  It is spending £4.2bn for 126 games a year.  BT is paying £960m for its right to show 42 games a season.  It recorded a more modest fall in average viewing of 2 per cent, but that is from a lower base.