The riches of Premier League clubs will continue to swell in the coming years.
The Premier League announced Sky and BT as winners of its latest auction for live, domestic television rights Tuesday, talkSPORT reports. Broadcasters Sky and BT paid a record £5.14 billion ($7.8 billion) for the rights to broadcast live Premier League games in the United Kingdom from 2016-17 through 2018-19. The fee represents a 70 percent increase in the value of domestic Premier League television rights over the last deal, in which top-flight clubs earned £3 billion ($4.6 billion).
“Premier League clubs deliver competitive and compelling football to fans in stadiums and on television, driving interest levels to new heights,” EPL CEO Richard Scudamore said, according to talkSPORT. “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.
“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.
“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 organizations to work with.”
Sky will air 126 games each season, while BT will air 42. The broadcasters will pay more than £10 million ($15 million) to air each game from the 20-team league.
Barring a dramatic change in circumstances in other countries, the Premier League will remain the world’s richest domestic soccer league through the end of the decade.
Thumbnail photo via Alastair Grant/The Associated Press
