Liverpool leads big club charge for more TV money
Liverpool FC is prepared to lead a challenge for the Premier League’s biggest clubs to be allowed to secure their own international TV rights deals.
The club’s managing director Ian Ayre told The Guardian that a change to the current system, which sees global rights sold as a joint package, is a “debate that has to happen”.
In the latest Premier League rights deal, domestic and international TV rights were sold collectively for a reported £1.4bn.
Ayre favours the Spanish model that allows La Liga’s biggest clubs, Real Madrid and Barcelona, to negotiate their own deals, which are more valuable than their lesser known rivals and Premier League counterparts.
He adds: “Personally I think that the game changer is going out and recognising or brand globally.”
Liverpool and the Premier League’s other big draws – Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur – are keen to exploit the popularity of the Premier League and their brands internationally.
Research from Sport + Markt shows the League has a global following of 1.46 billion. Of those 615 million are said to be supporters of one Premier League club.
Premier League global audience by region (source: Sport + Markt)
UK
629 million
N. America & Caribbean
140 million
Europe (excl. UK)
761 million
Asia & Oceania
1.3 billion
Middle East & Africa
879 million
South & Central
America
221 million
