THE likes of Bournemouth and Sheffield United can breathe a sigh of relief – after Sky Sports’ bigwigs reportedly indicated they would not ask for £371million back from the Premier League in broadcasting rights if the season is cancelled.
Clubs who have already spent their millions from the TV broadcasting giant feared that money was going to go up in smoke because of the coronavirus.
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Sky Sports hope to agree a deal to avoid the Premier League having to pay them a £371million rebateCredit: Getty Images – Getty
But Sky Sports chiefs have now moved to ease any fears of a cash crisis which could have pushed some clubs towards the abyss.
Talks are ongoing but bosses have indicated they would not want that £371m rebate for not screening any of the 92 matches remaining, claim the Daily Mail.
The Premier League was expected to have to find an astonishing £761m which it would have owed Sky, BT and overseas TV broadcasters.
The clubs might still have to find that extra £341m if the campaign is declared null and void.
But that is a far more digestable figure than £761m – with clubs having to shell out £17m each potentially to meet the shortfall.
Bournemouth had spent £50m on players in the summer, plus huge amounts on wages and loan fees.
And the Cherries are said to owe £77m in transfer fees from last summer and previous years.
While the Blades had splashed £60m recruiting new stars to bolster their return to the Premier League.
Matches were suspended due to the outbreak of the coronavirus, but hope have emerged that they could restart in June.
It was back in 2018 that Sky agreed a £3.58billion deal to show the vast majority of matches from 2019-2022.
And now the broadcaster has come up with contingency plans for what to do if the season is cancelled and the PL clubs want to avoid another cash crisis.
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These include extending Sky’s current deal into the 2022/23 season or playing more live matches, including one proposal that would see live games on every single day of the week once football restarts.
Of the 92 games left, 47 would be shown on either Sky or BT – but now the remaining 45 matches could be streamed by either of the two broadcasters which could net the Premier League an extra £50m to meet their bill.
This might allow season-ticket holders to be given free TV tickets if matches are played behind closed doors.
But Sky’s indication that it would let its £371m ride is great news for the less well-off PL clubs.
It was thought that the broadcaster does not want to damage the relationship it has built up with the English top flight over 25 years of screening matches.
But Bournemouth, of all the PL clubs, look the one most in danger if the season is cancelled.
They made losses of £32m last season and £53m the season before that – even after their slice of the TV pie.
The Cherries are committed to buying a £35m new training ground, while, according to Transfermarkt, they spent £110.9m on staff wages in 2019, with player registration costs rising to £94.2m.
In the last five seasons alone they have spent £250m on transfer fees.
It’s a Chernobyl-style reactor that is primed and ready to blow up at the tiny Vitality Stadium, which can barely hold 11,500 people on matchdays.
Premier League ‘to release statement ending season’ due to coronavirus uncertainty, claims Serie A chief Marino
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
