Some clubs are concerned about falling crowds and the competitiveness of the league and some of the smaller clubs are calling for urgent changes to the way TV income is distributed. Eight clubs are reported to have met in Manchester yesterday to discuss the issue. The move is being led by Charlton Athletic which would have to win the support of 14 of the 20 chairmen to get the distribution formula changed.
All Premiership clubs receive an equal share of 50 per cent of the current £1.1 billion domestic TV deal, the bulk of which is provided by a £1.024bn exclusive live rights deal with BSkyB which expires in the summer. A further 25 per cent is divided up according to where teams finish in the league and the final quarter depends on how many times a club appears on TV. Money from the sale of overseas rights is split up equally.
Charlton is understood to be calling for a far larger percentage of the new TV deal to be shared out equally between the teams. This, it says, would reduce the gap created by the merit payments and the TV appearances fee, a far greater proportion of which are received by the bigger, more successful clubs.
