Supporters Direct acknowledges yesterday’s Premier League broadcasting deal agreed with Sky and BT Sport, which is clearly a major achievement.
Having such a large increase in income will undoubtedly lead to calls from across the game to increase significantly the money redistributed to the grassroots, to other clubs not in receipt of parachute payments, and other levels of the game. We remain convinced that this is the right response, though there now needs to be further debate about the size, manner and mechanism of the redistribution.
There are also plenty of opportunities to redistribute money within the competition itself, for example to lower ticket prices. Our member supporters’ trusts in the Premier League have been campaigning strongly and vociferously for lower ticket prices – particularly given the effect that these broadcasting deals are having on kick-off times. We back their calls and those of the Football Supporters Federation (FSF) on that issue.
We are very pleased and encouraged by the commitment the Premier League has shown to the current Government Expert Working Group on Supporter Ownership and Engagement. We believe that this broadcasting deal presents a further opportunity to demonstrate and reinforce that commitment to the role and importance of supporters.
This a chance for the Premier League to work in partnership with their colleagues in football to ensure that the clubs at the top of the pyramid appropriately share their great wealth with those below, whether clubs, supporters, or those who deliver at the grassroots level and develop what is, collectively, our national game. It is of course also important that the Fans Fund, which funds SD, FSF, Kick it Out, Level Playing Field, and other vital supporter-related initiatives in the game, sees a direct benefit from the increase in wealth at the top.”