UK Premier League football is big business

The international appeal of UK Premier League football has again been illustrated by a Mail on Sunday report that sales of overseas television rights are set to jump by 50 percent for 2016-2019.

Much of that revenue will be generated in Asia, the newspaper reports, noting that the League is in the closing stages of an overseas TV rights sale initiative that could add up to GBP 3.2 billion…a major increase from the GBP 8 million a year from selling live rights when the League began in 1992-93.

The 2016-2019 rights include a $1 billion six-year package with NBC; one hundred percent rights value increases in Scandinavia and Hong Kong; significant deals across the Middle East, North Africa and sub-Saharan Africa; and a major increase in France.

A further agreement with India should also be completed soon, valued at around GBP100 million for 2013-16.

Hong Kong television rights values are up 100 percent after current 2013-2016 holders Now TV were outbid by Chinese entertainment firm LeTV, at $400 million for 2016-19.

Thailand, where Premier League enjoys a wide fan base, will be served by beIN Sports, which has agreed to pay GBP 197 million over the three-year licensing period.

The Mail of Sunday notes that a Chinese partnership recently paid GBP 265 million for a 13 percent stake in Manchester City’s parent group.