<
>

Prem clubs to see big gains from TV

The Premier League champions stand to rake in 95 million pounds from TV money this season while even the bottom club will earn 63 million pounds.

The huge value of new 5.5-billion-pound Premier League broadcast deals will be highlighted by the fact that whoever finishes bottom of the table on Sunday should earn more from TV money than the 60.8 million pounds Manchester United were paid after winning the league last season.

The new champions are expected to be paid 35 million pounds more, and the bottom club around 24 million pounds more than QPR earned after finishing bottom last season.

The Premier League has confirmed its merit money payments of 1.2 million pounds for every place each club finishes up the table, rising to 24 million pounds for the champions. That represents a 60 percent rise on last season.

Facility fees of 750,000 pounds will be paid to a club for every live TV appearance, with a minimum payment of 7.5 million pounds.

There has been no confirmation from the league of the equal shares that will be paid to clubs for domestic and overseas broadcasting deals, but they are expected to rise by 60 and 70 percent respectively -- in line with the increases in those deals -- to 23 million and 32 million pounds per club.

The huge rise in income should help a number of clubs turn their financial fortunes around, especially if they have been able to minimise wage bill rises for players this season.