Finance guru issues ‘transformative’ Liverpool claim as £93m deal ‘signed and ready’
Liverpool could see their Uefa broadcast income soar in future years thanks to the “transformative” BT Sport-Eurosport merger.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about the tie-up between two of the biggest names in sports broadcasting.
The Times reported last Saturday (23 July) that the merger has been approved by the Competition and Markets Authority and that co-branded content could be launched in weeks.
BT are the UK’s exclusive broadcaster of both the Europa League and Champions League for the current rights cycle.
Sports Pro reported back in May that BT have been paid £93million upfront as part of the merger, with a further £540m contingent on certain conditions.
Plumley explained how the value of Champions League rights could be affected by the deal in years to come.
“The deal that has been signed is ready and set,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider’s Adam Williams.
“BT and Eurosport are saying they will continue to operate as one platform in time but for now nothing really changes. So, it won’t affect Liverpool too much at the moment.
“But then we look to the future when the rights are up for sale again? Does it reduce the value a little bit because it’s all one entity? Or does it become a bigger fee?
“These are unknowns but I think it is likely to be transformative given enough time.
“But for the deal that has been signed in the short term, clubs won’t be impacted too much financially. However, the merger will have fully kicked in by the next rights cycle bidding process, which will be 2027.”
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