Finance guru: Sunderland could go beyond £17m as ‘surprise’ talks explained
The abolition of the 3pm blackout could open up new revenue streams and see Sunderland boost their annual £17million media income.
That is the view of finance expert Doctor Dan Plumley, speaking exclusively to Football Insider about talks to scrap the 60-year-old broadcast embargo.
UK broadcasters are restricted from airing live football between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturday in order to protect match-going support.
But per The Mirror on Monday (25 April), the EFL will let clubs discuss scrapping the blackout for League One and below at their AGM in June.
Sunderland, who are currently 5th in the third tier with just one game to go, trousered £17m in media income last term.
And Plumley suggests that the EFL’s “surprising” stance on the blackout could see the Black Cats expand their revenue base.
“Sunderland are in the bracket where it would benefit them,” the Sheffield Hallam University expert told Football Insider‘s Adam Williams.
“There is money to be made and I don’t think it would cause as much harm as people think.
“But the caveat is that away fans are a big boost to smaller clubs’ revenue. You will, however, get that core of away fans who go regardless.
“It also opens up new revenue streams to fans who wouldn’t normally go to matches.
“You could replicate the pandemic rules and give the income from the first 500 iFollow passes to the home team to mitigate the impact of away sales.
“You could also let clubs negotiate with each other to iron this out. It will open up an income stream that wasn’t there before.
“That is why a surprising number of clubs are in favour of it.”
Sunderland are looking to climb out of League One for the first time since 2017-18.
Alex Neil’s side face Morecambe in their last game of the regular season on Saturday (30 April).
In other news, ex-Fifa official hits back at Alex Neil after Ross Stewart controversy at Sunderland