Relegated Cardiff earn more than last season’s champs

Cardiff earned more from finishing bottom of the Premier League this season than Manchester United earned as champions the previous campaign, it has been announced.

The league’s new £5.5bn (€6.7bn) broadcast deal meant Cardiff received £62.08m (€75,953,078) in finishing 20th this term, compared to United’s £60.8m (€74.3)for winning the 2012/13 title.

Manchester City, who succeeded United as champions on Sunday with a second title in three years, earned £96.5m (€118,148,501), with second-placed Liverpool the top earners with £97.5m (€119,330,259) as a consequence of more of their games being screened live by broadcasters.

City’s windfall was almost £36m (€44m)more than United’s last term.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men did not top the league, though, as they appeared in 25 games broadcast in the UK by either Sky Sports or BT Sport, compared to Liverpool’s28.

Third-placed Chelsea, United and Arsenal also appeared in 25 live televised games and Cardiff were one of eight teams to appear in 10 live matches.

The Welshmen, who returned to the Championship after one season in the top-flight, received over £22m (26.9m) more than QPR did in finishing last in the 2012/13 season.

The season was arguably the most exciting in recent memory, with the lead changing hands 25 times and 1,052 goals scored alongside a record stadium occupancy of 95.9%.

The total dividends paid out to the 20 competing clubs was £1.56bn (€1.90bn), compared to £972m (€1.1bn) the previous year.

The ratio between the top and bottom earning club was 1.57:1.

The Premier League Founder Members’ Agreement dictates 50% of UK broadcast revenue is split equally, 25% is paid in merit payments depending on the finishing position in the final table — £1.2m (€1.46m) was paid for every place — and 25% is paid in facility fees each time a club’s matches are broadcast, while all international broadcast revenue, and central commercial revenue, is split equally amongst the 20 clubs.

City received £24.72m (€30,23m) for finishing first and facility fees of £19.68m (€24,07); their predecessors as champions United earned £17.30m (€21,160) for finishing seventh and facility fees of £19.68m (€24m) in a total of £89.1m (€108.9m).

The equal share was £21.6m (€26.4m) — a rise of 63% on the 2012/13 value of £13.8m (€16.8m), overseas TV revenue was £26.29m (€32.15m) and central commercial income of £4.27m (€5.22m) to equal £31m (€37m) — up 61% on the previous year).