Broadcast revenue main income source for most European football league champions 

Europe’s top football clubs are increasingly relying on broadcast revenues for growth.

According to a new study by KPMG, the €1.976 three-year distribution deal for the Champions League, which started in 2018/19 was the biggest source of growth for clubs. It said that the €564 million annual increase was a key factor in boosting the revenues of the champions of Europe’s top eight leagues.

Manchester City, which reached the same stage as the previous year, received €35 million more, while Dutch champions Ajax netted an additional €78 million for getting to the semi-finals. The latter club’s operating revenues more than doubled for the year, with the Champions League TV money being a key driver of that.

Overall, the study found that broadcasting had become the main income stream for five of the eight league champions, with Barcelona, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain being the only clubs who made more than €300 million from commercial activities.