Newcastle United are in line for a boost in Premier League television money ahead of what promises to be a busy summer.
The Premier League splits UK broadcasting income into three categories: an equal share where half of the pot is distributed evenly between all 20 clubs; a 25% merit payment based on where a side finishes; and, finally, a 25% facility fee, which is calculated by how often a team are broadcast live in this country.
Newcastle's rise up the table, which has seen the Magpies' games selected more regularly for broadcast, means the club stand to earn substantially more in UK TV money than last season when Howe's side banked more than £18.5m in facility fees and a merit payment of almost £17m for finishing 11th. While those figures were significant, Arsenal were awarded more than £25m in facility fees, after having eight more games televised, and the Gunners also received a merit payment of just over £27m for finishing fifth, which is where Newcastle currently lie in the table.
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Newcastle had 21 league fixtures broadcast last season, which put the Magpies behind Leeds United, Everton, West Ham, Chelsea, Spurs, Manchester United, Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal in the table. However, Newcastle have already had 14 league games televised in the UK so far this season, including all of their previous six top-flight fixtures, and that run looks set to continue.
In fact, the Premier League announced on Tuesday that six of Newcastle's top-flight matches in April have been rescheduled - and five of these games have been selected for live coverage. With upcoming fixtures against Man City, Wolves and Nottingham Forest already pencilled in for TV, that means Newcastle will have had 22 Premier League games broadcast before the details of the final four matches of the season in May are even announced.
It is also worth noting that Newcastle will receive additional fees for international broadcasts and while a large chunk will be shared equally, the Magpies will receive a merit payment depending on where they finish in the table. Newcastle, as a result, stand to generate more than the £126.65m they banked last season for broadcast and central commercial revenues.
Given how Newcastle's owners are attempting to boost the amount of money the club brings in, to enable the black-and-whites to continue to spend while complying with Financial Fair Play restrictions, this increase will certainly be welcomed.
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