The dramatic moments of an unforgettable season have been broadcast around the world
The Premier League has announced the value of broadcast payments made to its 20 clubs for the 2011/12 season.
Newly crowned Barclays Premier League champions Manchester City received the highest total payment of £60.6m, the highest broadcast payment any winner has received in the Premier League's history.
"The differences between teams have become smaller and the quality is higher"
- Arsene Wenger
Manchester United, who were pipped to the title by City, received over £60.3m - down slightly on last season when they were the top earning club.
The Founder Members' Agreement of the Premier League sees the revenue from UK broadcast rights distributed in the following ways:
- 50% split equally between the 20 clubs
- 25% paid in merit payments (depending on where a club finishes in the final League table)
- 25% paid in facility fees each time a club's matches are on TV in the UK.
Each club is guaranteed a minimum of 10 facility fee payments, while
all international broadcast revenue is split equally amongst the 20 clubs and worth nearly £18.8m each for the 2011/12 season.
The Premier League sells broadcast rights in three-season agreements and the current deals cover the 2010/11, 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons.
Over £968m was paid out in total to Premier League clubs this season - an increase of more than £15m on last season.
Including payments made to clubs that have dropped out of the top flight the total is over £1.1 billion.
Smaller differences
Prior to the final weekend of the season, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he believes the way broadcast payments are distributed helps keep the Barclays Premier League competitive.
"I think it has been a very interesting season because it was very unpredictable and every game was difficult," he said.
"The way we distribute broadcast income plays a part in allowing each club to compete"
- Richard Scudamore
"The differences between teams have become smaller and that is why maybe the quality is higher. There are less financial differences apart from two or three teams because the international television rights have gone up tremendously compared to the domestic rights.
"They are shared equally in the Premier League and the financial differences are smaller. Therefore the Premier League is more levelled out and there is less difference."
Premier League Chief Executive Richard Scudamore added: "The Premier League's income distribution mechanism rewards sporting success in the League while also guaranteeing a significant amount of broadcast revenue to each club in order that they can plan from one season to the next.
"It has been a fantastic season, arguably the best of all the 20 Premier League seasons, and the clubs deserve huge credit for the quality of football on show throughout 2011/12.
"We believe the way we distribute broadcast income plays a part in allowing each club to compete at the highest level."
Broadcast Payments for 2011/2012 season
Arsenal - £56,223,505
Aston Villa - £42,104,709
Blackburn Rovers - £40,317,633
Bolton Wanderers - £40,594,585
Chelsea - £54,436,429
Everton - £48,900,267
Fulham - £47,390,143
Liverpool - £54,360,635
Manchester City - £60,602,289
Manchester United - £60,325,337
Newcastle United - £54,235,271
Norwich City - £45,603,067
QPR - £43,262,087
Stoke City - £43,614,833
Sunderland - £44,369,895
Swansea City - £45,880,019
Tottenham Hotspur - £57,380,883
West Brom - £46,635,081
Wigan Athletic - £42,859,771
Wolves - £39,084,461
Championship teams receiving parachute payments
Birmingham City - £15,475,005
Blackpool - £15,475,005
Burnley - £12,219,732
Hull City - £12,219,732
Middlesbrough - £4,081,548
Portsmouth - £12,219,732
West Ham United - £15,475,005
