LaLiga confirms continuing growth trend thanks to financial control

This Thursday the LaLiga headquarters hosted the unveiling of the latest 'Soccerex Transfer Review' by Prime Time Sport, a company that independently surveys and analyses variables influencing transfers involving the top clubs in Europe.

LaLiga president Javier Tebas was joined by Esteve Calzada, the CEO of Prime Time Sport, who discussed Spanish clubs' outlay on transfers and the performance of this season's new signings on the pitch. "The management of clubs has improved markedly, which has a knock-on effect on the way investment is made in the market", stated Calzada, who also underscored that, "Chinese football's incursion into Europe has also affected this transfer window".

Calzada remarked that, "the numbers have been conditioned by a significant summer window, in which history was made and records were broken". He added that, "rising revenues from television rights and their centralised marketing are yielding visible results among more modest teams", pointing to the report's insight that improved finances have enabled certain clubs to hold on to some of their most important players.

On a related note, the review highlighted the continuation of the Liga BBVA's growth trend, with investment on signings at a very similar level to the 2014/2015 season and standing at €545 million, the second-highest figure in LaLiga's history.

Following the unveiling of the report, Tebas and Calzada analysed the data contained therein, paying particular attention to the new status enjoyed by LaLiga's more modest clubs thanks to their increasing television revenues, which makes it easier for them to bring in new players and keep hold of their stars.

"The financial control measures and the strategy regarding the distribution of broadcasting revenues have improved the clubs' situations. The restructuring process was tough, but this is the effect we were looking for", the LaLiga president said, going on to stress that, "We have reached a crossroads in the face of the Premier League. The more financial clout they have, the bigger their chances of poaching our talent".

On the subject of Chinese football, Tebas commented that, "20% of the world's population lives in China. The television rights for the local league were worth $15 million last season, whereas now they have sold them for $300 million, which has resulted in a substantial injection of money on the Chinese market". On LaLiga's strategy with regard to overseas supporters, Tebas remarked that, "we are working on a key element: boosting our social presence for our international fans. They don't only want to watch us on television, they also want to be involved in LaLiga on a day-to-day basis". "La Liga's aim is to create value so that [revenues from] broadcasting rights rise", he added.

"We have implemented the strategic financial-control plan and now we have another based on broadcasting rights both domestically and internationally. Every weekend, 10 million more people pay to watch [Premier League] football on television, paying more to do so, which equates to an additional 1.2 billion in revenue. That is why we need to go from five to ten million subscribers in four years", the LaLiga president explained. In respect to this drive, Tebas noted that part of LaLiga's strategy is based on "offering an aesthetically pleasing product for television providers", as well as revealing that, "We have been working on an operating model for pay television".