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Rights to televise Premier League matches have been sold for a staggering £5.136BILLION, it was revealed tonight.

The astonishing figure means each game shown on TV is now worth £10million.

But as football bosses celebrated a cash bonanza fed-up supporters’ groups and pundits demanded ticket prices are cut for long-suffering fans.

Match of the Day host Gary Lineker tonight led calls to make going to games more affordable for fans.

With some seats costing more than £60 per game this season the former England hero tweeted:

The Premier League immediately insisted clubs would “have to address” keeping costs for fans down.

But sceptics were unconvinced that any savings will be passed on.

Former England star Stan Collymore tweeted:

He added:

Supporters groups up and down the country echoed the thoughts.

Chair of the Chelsea Supporters Trust Tim Rolls said: “The announcement from the Premier League regarding the significantly increased live TV deal from 2016/17 gives a real opportunity for the Premier League to address the long standing issue of high match ticket prices.

“When over £5billion is going to PL clubs this surely gives real scope for all 20 clubs to reduce ticket prices across the board in 18 months time.

“If the money just gets spent on higher transfers, wages and agents fees, as opposed to reducing costs for those who attend games, it will be a massively missed opportunity.

“If clubs want to build a sustainable fan base for the long term, they need to create price structures that attract young supporters.”

£5.136bn Total cost of rights 71% Cost of rights increase

Steve Wraith, 42, spokesman for the NUFC Fans United group for Newcastle supporters said: “With this sort of money it’s time to help the working class fan back to Premier League football.

“Sky and the clubs have perfect opportunity to reach out to the grass root supporter and the young generation.

“Admission prices should fall.”

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore claimed that Premier League clubs would be determined to try and keep stadium ticket prices down as they will receive even more TV cash.

(Image: Alex Livesey/Getty)

Mr Scudamore said: “The clubs are very aware that they want to keep the stadia full. They will have to address the issue of keeping fans, they want to continue to produce a great product and part of that is keeping it attractive to the fans.

“There will need to a lot of hard work and thought about how they can keep ticket prices down.

“Keeping grounds full is a priority for the Premier League and our clubs, and I am sure the flexible ticketing policies that have helped keep attendances so high will continue to develop.”

How much did broadcasters pay for Premier League rights?

Sky have paid £4.1billion for the lion’s share of games - including their prized “Super Sunday” package with the first pick of games at 4pm - as they will show 126 of the 168 games.

BT have effectively maintained their share with two of the seven available packages as they will show 42 games in the 5.30pm Saturday slot and occasional midweek matches.

Both broadcasters beat off foreign broadcasters like Discovery Channel and beIN Sports to clean up on Premier League rights.

Sky will also show 10 games each season on a Friday night, a new venture for the Premier League.

How many games will they show?

But the incredible leap also left Scudamore admitting that even he was “surprised” by the price rise for the TV rights.

Scudamore said: “I continue to be surprised by every television deal. I was surprised by the deal last time and I am surprised by the reaction we got this time.”

There is also a fear that the giant leap in cost for the TV companies will be passed on to the viewers for the two subscription channels.

(Image: Getty)

However, Scudamore insisted that Sky will keep their prices down because he says their ongoing scrap with BT will ensure subscription prices do not go up.

Scudamore said: “I’m not worried (by subscription prices). The television companies are in a competitive world. Where do you buy your channels, broadband, the bundles. I don’t believe Sky will be able to take that increase and pass it on.”

The Premier League’s bottom club will get £99m, which is more than the current share for the champions, while the top prize money will rise to £156m.

Scudamore also claimed it will strengthen English football from top to bottom with the game now awash with money.

(Image: Getty)

He added: “It will make us more competitive against the other clubs in Europe, it will help Football League clubs become more competitive and it will make our clubs more competitive against each other.

“One of the good things is that a team near the bottom, like Cardiff last season, can beat the team (Manchester City) which won the Premier League.

“This will get our top clubs nearer to the best European clubs. If you are running academies in England and this deal allows these academies to be improved and strengthened.

“This outcome provides a degree of certainty so clubs can continue to invest and run themselves in a sustainable manner; it also allows us to start planning how the Premier League can continue to support the rest of the football pyramid from the grassroots upwards.

“Burnley are bigger economically than Ajax. You will have seen the list that comes round. It will make our clubs even more competitive against our European counter parts.

“It will also make them more competitive with each other. This will get our top clubs nearer to their European rivals.

“More English players take the field than last year. We are twelve per cent up. The clubs are absolutely committed, totally committed to this idea of youth development, of developing the best talent.

“A huge majority of academy players will be English. This deal allows these things to carry on being invested in. I don’t see this as any reason whatsoever to draw that conclusion.

“We currently give away £270m. If you times that by three, £800m will be given away by the Premier League this term, be it to clubs in lower leagues, to charities. The exchequer will receive over £3bn in tax over this three year deal.

“The exchequer benefits hugely that the lion’s share goes to player’s clubs, to wages, and back to the exchequer.

“This structure also allows us to strike a balance between match-attending fans and those who choose to watch on television.”

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Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said: “We are looking forward to bringing even more live Premier League football to viewers.

“Only Sky Sports will have the best match picks and the best slots so our viewers will be able to follow the biggest matches, the key head to heads and every club at least four times. No other broadcaster comes close.

“The best Premier League coverage is part of an unrivalled range of sport across our seven channels and digital platforms.

"This new deal follows our recent success in the rights market, ensuring Sky Sports will be the first choice for years to come.”