The Premier League have just announced a new television rights package which comes into effect next year.
The deal is worth over five billion pounds, which is up on the three million or so that was negotiated a couple of years ago. Each game broadcast will be worth over £10 million per game and the seven packages have been purchased by Sky Sports and BT Sport.
These are genuinely incredible numbers, they really are, but what does it mean to me and you?
If like me, you have a digital television subscription with one of the big networks, you'll probably be paying upwards of £100 per month for the privilege of watching live Premier League football.
Some would say that's rather strange when the team I support, Nottingham Forest, hasn't graced the top flight for over fifteen years. However, I gain great enjoyment from having football on most days when I'm at home to watch it, but is £100 per month value for money?
Some would question that, and understandably so. I don't smoke, nor do I drink a great deal and live a relatively simple life, so that's part of my recreational activity fees, in my eyes.
Will my digital satellite subscription remain the same?
I highly doubt it.
I envisage a hefty price hike to cover the staggering increase in money being paid to Premier League clubs.
Just think about this for a moment. The team who finishes bottom in the 2016/2017 season will earn £99 million in prize money.
The champions will earn £156 million, but rest assured it will be me, you and every other person who has Sky, Virgin, BT or any other service that will be paying for that honour.
Then we move onto ticket prices.
Fans are being charged above inflation for the cost of watching live football. One supporter this weekend paid £38 to sit at Loftus Road to see Southampton face Queens Park Rangers from behind a broadcasting studio. He couldn't have had a worse view if he'd have stood outside the ground looking at a brick wall.
He would have also saved himself £38 in the process.
Will this staggering deal be passed on to supporters and clubs throughout the football pyramid? The Premier League say they already do pass wealth down the leagues through what they call 'solidarity payments', but it isn't nearly enough.
Clubs throughout football are providing players of all ages to Premier League clubs amongst many other things, but are they looked after? Some would argue not?
Ultimately, however, it will be the long-suffering football supporter who will end up paying for this.
So, fellow fans of football, expect the price increase letter to fall on the doormat in the very near future.
