Barcelona’s ability to drive revenue from television rights has “topped out”, or reached a peak, according to the Spanish Liga club’s economic vice-president Javier Faus.
Faus made the claim as Barcelona signed off on record profits of €48.8 million ($58.6 million) for the 2011-12 season.
TV Sports Markets understands that Barcelona’s combined income from the Liga, Uefa Champions League and Copa del Rey (Spanish cup) media rights was over €165 million in 2011-12.
Faus said that media revenue “has topped out and we don’t expect an increase in the next five years.”
Barcelona’s financial figures for 2011-12 mark a significant achievement for the club, which had targeted a return to profit following losses of €9.3 million in 2010-11 and €83 million in 2009-10.
The club increased its revenues by €21.5 million to €494.9 million between 2010-11 and 2011-12, and cut its expenditure by €31.5 million to €441.1 million. Overall spending was reduced by 6.6 per cent.