Cardiff earned more from finishing bottom of the Barclays Premier League this season than Manchester United earned as champions the previous campaign, it has been announced.
The league's new £5.5billion broadcast deal meant Cardiff received £62.08million in finishing 20th this term, compared to United's £60.8m for winning the 2012/13 title.
Manchester City, who succeeded United as champions on Sunday with a second title in three years, earned £96.5m, with second-placed Liverpool the top earners with £97.5m as a consequence of more of their games being screened live by broadcasters.
City's windfall was almost £36m more than United's last term.
Manuel Pellegrini's men did not top the league, though, as they appeared in 25 games broadcast in the UK by either Sky Sports or BT Sport, compared to Liverpool's 28.
Third-placed Chelsea, United and Arsenal also appeared in 25 live televised games and Cardiff were one of eight teams to appear in 10 live matches.
The Welshmen, who returned to the Championship after one season in the top-flight, received over £22m more than QPR did in finishing last in the 2012/13 season.
The season was arguably the most exciting in recent memory, with the lead changing hands 25 times and 1,052 goals scored alongside a record stadium occupancy of 95.9 per cent.
The total dividends paid out to the 20 competing clubs was £1.56billion, compared to £972m the previous year. The ratio between the top and bottom earning club was 1.57:1.
The Premier League Founder Members' Agreement dictates 50 per cent of UK broadcast revenue is split equally, 25 per cent is paid in merit payments depending on the finishing position in the final table - £1.2m was paid for every place - and 25 per cent is paid in facility fees each time a club's matches are broadcast, while all international broadcast revenue, and central commercial revenue, is split equally amongst the 20 clubs.
City received £24.72m for finishing first and facility fees of £19.68m; their predecessors as champions United earned £17.30m for finishing seventh and facility fees of £19.68m in a total of £89.1m.
The equal share was £21.6m (a rise of 63 per cent on the 2012/13 value of £13.8m), overseas TV revenue was £26.29m and central commercial income of £4.27m to equal £31m (up 61 per cent on the previous year).
The Premier League payment in figures
- The 20 competing clubs earned £1.56billion, compared to £972m in 2012/13.
- Champions Manchester City earned £96.5m (£24.72m for finishing first, facility fees of £19.68m, equal share of £21.6m, overseas TV revenue of £26.29m, central commerical income of £4.27m).
- Manchester United received £60.8m in winning the 2012/13 title and £89.1m in finishing seventh a year later.
- Liverpool, the runners-up, earned £97.5m (£1.2m less than City in merit payments, but £2.21m more in facility payments by virtue of appearing in more televised matches).
- Bottom club Cardiff received £62.08m from their one-season stay in the top flight, compared to QPR's £39.75m the previous year.
- Each club received: £21.6m (equal share), £26.29m (overseas TV revenue), £4.27m (central commercial income).
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