The present deal with Comcast ends in 2015.
The Phillies' president smirked, a rare moment of candor for the public face of a silent ownership group that has it all going right now. Many in this region have spent significant money supporting the Phillies - whether it is in tickets, merchandise, or their valuable time. The Phillies have sold out 204 straight games, boast the highest local ratings in baseball, and sell substantial amounts of merchandise.
So it's natural to wonder: Where does all the revenue go?
Well, the Phillies have a higher payroll than any team in the National League and only the Yankees and Red Sox eclipse them. Granted, we are still left with an incomplete picture, about as complete as a professional sports franchise wants to offer.
Once you have everything, you want even more. Most of baseball has found money from TV deals as another way to prosper.
"They're getting a lot of play," Montgomery said.
And rightfully so: The next TV deal, whenever it is signed, will be a monumental day in the franchise's history.
The Phillies, according to Forbes magazine, netted some $24 million from their TV rights contracts with Comcast and PHL17 during the 2010 season. It's important to note the Phillies also profit from TV advertising sales, which they still handle in-house, to avoid sponsor conflicts in ballpark signage. The amount the Phillies earn from those sales is unknown, but in any future mega-deal, the Phillies could choose to cede the revenue from TV ad sales to Comcast or another broadcaster, if the price is right.
Still, the total payout of TV contract and ad revenue rights will dwarf whatever the Phillies earn under the current deal.
