Satellite television and football attendance: the not so super effect

Abstract

Previous studies of football attendance in England have produced contradictory results as to the effects of live satellite television coverage of football matches on the attendance of the televised matches. Using attendance data of Aston Villa Football Club's home matches in the Premier League from the 1995/96 season to the 2000/01 season, this note estimates a semi-logarithmic function of attendance. The results highlight a significant negative impact on attendance of live satellite television coverage of 7.75%, ceteris paribus, and also suggest that the England national team's performances are important in affecting attendance at Premier League games. Despite concentrating on only one club, this investigation brings into question what effect the new television rights just announced for the next three seasons may have on attendance.