Somewhere along the line, businessmen most would consider astute are losing the plot judging by the amounts TV companies are paying out for sports rights.
The TV moguls are handing over billions of pounds in the UK and USA for the right to broadcast top soccer, American football, baseball and basketball.
Either the numbers do not add up or the viewers are paying through the nose to watch their favourite teams and players perform at the highest level.
The cheapest match day ticket in the Premier league is £22, while the most expensive is £40 – excluding special boxes and suites.
But the league seems to be a siphon for players and their agents – the cycle is for the cash paid through the turnstile, for merchandise and from TV to go straight to the players and their lackeys.
Crazy wages
Some top Premier League clubs pay up to 90% of their income back out as wages to their players.
Transfer fees are sky high. English players sell for a premium, when mature talent from top clubs in Europe, Africa and South America comes in at a fraction of the cost.
England international Raheem Sterling, aged 20, switched from Liverpool to Manchester City for £44 million.
Sterling is considered an average to good player with a lot to learn, but costs more than established World Cup winners.
Last year, Premier League clubs invested £835 million in transfers. So far this summer, players worth £535 million have changed hands.
But the Premier League is not the only place where stars are paid crazy wages.
Business model
Russell Wilkinson has signed a £55 million four-year contract with US football team Seattle Seahawks – which puts him in second place in the top pay league behind Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers, who has a £70 million deal.
So where is all this money coming from?
Your pocket is the simple answer if you watch live sport or have satellite TV.
The business model is crackers. The idea is a football club should make a profit. To make money, a team must win trophies and to win trophies, the players hold them to ransom.
Here’s a table that shows just how much money fans are paying through the noses to watch sports on TV:
Biggest TV deals
[table id=1 /]