Ilona Korstin, CEO of the VTB United League, spoke about the budget allocation and collaboration with the League’s partners.
– Regarding the League’s budget, revenue totaled 2 billion 56 million rubles, a 3 percent decrease compared to last year. At the same time, there was a redistribution across revenue categories. The amount of earmarked contributions from bookmakers’ gambling operations decreased, but revenue from advertising and sponsors increased. Due to the increase in taxable income, the amount of taxes for the season rose by 21 percent.
Total expenses amounted to 2 billion 168 million, a 60 percent increase compared to last season. This increase in expenses was targeted: we launched a new competition, the WINLINE Basket Cup, and funded its organization, officiating, and prize pool.
The League’s total prize fund amounted to 324 million rubles, which is distributed directly to the clubs based on their on-court performance and marketing contributions. It should be noted here that the top six clubs that participated in the WINLINE Basket Cup also received additional prize money—a total of 77 percent more than last season.
I’d also like to add: during a season when we increased our investment in organizing our own competitions, we did not cut—but actually increased—our mandatory spending on supporting youth and grassroots sports. This was made possible by earmarked funds received from bookmakers’ gambling operations.
An important source of the League’s revenue today comes from the sale of TV rights: this revenue stream grew by 61 percent over the season. This was made possible by our digital partnership with VK Video. I’d like to extend a special thank you to VK Video—together we broadcast about 300 matches, including a completely new format for the Cup, and it was this contract that brought us such growth and a new audience. We also sell the rights to our matches to international partners in Serbia—Arena Sport broadcasts our games there.
