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The co-owner of the Blues, Wagner, has declared that the EFL should pursue a unified international broadcast arrangement to grow the league and highlight its “fighting underdog attitude” to the world.

Revenue Expansion Instead of Redistribution

Wagner, who headed a investment group that included American football star Tom Brady in taking over Birmingham in 2023, argues that the Football League should concentrate on increasing its revenues and fanbase rather than prioritizing a redistribution deal with the Premier League.

That arrangement has remained at a standstill for 24 months despite pressure from authorities.

Streaming Platforms Such As Netflix Could Provide Enormous Opportunity

Addressing the audience at The Summit, part of a leadership event in London, he was asked if he believed the league should consider striking a deal with a streaming service like a major streaming provider.

“Yes,” he said. “In my view that there’s an tremendous opportunity for the EFL to create a wider distribution platform. And the reason for this belief is because the quality of soccer is excellent. The storylines are great. There is plenty to root for. It embodies a strong underdog ethos, which, at least in the US, is highly attractive, and I suspect it would be elsewhere as well.”

Growing Support Via Reliable Broadcasts

Reliable availability to broadcasts of a league, he explained, helps to build a loyal following, an point he substantiated by talking about his exercise routine.

“I tend to torture myself in extended training sessions on Saturday and Sunday mornings,” he remarked. “When you’re cycling to nowhere, there’s a lot of media to consume. I really enjoy when you begin to see second-tier games broadcast. It’s clear that when you can watch it on your exercise machine, that you’ve made it.”

Expanding Revenue Instead of Sharing Existing Funds

Regarding the topic of revenue sharing, Wagner advocated a change of focus. “I think the most effective approach to explain it is, instead of focusing on how we distribute an current revenue, we expand the pie,” he stated. “We spend our time energy thinking about how we grow the total income sources and interest in the sport in England. Should we succeed to achieve that, everybody benefits more than distributing an current pool of revenue streams in a different way. My comment has always been that if we focus on growing the sport that we everyone benefits.”

Competition with Another Club Benefits Each Teams

The team travel to north Wales this weekend to face another second-tier team with well-known American owners and a TV show. He said that the competitive relationship the club have built with the Hollywood-owned Wrexham has benefited both clubs and is an example of the engaging narratives soccer can create.

“It’s beneficial for both of us,” he said. “I hold enormous admiration for Ryan and Rob … they are good people, and they’re doing a good thing. What they’ve done in Wrexham is amazing.

“The people in Wrexham are incredible, period, absolutely. It is a great destination to go and visit and enjoy a football match. And that’s why I appreciate about it.”