Channel 5 owner Richard Desmond would have been forgiven for doing a poznań of his own this week, after Manchester City and Manchester United crashed out of the Champion’s League.

The clubs’ early exit from the competition sees them land a spot in the less prestigious Europa League, broadcast on Channel 5 on Thursday nights. The Manchester rivals’ participation looks set to boost revenues to the tune of £13 million.

An all-Manchester final could bring in as many as six million viewers, nearly two million more than the previous record-holder – a final between Fulham and Athletico Madrid in 2010.

Average viewing figures across the tournament are expected to receive a boost as well. Commercial sales director Nick Bampton confessed that “Manchester might not be happy, but Channel 5 are delighted.

“We get the two best teams in England entertaining our audiences for free, which in turn delivers mass audiences for our advertising partners.”

(Source: MediaGuardian)

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