Despite England’s poor start to Euro 2024, the tournament has proven to be a lucrative one for former captain, Gary Lineker.
Analysis by media specialists has revealed that the BBC pundit has earned more than £125,000 from his podcast, The Rest Is Football, since England’s opening match against Serbia.
The podcast, which also features former footballers Alan Shearer and Micah Richards, saw a surge in downloads following their critical comments on Gareth Southgate’s squad. During the BBC’s coverage of England’s 1-1 draw with Denmark, Lineker was particularly scathing, continuing his criticism on his podcast, describing the team’s performance as “fantastic”. This prompted a response from England captain Harry Kane, who argued that former players such as Lineker and Shearer should tone down their criticism over their roles in the FA Cup drought.
Lineker and Shearer defended their positions on their podcast, which generated a record 530,000 views on YouTube. However, Lineker’s increasing commercial success caused some consternation within the BBC. Critics within the organization argue that Lineker’s dual role as BBC presenter and podcast host creates a conflict of interest, particularly after he was seen wearing a green T-shirt endorsed by the brand during England’s opening match, in breach of BBC policy.
A BBC insider commented: “Ordinary staff are well aware of the ban on using the BBC for self-promotion or commercial gain. There is a belief that Lineker receives special treatment, which many find unfair.”
However, not everyone at the BBC shares this sentiment. One senior figure said: “There is no unrest here. The media enjoy targeting Lineker because of his outspoken nature. He plays by the rules of the business – mostly.
Lineker’s business activities have also angered rival sports producers. One rival expressed astonishment at how Lineker’s business interests have flourished thanks to his BBC platform, noting that “the horse has pulled out of all the business that talent does. It’s amazing how they get away with it.”
Harry Lineker, Gary’s son and producer The rest is football, recorded a 62% increase in downloads since the start of the European Championship, with YouTube views up 83%. Podcast revenues are split between Lineker, Shearer, Richards and Goalhanger Podcasts, the production company owned by Lineker and former ITV head of sport Tony Pastor.
Goalhanger Podcasts also produces popular shows such as The rest is politics. And The rest is history.. The rest is politics, in particular, is seeing a rise in popularity due to the impending elections in the United Kingdom and the United States. Collectively, Goalhanger’s podcasts generate nearly 40 million downloads per month.
Financially, Goalhanger’s success is significant. The company’s latest published accounts show its capital and reserves had tripled to £591,000 as of May last year. Industry insiders point out that podcast advertising rates are high, with spoken word promotions earning presenters £45 per 1,000 listens, and standard ads bringing in £15 per 1,000 listens.
Lineker has recently used the football podcast to promote brands such as Hellmann’s, Disney and EE. Tony Pastor has confirmed the success of the programme since the start of the European Championship, noting that the presenters are well compensated.
This trading triumph has sparked speculation about the possible sale of Goalhanger to investors, which could result in a large sum for Lineker and his partners. Reports suggest that Jeff Zucker, former CEO of CNN and current chairman of RedBird, may be interested, although Pastor denied any direct contact with Zucker during an interview with the BBC Media Show earlier this month.
With an estimated net worth of £30m, Lineker is financially secure, but the success of his podcast projects continues to raise his profile in business and sports broadcasting.
