Once a game has been analysed, the results are stored on a database. Opta's extensive database now covers the past three FA Premier League seasons, together with recent England internationals, UEFA Champions League and UEFA Cup games featuring English FA Premier League teams. The analysis involves the capture and logging of actions by players and movements of the ball. There are currently 92 different actions that players can perform and this will be increased to over 100 for the coming season. From this analysis, Manager Reports are created for each match and are sent to the clubs involved for use by managers, coaches and directors.
Many clubs seek additional information, both on their own teams and on forthcoming opponents.
Opta also produces confidential Referees Reports, which note key decisions and disciplinary issues and are supplied to the Referees Officer. Customer Base Opta's analyses are sold to many of the national daily and Sunday newspapers, including The Guardian, The Times, The Express, The Mirror, The Observer and The Sunday Times, as well as regional newspapers, specialist interest magazines, such as Four Four Two and Match Of The Day and the major terrestrial and satellite television channels, including BBC and Sky Sports. In addition, Opta's statistics are bought by bookmakers in connection with their betting activities. Bass sponsors Opta to produce the Carling Opta Index, which has been adopted as Opta's generic trading name. Opta had turnover of 577,735, gross profit of 538,129, losses before tax of 3,185 and, at 30 April 1999, had net liabilities of 37,621.