Sky Sports EFL Coverage

Sky Sports Announcement: Steps taken to revolutionize EFL Coverage with Historic Broadcast

Vishal BhawaniPublished on: 10th May 2024 12:33 PM

Sky Sports has unveiled a groundbreaking initiative set to transform the coverage of English Football League (EFL) matches as it announces plans to broadcast every single game from the opening weekend of the Championship, League One, and League Two.

Sky Sports Announcement

This historic move marks the first time in EFL history that such comprehensive coverage will be provided with over 1000 matches slated for broadcast throughout the season.

Under the new arrangement, every team in the EFL will feature on television screens at least 20 times with Championship clubs enjoying even greater exposure with 24 televised matches each.

Notably, the traditional 3 pm blackout on Saturday, August 10 will be lifted for the opening weekend, a decision confirmed by the EFL, which stated that “Article 48 will not apply” in this instance.

The introduction of Sky Sports +, a new channel dedicated to expanding live sports coverage by 50 percent, heralds this transformative broadcasting approach.

This development follows Sky Sports’ securing of a lucrative domestic rights deal with the EFL, valued at £935 million over a five-year period.

It All Starts From Next Season

Effective from the 2024/25 season onwards, this new agreement will replace the EFL’s existing domestic video streaming service provided through iFollow and club streaming platforms.

While audio services will continue to be offered domestically, alongside existing audio-visual arrangements for international audiences, the comprehensive coverage promised by Sky Sports represents a significant increase in rights value, exceeding the current value by over 60 percent.

This landmark broadcasting deal signifies a significant milestone in the evolution of EFL coverage, promising fans unparalleled access to their favourite teams and matches across all three tiers of English football.

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