Sky Sports and the EFL have confirmed a new broadcasting deal that will see more than 1,000 games broadcast every season.
The landmark five-year arrangement kicks in from the 2024-25 season and is worth £935m to the 92 clubs of the EFL - a 50% rise on the current deal.
Sky will broadcast at least 328 of the 552 games in the Championship live every season, as well as 248 games of the 552 in League One and 248 of the 552 in League Two.
The deal also covers all 93 games from the EFL Cup, from the first round to the final, all 127 games from the EFL Trophy and all 15 playoff matches.
In a statement, Sky confirmed that the deal would not necessitate the removal of the '3pm Saturday blackout', meaning that Sky's live TV fixtures will be played outside of these times, and the broadcaster has pledged to give fans longer notice than at present for fixture rearrangements.
Five of the 12 Championship matches taking place every weekend are guaranteed to be shown, plus an additional five from the other two leagues. All EFL matches taking place on the opening day, final day, on bank holidays or in midweek will also be broadcast by Sky.
Trevor Birch, chief executive of the EFL, said: "After completing an extensive tender and negotiation process, this is a landmark broadcast deal for EFL clubs, establishing the League as a premium partner with a world-renowned broadcaster in Sky Sports.
"The EFL is an iconic sports property and one of the biggest and best attended Leagues in European football. This increased investment and coverage from Sky Sports will showcase much more of our compelling match action to fans, while delivering record rights values as we seek to make our clubs sustainable at all levels.
"For decades, Sky Sports has been a fantastic broadcast partner for both the EFL and English football, helping our sport grow through its sustained support, so we are delighted to announce this innovative agreement that combines the strength of an established brand with a modern streaming service for the benefit of EFL clubs, fans and Sky Sports alike.
"With some 20 million attending Sky Bet EFL matches each season and significant interest in the League at home and abroad, we look forward to growing our collective fanbase further and we'd like to thank Sky Sports for its ongoing commitment to the clubs and the communities which this investment will directly support."
Jonathan Licht, MD at Sky Sports, added: "This is a ground-breaking deal for Sky and our long-standing partners, the EFL. We believe that fans of all 72 league clubs will benefit with increased coverage across all the leagues and competitions. With four times as many matches than we currently offer, we will capture even more of the excitement created by this unique league – and in a way that will be immediately accessible to millions of supporters.
"This is the biggest deal in football, in terms of the number of matches being broadcast and we look forward to working with the EFL and its 72 member clubs to give fans the most entertaining viewing experience.
"Between Sky and the league, we're pleased to be able to make a commitment to fans that will ensure greater notice periods around the movement of matches for broadcast. There'll also be greater parity in the number of times clubs are selected to be live on Sky Sports.
"The EFL stands alongside our key rights-holders we have partnered with for the rest of the decade, keeping Sky Sports as the number one destination for sports fans. We thank the EFL clubs and EFL board for their support and look forward to our future together."
The new deal means that Sky, which faced competition for the rights from DAZN and Viaplay, will extend its broadcasting of the EFL in the UK to almost three decades.
Follow us on X/Twitter and like us on Facebook for the latest entertainment news alerts.
Media Mole Black Friday Offer: Get Sky Entertainment, Sky Stream & Netflix for just £19 a month + £0 upfront fee for 24 months!
Prices may change during this period. Ends December 3, 2024
