Phil Sumbler
Swansea City go into the final game of the season on Monday with a financial boost in their pockets after the announcement of a new deal for TV coverage for the EFL that will see in the region of 1,000 matches screened every season.
All games on the opening and closing days, bank holidays and midweek are just part of a deal that is worth ยฃ935m over five years and was confirmed yesterday.
The deal on the table was put to clubs on Friday morning after a month long period of negotiations with Sky and it was unanimously accepted and will come into play from the 2024/5 season.
The deal represents a 50% increase in value on the ยฃ595m year deal the EFL has had with Sky since 2018, and which some Championship clubs believed undervalued their product. It currently televises 138 EFL league games each season.
Reports had suggested streaming platform DAZN wanted to show every game live, ending the traditional Saturday 3pm TV blackout, which is designed to protect lower-league attendances.
The EFL had said it was willing to consider scrapping the Saturday blackout but it will be kept in place under the new deal.
More matches will be available to stream, with six games across the Championship, League One and League Two set to begin at 12:30 each Saturday.
Each season, Sky Sports will broadcast a minimum of:
- 328 Championship matches
- 248 League One matches
- 248 League two matches
- All 15 play off matches
- All 93 Carabao Cup ties
- All 127 EFL Trophy matches
Championship clubs will each receive a 46% increase in TV revenue as a result of the deal.ย ย Clubs in Leagues One and Two will see their TV revenues increase by 25%.
EFL Chairman and former Swans Chairman Trevor Birch said “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 level.”
A bit more money for the owners then
Oh yes. They are taking millions out. No idea..
Just why do you think they are involved?
Them bones them bones them dry bones
Dont know wot your all on about.the norm is sell all the good players at the end of the season.bring in the youth as replacements .then tell us all we cant get any replacements as theres no funds.