EFL clubs face being impacted by major TV broadcasting changes | OneFootball

The EFL's live broadcasts could be influenced by a major change

Clubs across the EFL could be impacted by the potential of major broadcasting negotiations taking place between TV giants in the form of Sky and ITV.

According to football finance expert, Dr Dan Plumley, the 72 clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two could put pressure on the former of the two broadcasting organisations, who have been broadcasting live matches for many years now, whilst the latter currently has rights to broadcast a handful of live matches throughout the season, as well as hosting weekend and midweek versions of the EFL's highlights show, which was previously showcased on Quest and the BBC.

The various ways in which supporters across the country and the world can access the self-proclaimed 'beautiful game' has been a hot topic of discussion in recent seasons, particularly since the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 and 2021, which left many with no choice but to watch their sides through a television screen due to restrictions which meant Premier League, EFL, FA Cup, EFL Cup and matches within UEFA competitions were largely played behind-closed-doors.

Since then, though, there has been growing pressure by a cluster of supporters to allow further access to matches, particularly those which kick-off at the traditional time of 3PM on a Saturday afternoon, which cannot be broadcast at present due to the 'blackout' rule which operates between the times of 2:45PM and 5:15PM.

However, with multiple rights' holders now vying for the chance to showcase some of England, Europe and the world's best stars under their name in the coming years, the EFL could be impacted by ongoing talks, despite the fact a £935m deal was struck between the governing body and Sky Sports ahead of last season.

At present, 328 Championship matches are broadcast per season on Sky Sports, alongside every EFL Trophy and EFL Cup encounter, with 10 games also selected for terrestrial airing on ITV after a £15m deal was also struck in 2024.

It was reported at the start of the month that ITV had held preliminary talks with Sky over a potential £1.6bn deal which would give them access to media and entertainment shows currently broadcast on their plethora of channels and streaming services.

As previously mentioned, EFL-regulated matches come under this particular umbrella, and such are the financial incentives on offer, Plumley told Football Insider that clubs within the '72' may put pressure on Sky to agree to such an outcome, with the aforementioned deals currently set to expire at the end of the 2028/29 season.

“We’ve seen ITV have already agreed with Sky that they can show some Championship games, free to air, which has been well received, and I think that’s brilliant for the exposure of the EFL," Plumley said.

“The current deal that we’re in, anyway, is fixed until 2028-29. It was a big deal, it was a five-year one. So there’ll be no movement on that in that period that is fixed. I think this will be a case if this deal does go through.

“And then looking at how ITV and Sky kind of operate or what Sky do and how they kind of tackle that from a strategic position moving forward, it might mean that we see an increase on the next deal, which is what the clubs will be wanting anyway," the finance expert explained.

“And, of course, Sky will be under pressure to deliver some growth as well. But, given where we’re at now, we still have got a few years to run on or a couple of years to run at least on that original deal. So I think this is one to keep an eye on.“

Access to EFL matches has certainly caused a stir in recent times

The aforementioned potential developments are certainly intriguing, and due to the modern landscape of football, any extra TV-related revenue is often crucial to the growth of sides, with extra funds subsequently aiding factors such as a transfer budget or an improved infrastructure.

However, it is also likely to split opinion amongst many, as has been the case when it comes to how the sport is currently accessible.

Coventry City, in particular, have received major criticism so far this season for charging £45 for adult tickets when it comes to high-profile encounters against Birmingham City and West Bromwich Albion, whilst Sky haven't got away scot-free in the eyes of many supporters, which was particularly evident through a banner unveiled by Middlesbrough supporters in their 2-1 success over Ipswich Town in October, with those from Suffolk forced to make a lengthy journey on a Friday night.