Leeds United is set to feature in at least 24 live matches on Sky Sports next season if they remain in the Championship, including on the opening day as part of the new domestic EFL broadcast deal. This deal is worth £935m over five years and ensures a 50% increase in rights value for clubs. Each season, over 1,000 EFL games will be broadcast live with a guaranteed six-camera setup for improved coverage.
Should Leeds stay in the Championship following their play-off campaign, they will be required to be shown live on TV 24 times, double the current deal’s obligation. Their upcoming semi-final clash against Norwich City will determine their fate in the competition.
According to the new deal, there will be five Championship games and five League One and Two games broadcast on standard weekends. There will also be games scheduled for Friday evening and Sunday lunchtime, as well as three Championship matches kicking off on Saturday at 12.30pm.
While the 3pm Saturday blackout will still be in place, the opening weekend will see all EFL games televised due to the Premier League not being in action. Additionally, all midweek games, final weekend games, and bank holiday matches will be broadcast live, including every Carabao Cup game.
To assist supporters, Sky Sports will provide more notice of schedule changes, with TV games confirmed up to the third round of the FA Cup before the season kicks off. A further announcement in November 2024 will reveal TV games until March 2025.
The new Sky Sports+ platform will replace the red button operation, offering every broadcast game to existing Sky Sports subscribers at no extra cost, with NOW TV passes also providing access. A new Sky Sports+ channel will air the main game of the slot, with all other games available through various platforms.
Overall, this new deal will significantly impact British sports broadcasting, providing clubs with an additional £60m per season. Facility fees allocation is still up for debate among clubs, but the financial boost is expected to benefit EFL clubs and enhance the viewing experience for fans.
