ITV has announced that it has agreed a deal "in principle" with Sky Sports allowing it to simulcast a handful of games from the Championship and EFL Cup.
This coming season will mark the start of Sky's landmark broadcasting deal to show over 1,000 games from the Championship, League One and League Two live, including every single game from the EFL Cup.
The sublicensing deal with ITV - running from January 2025 until the end of the 2026-27 season - covers 10 games a season from the Championship, although as the deal kicks in halfway through 2024-25, only five will be shown in the next campaign. ITV also has the option to switch out any of its chosen games for League One or Two alternatives.
The EFL Cup element of the deal is for one game from each of the first four rounds, plus an additional tie from round three or four, as well as two of the quarter-finals, one of the semi-finals and the final.
Sky Sports MD Jonathan Licht said: "This momentous upcoming season of over 1,000 matches from the EFL on Sky Sports+ shows our huge ambition and increased dedication to the EFL and its supporters. Working with a free-to-air broadcaster isn't new for us and many of our partners, as we endeavour to help grow and broaden audiences for sports.
"With ITV set to simulcast a select number of matches from the EFL from 2025 alongside Sky Sports full coverage, it means that millions of football fans in the UK will be able to enjoy plenty of action from the Cup and League, boosting the exposure for clubs which is great news for all."
ITV's director of sport Niall Sloane added: "This deal brings viewers free to air coverage of top level knockout football over the coming years, as well as standout matches from the EFL, adding regular live matches to our highlights shows. We're looking forward to bringing fans some superb action and insight from this new, fuller EFL package across the next few seasons."
The new EFL season kicks off on the weekend of August 10/11, with all 36 matches being shown live on Sky via new streaming app and channel Sky Sports+.
Neil Wilkes
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