Wednesday, March 11, 2026

English Football League’s TV Rights Set to Double in Value

  • The English Football League oversees the second, third, and fourth tiers of English football.
  • It expects to bring in $239.1 million annually from TV rights.
Trophy celebrations of Nottingham Forest FC after winning the 2022 EFL SkyBet Championship title.
EFL

The TV rights for one of England’s top soccer leagues are reportedly set to double in value.

The organizing body for the second, third, and fourth tiers of the English Football League  is set to issue an invitation to tender to broadcasters and expects to bring in $239.1 million annually from TV rights, according to The Daily Mail.

Sky Sports, BT Sport, Viaplay, and DAZN are all reportedly interested. Sky has held the rights since 2002 and currently pays around $142.2 million annually.

The tender invitation includes all three divisions, the playoffs, the EFL Trophy, the EFL Cup — which also includes Premier League teams — and has been split up into 20 separate packages. There are 72 teams across the divisions. 

The EFL is reportedly considering a hybrid model with several broadcasters and is inviting bids for between three and five years.

Every game will be available for purchase, according to the report, which could put an end to the Saturday 3 p.m. TV blackout — a rule that’s been in place since the 1960s. 

A change to the blackout, which applies when 50% of the Premier League and Championship matches kick off at 3 p.m. local time on a Saturday, would likely face opposition from the Premier League.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

[Subscription Customers Only] Jun 15, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; Botafogo owner John Textor inside the stadium before the match during a group stage match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup at Lumen Field.

The American Sports Owners Feuding Over a French Soccer Team

John Textor is at odds with Michele Kang and investment giant Ares.
Aug 12, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; FanDuel Sports Network reporter Erica Weston (right) interviews Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell (7) after the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Angel Stadium.

MLB Clubs Drop Main Street Sports As RSN Crisis Deepens

The regional broadcaster draws closer to collapse.

Main Street Sports Crisis Pushes RSN Rights Closer to League Control

The regional sports broadcaster misses another set of scheduled rights payments.
Martha Stewart hosts a VIP tree-lighting event at Bedford Post Inn in Bedford on Friday, December 6, 2024.

Martha Stewart Joins Celebrity Soccer Party With Swansea Investment

She joins Snoop Dogg as minority owners in the EFL Championship club.

Featured Today

Alex Eala Has Become One of the Biggest Draws in Tennis

Eala will face Coco Gauff in the third round at Indian Wells.
Jun 9, 2021; Paris, France; The racket of Coco Gauff (USA) after she smashed it during her match against Barbora Krejcikova (CZE) on day 11 of the French Open at Stade Roland Garros
March 6, 2026

The ‘Rage Room’ Is the Hottest Place in Tennis

The idea came from a player podcast.
March 5, 2026

Mark DeRosa Is Still Baseball’s Swiss Army Knife

DeRosa is the sport’s utility player both on the field and off.
Nicole Silveira
March 3, 2026

The Tattoo Marking Membership in the Most Exclusive Club in Sports

For athletes, the Olympic rings tattoo is “about everything it took.”
Mar 7, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, UNITED STATES; Donte Johnson (red gloves) fights Cody Brundage (blue gloves) during UFC 326 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

UFC Touts Ratings Success of CBS Debut

A portion of UFC 326 was simulcast on CBS last Saturday.
Feb 27, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; NFL media insider Ian Rapoport during the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
March 11, 2026

Will Rival Insiders Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport Team Up?

As ESPN’s acquisition of NFL Network approaches, Rapoport’s contract status looms.
March 11, 2026

NFL Dominates Thanksgiving Week—and Wants Another Night

The league looks to expand its presence over the highly watched holiday.
Sponsored

Paul Rabil: Why Owning a Team Is a 100x Bet

Paul Rabil shares how he left an established league to build PLL.
March 11, 2026

WBC Delivers Big Ratings for Fox, but U.S. Loss Clouds Outlook

Early viewership rises, but the U.S. team no longer controls its fate.
Feb 6, 2026; San Francisco, CA, USA; Pat McAfee on the Pat McAfee Show set at the Super Bowl LX media center at the Moscone Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
March 11, 2026

Pat McAfee NFL Free-Agency Special Shows His Juice at ESPN

McAfee’s pull at ESPN has been plenty apparent this week.
March 10, 2026

March Madness Getting Chalkier, but TV Networks Aren’t Worried

The two networks remain bullish despite increasing chalkiness in college basketball.
Mar 29, 2025; San Francisco, CA, USA; CBS Sports reporter Lauren Shehadi speaks prior to a game between the Texas Tech Red Raiders and the Florida Gators during the West Regional final of the 2025 NCAA tournament at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images
exclusive
March 10, 2026

Lauren Shehadi Lands Netflix MLB Reporter Role

Shehadi will make her debut during Netflix’s Opening Night game on March 25.