The new deals ‘represent record guaranteed international rights fees for EFL clubs
A new £148 million worldwide TV rights contract has been accepted by Bristol City, Bristol Rovers, and the other 70 EFL clubs. The arrangement will, according to the EFL, “showcase and promote EFL competitions across the globe for the next four years.”
The new agreements, which amount to a 40% increase in international TV rights, are being made in collaboration with Pitch International and Relevant Sports. The former will handle distribution of the rights in Europe, MENA (Middle East and Northern Africa), and other global regions, while the latter will handle distribution in North, Central, and South America.
The rights to broadcast 155 exclusive Championship matches, 38 in League One and Two, all play-off matches, all Carabao Cup matches, and three Bristol Street Motors Trophy matchups will belong to Pitch International, who has been in a 15-year partnership with the EFL. Relevant Sports, however, is able to sell all three division games, play-off games, Carabao Cup matches, and three Bristol Street Motors Trophy games in the Americas.
As a result, EFL clubs will receive “record guaranteed international rights fees” under the new agreements, which will be in effect through the 2027–2028 season. Furthermore, EFL teams will be permitted to carry on providing the iFollow streaming service to supporters residing abroad in areas where games are not primarily televised.
City, who are in the second division, will gain more from this agreement than Rovers, who haven’t had any of their games shown nationally this season. Additionally, City’s broadcast earnings for this term will be substantially higher.
The Gas have not yet released their financial statements for the period ending in June 2023, but the Robins reported £511,390 in broadcasting revenue from June 1 to June 30, 2023. This amount is probably higher this year due to a number of televised matches, including the FA Cup matches with West Ham United and a few league matches, including tonight’s match at Ipswich Town and recent league encounters against Leeds United and Southampton.
But starting with the upcoming season, Rovers and the other League One teams will witness a sharp increase in the number of their games that are televised domestically thanks to a new five-year partnership between the EFL and Sky Sports that represents a fifty percent increase on the value of the current rights agreement.
All 93 Carabao Cup and 127 EFL Trophy games, along with 248 League One and 328 Championship games, will be televised in the UK as part of the agreement.
“These new agreements represent not only guaranteed levels of revenue but also present the League and our 72 Clubs with a fantastic opportunity to further establish the EFL as a premium football brand in markets across the world,” EFL Chief Executive Trevor Birch said in a statement following the announcement. Our two partners, Pitch and Relevent, have a thorough understanding of the international TV rights markets. This understanding, along with the passion of their teams, should help us accomplish our goal of providing value to Clubs and bringing EFL football to as many people outside of the UK as possible.
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