Championship clubs 'deeply concerned' with new EFL TV deal

The broadcasting deal signed with 'Sky Sports' is estimated to have been worth  £595m as part of a five-year contract between the two parties, but not all involved in the EFL are happy with the agreement.

In a statement released on Tuesday, on behalf of many Championship clubs, expressed the worry that the clubs were not consulted properly before the deal took place.

The statement read as follows: 'Championship clubs are gravely concerned that the EFL Board has announced it has approved a new long-term domestic broadcasting rights deal.  Nineteen clubs from the league wrote to the EFL asking them not to sign the proposed deal and to engage in meaningful discussions. This was ignored. The clubs discovered that in the space of 15 months, without our knowledge, material changes had been made to this draft agreement.'

Top clubs in the division, including Stoke City, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Nottingham Forrest and Aston Villa, are said to be among the concerned party. 

 

November 19, 2018

All involved insisted that they do not hold broadcasters 'Sky Sports' responsible for the matter, and insisted that it is a problem between the member clubs and the League itself. 

The statement continued: 'When the EFL Board presented the new version of the deal - it gave more games and rights for less money and damaged the ability of clubs to control the decision to stream games and its pricing. '

Member clubs concluded: We remain convinced that any solution to the broadcasting of EFL competitions can only be on the basis of protecting attendances and securing the financial position of all our 72 clubs. There is a calm determination within Championship clubs to ensure the matter is not left here.'

Clubs want the 72 EFL sides to be able to have the option to open up their rights packages, to be able to include technological advancements that have changed the way in which viewers watch, matches i.e 'direct to consumer' streaming services.

However, in light of the new 5 year deal esigned by the EFL this week, it seems unlikely to happen any time soon.

Furthermore, many clubs feel that the 5 year time priod for the deal was too long, and the league did not command enough money for such a length of time.

The matter will no doubt continue to be hotly contested for many weeks to come.