Sky Sports retain Football League TV rights in £120m-a-year deal for next three years


SKY SPORTS have retained their Football League rights for at least three years.

The Daily Mail understands Sky have paid around £120million-a-year.

Newcastle celebrate wining the Sky Sports Championship
Newcastle celebrate winning the Sky Bet Championship
Victorious boss Rafa Bentiez holds the Championship trophy aloft
Victorious boss Rafa Benitez holds the Championship trophy aloft
Getty Images - Getty

That represents an increase on the £90m-a-year terms of the current deal.


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But it is nowhere near the numbers predicted.

The Football League have yet to announce the deal nearly a fortnight after the deadline for tenders.

It turned out that the bidding process did not need to go to a second round.

That was because BT Sport and Sky were not prepared to enter a rights fight and pay over the odds like they did for cricket.

It meant that Sky — who are still negotiating the length of the contract — retain matches crucial to their new second football channel for a realistic price.

 

But not all EFL clubs will be happy with the announcement.

Derby chairman Mel Morris, for instance, has claimed the rights are worth £300m a year…

Meanwhile, it is understood that Channel 5 have retained the contract for their highlights programme.

Sheffield United wrapped up the League One title
Sheffield United wrapped up the League One title
Getty Images - Getty
And Portsmouth wrapped things up in League 2
And Portsmouth wrapped things up in League 2
Rex Features

Elsewhere, from now until November, Sky Sports Premier League will show 45 matches from the top flight.

Every team will feature live and every ground in the division will be visited.

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