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Sky Sports has been named by the EFL as its preferred bidder for the next round of broadcast rights after beating out competition from DAZN, BT Sport and Swedish company Viaplay.

In a statement on Monday afternoon, the EFL detailed how they would now enter a month-long exclusivity period in which they will carry out negotiations on the next round of rights which starts from the 2024/25 campaign and could have a worth more than £200 million a year. season.

Sky Sports currently broadcast 138 games a season in the Championship, League One, League Two and EFL Trophy with his £119m a year deal, but that carries heavy weight at the second tier, with many clubs below having never appeared on television. for several years. Two championship games are broadcast every weekend, with just 20 League One games broadcast live last season, along with 10 from League Two.

The EFL believes there is greater appetite below the Premier League for more matches to be broadcast and last year called for tenders for deals of between three and five years. That’s why DAZN’s plans seemed the most interesting given that the streaming platform reportedly wanted to make all games available to subscribers, a move that would end the traditional Saturday 3pm blackout.

“The EFL has now completed a full and thorough review of the multiple ITT submissions received as part of its process to sell broadcast rights from 2024,” an EFL statement read. “La Liga will now enter an exclusive one-month negotiation period with the preferred bidder, Sky Sports. No further comment will be made on this matter at this time.”

Bristol Rovers CEO Tom Gorringe has spoken out publicly in favor of ending the blackout in favor of more live access to fans, believing it will not have a detrimental impact on attendance, which has always been the worry.