Tag: EFL

CBS Sports lands deal for English Football League broadcast rights

The network takes over the rights from ESPN

CBS Sports and the English Football League (EFL) have announced an exclusive four-year broadcast rights agreement.

Starting in the 2024-25 season, CBS will be the new home of the Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao Cup and Bristol Street Motors Trophy, taking over the rights from ESPN.

CBS has said that its coverage in the 2024-25 season will include:

  • A minimum of 155 Championship matches
  • A minimum of 38 League One and League Two matches
  • All 15 playoff matches across the Championship, League One and League Two
  • A minimum of 30 Carabao Cup matches
  • Three Bristol Street Motors Trophy matches

The matches will air on Paramount+, with select games on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

“The exciting action and prestige of the EFL, as the oldest league in the world, adds tremendous value to CBS Sports’ premium soccer portfolio,” said Dan Weinberg, executive vice president of programming for CBS Sports.

“With the EFL’s compelling storylines and growing popularity coupled with our first-class coverage, we look forward to further elevating this league in the U.S.”

CBS Sports is already the home of the UEFA Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and the NWSL, among other properties. It has held Serie A rights in recent seasons, but its deal for the Italian top flight expired at the end of last season. The league’s rights-holder for 2024-25 and beyond has yet to be confirmed.

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Leeds United vs. Southampton: How to watch EFL Championship playoff final, live stream

The world’s most lucrative match is set for Wembley on Sunday, with a spot in the Premier League on the line

Leeds United and Southampton will take the pitch at Wembley in the EFL Championship promotion playoff final on Sunday.

The winner will claim a place in the Premier League for 2024-25, making this one-off clash a massive game in terms of both prestige for players, and revenue for clubs.

Leeds, buoyed by Crysencio Summerville’s 19 goals, will be looking to bounce straight back up after being relegated at the end of the 2022-23 season. The Whites had spent three seasons in the top flight, and during a 15-game unbeaten that ran from January to April looked at one point like a candidate to finish atop the Championship table.

However, a poor end to the season — including a 2-1 home loss to Southampton — sent Daniel Farke’s side into the playoff places. However, a 4-0 aggregate win over Norwich City in the semifinals may have helped stabilize Leeds just in time.

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Like Leeds, Southampton wants back into the Premier League after one season in the second tier. The Saints recovered from a poor start to the season that at one point included four straight losses to spend much of the last six months in the top four.

A combined 37 goals between forwards Adam Armstrong and Ché Adams has paced Russell Martin’s side, who are intent on returning to the top flight after its prior stay lasted 12 years.

Here’s everything you need to know ahead of the match.

Leeds United vs. Southampton (EFL Championship playoff final)

  • When: Saturday, May 26
  • Where: Wembley Stadium (London)
  • Time: 10 a.m. ET
  • Channel/streaming: ESPN+ (WATCH LIVE).

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FA Cup replays have been scrapped, and lower-league teams are furious

The move was branded “disgraceful” by at least one club

The Football Association has announced that from next season on, there will no longer be FA Cup replays.

In the competition’s current format, any matches that end tied after 90 minutes result in another match being played at the home of the visiting team. Replays currently take place up until the fifth round — aka the round of 16.

But that will all change next season, a move the FA said was designed to help ease fixture congestion.

While the move may be welcomed by Premier League sides taking part in multiple competitions, it was viewed very differently by lower-division teams who often count on replays as a vital source of extra revenue.

English Football League (EFL) chief executive Trevor Birch immediately hit out at the move, saying he was blindsided by the decision and that his clubs would seek compensation.

“This represents another traditional revenue stream for EFL clubs at a time when the financial gap between the biggest clubs and those further down the pyramid is growing bigger than ever,” said Birch, who represents teams in the Championship, League One and League Two.

“We will now be discussing the implications for EFL clubs and seeking appropriate compensation arrangements.”

Other entities were even less diplomatic. Take League Two side Tranmere Rovers, for example.

“Tranmere Rovers condemn the disgraceful decision taken by The FA and the Premier League to change the format of the FA Cup, including the scrapping of replays,” the club said in a statement.

“The decision, and the way it was taken, demonstrate a total lack of respect for the football pyramid and its fans. Football belongs to all of us and decisions should not be taken in back room deals in which only the very wealthiest clubs are allowed to participate.”

Andy Holt, chairman of League Two club Accrington Stanley, added: “Why would the hapless FA scrap early-round replays that can be lucrative to minnows?”

In addition to the end of replays, the FA also announced that all rounds of the FA Cup will now be played on weekends, and that the fourth round, fifth round, and the quarterfinals all will be exclusive of Premier League fixtures for the first time.

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