ITV have secured broadcasting rights to show highlights across English Football League (EFL) on a two-year contract.
This new deal will see Quest’s four-season deal for EFL highlights come to an end at the conclusion of the current season, having claimed the rights from Channel Five in 2018 with ITV’s contract covering 2022-23 & 23-24 seasons.
Despite the change of broadcaster, ITV have committed to broadcasting highlights live in primetime from 9pm on Saturday evenings on ITV4 as has been the normal slot for EFL highlights since Channel Five gained the highlights rights in 2015.
ITV will then air two repeat showings on their main free-to-air channel with the first repeat broadcast later on Saturday evenings in a post 11pm slot following BBC’s Match of the Day, whilst a second repeat airing will be transmitted on Sunday mornings.
Highlights of midweek rounds will be broadcast across ITV and ITV Hub with in-depth analysis from expert pundits, of who will be unveiled closer to the start of ITV’s coverage this Summer.
ITV will also broadcast extensive coverage of semi-finals and finals in the promotion Play-Offs as well as highlights of each round within Carabao Cup.
Although the Papa John’s Trophy won’t receive increased live coverage than under the current contract, ITV will air a hour-long highlights programme on ITV4 on day of the final.
EFL and ITV have also agreed a deal which will see each highlights programme made available for catch-up on ITV Hub for 30 days after date of first broadcast.
EFL Chief Executive, Trevor Birch has welcomed this new deal as he commented: “With 1891 matches played across the season, it’s crucial for the EFL that the very best of our match action is widely accessible and we are delighted that ITV will show highlights of our games for the next two years.
“As an experienced major broadcaster with a comprehensive sports portfolio, ITV’s commitment to high quality coverage will showcase the breadth and depth of our competitions to football supporters all over the country.”
ITV’s Director of Sport – Niall Sloane meanwhile is confident that football fans will welcome the return of EFL action to ITV since the controversial ITV Digital collapse in 2002, which saw several clubs consequently fall into administration but eventually survive.
Sloane though is hopeful that fans will be eager to give ITV another chance as he said: “By offering highlights across our platforms, via our channels and on demand on ITV Hub, we hope football fans will enjoy our EFL shows from next season.”
This move sees the EFL become the latest addition to ITV’s growing ‘portfolio of world-class sports rights,’ which currently include;
- England Men’s Football Team
- England Women’s Football Team
- FA Cup
- Six Nations Rugby
- Rugby World Cup
- Premiership Rugby
- Horse Racing
- Tour De France
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