Football fans in the UK are simply spoiled with options to watch and follow their favourite sport. The Premier League is one of the biggest and most famous leagues in the world, with fans worldwide. UK fans, however, have more. They have the EFL, their local teams, and now, thanks to a 5-year deal, the chance to watch more games at a higher level than ever before.

So, what does Sky Sports’ new 5-year broadcasting deal mean for you? Let’s get into it:

More than 1000 Matches Per Season

One of the biggest reasons to be celebrating this massive deal is that you get to watch more games without a blackout. This means you can watch more games from every UK-based league.

It gives you even more opportunities to watch games, follow and fall in love with new teams, and watch the progress of hot up-and-comers like Wrexham. If you are a bettor, this is brilliant news, as it gives you even more opportunities to bet on smaller events that mean more to you because they’re closer to home.

It also means that betting sites will follow suit, giving bettors more options to bet with the payment method they prefer. The top Trustly betting sites for football already include big names like Bet365, and with more EFL games to cover, it’s only expected that UK-based betting sites will also ramp up their coverage.

Match Coverage by Competition

As for how those 1000 matches get split up, the list goes as follows:

328 Sky Bet Championship matches 248 Sky Bet League One matches 248 Sky Bet League Two matches 93 Carabao Cup matches All 15 Play-Off matches All 127 EFL Trophy matches

This record-breaking domestic rights deal means that fans all around the UK and beyond will have more opportunities than ever before to watch their teams play. It also means big money for the teams themselves, with £895m of guaranteed payments to be made to all EFL teams throughout the five years.

Bigger Productions for Games

It isn’t just the number of games that are being shown that’s improved, either. Sports fans will also be able to enjoy bigger and better productions. This means more cameras on the matches, higher production value, and even more famous commentators coming in to take fans through the game.

Blackouts – Are they Still Happening?

Yes, Article 48 is still in place, meaning that games occurring between 2.45pm and 5.15pm are still going to be blacked out, encouraging fans to visit stadiums and games in person. All other games, however, are covered in this new deal.

Where to Watch

You can watch these games across Sky Sports channels or streaming devices, meaning you can watch on your TV or mobile. If you aren’t signed up to sky, then don’t worry. You can sign up for a NOW day pass, or a month membership. This way, if you’re strapped for cash, you can save your money until the last legs of each season.