CBS Bags EFL Broadcasting Deal
The English Football League (EFL) has announced a new deal with CBS Sports, marking a major breakthrough for English football fans in the United States.
Starting from the 2024/25 season, CBS Sports will broadcast over 200 matches from the Championship, League One, and League Two on its Paramount+ network. This is the first time that a United States-based broadcaster has acquired rights to broadcast the EFL directly.
The deal is a major coup for the EFL, given the growing popularity of English football in North America. According to EFL CEO Trevor Birch, the league’s broadcast footprint already reaches over 400 million people in 182 territories, making it one of the largest sports leagues in the world.
"With this new deal, we believe that American fans will fall in love with the passion, excitement, and competitiveness of the EFL," Birch said. "This is a huge opportunity for our clubs and for us as a league to share our product with the United States."
The agreement marks the end of ESPN’s exclusive media rights deal, which expired last summer. The US broadcaster had originally acquired the rights to broadcast the EFL in 2013, but its hold on the league has come under threat with the rise of rival US-based networks like CBS.
Fans of teams like Wrexham, Leeds United, Birmingham City, and Preston North End will be particularly pleased with the new deal, given that more matches will now be broadcast to American fans. The first match under the new deal will kick off on the opening weekend of the season, with a packed card of 12 matches set to be shown on CBS Sports’ Paramount+ network.
But what does the new deal mean for fans? The answer lies in the increasing availability of EFL matches online, making it easier than ever for North American fans to watch their favorite clubs in action.
"From [the 2024/25] season, we can expect to see even more high-quality football broadcast from the US," says football writer James Whelan. "The EFL deal is a significant coup for CBS and an exciting development for American football fans who have been eagerly awaiting this day."
What’s next for English football fans in the US?
Keep an eye out for more EFL matches on CBS Sports, Paramount+, and CBS Sports Golazo Network. With this new deal, English football fans in the United States are in for a treat!
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