'Significant financial boost' to League clubs, Football League say in statement.
Football League clubs meeting at St. Georgeâs Park near Burton yesterday have received a significant financial boost on two fronts with the news that the League has extended its current broadcasting agreement with Sky Sports and concluded a new âSolidarityâ agreement with the Premier League.The Football League and Sky Sports have agreed a further one season extension to their existing domestic broadcasting agreement covering the 2018/19 season, with the League also having an option to extend the arrangement into 2019/20. The agreement, across its initial four seasons, is the most lucrative in The Football Leagueâs history with 148 matches per season from the Sky Bet Football League, Capital One Cup and Johnstoneâs Paint Trophy being broadcast live on Sky Sports along with highlights and clips from all three competitions. It also encompasses television, broadband internet, Sky On Demand and mobile services.
The Football Leagueâs Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey, said: âSky Sports have demonstrated, once again, their outstanding commitment to The Football League and its clubs. In extending this agreement weâve delivered greater financial certainty to clubs for at least the next four seasons which Iâm sure will be welcomed in boardrooms and by supporters across the country.â
Barney Francis, the Managing Director of Sky Sports said: âWe are pleased to extend our agreement with The Football League, and provide further security to the 72 clubs long into the future. Sky Sports viewers will have more of the drama and excitement that is part and parcel of The Football League and its cup competitions.
âThe Football League is part of Sky Sportsâ unrivalled schedule that includes Premier League, England cricket, The Ashes, three of golfâs four majors and Ryder Cup, England Rugby Union, F1 and many more of the sports that matter.â
Additionally, The Football League and Premier League have concluded a new 'rolling' Solidarity agreement that will see a proportion of Premier League television revenues re-distributed to Football League clubs from 2016/17. It provides the first contracted link between the broadcasting revenues of the two domestic professional leagues since the formation of the Premier League in 1992.Â
Under the agreement, parachute payments to relegated Premier League clubs will be reduced from the current four season to three seasons, with Championship clubs (that are not in receipt of parachute payments) being awarded a solidarity payment equivalent to 30% of a third-year parachute payment. League 1 and League 2 clubs will receive 4.5% and 3% of a third-year payment, respectively.
Football League Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: âThe eventual level of parachute and solidarity payments made to Football League clubs from 2016/17 will only be known once the Premier League has concluded the sale of its overseas rights. Nevertheless, given the scale of its domestic agreement, it seems reasonable to expect that the eventual amounts paid to Football League clubs will be substantially greater than those weâve seen previously and could amount to more than ÂŁ100m per season.
"This agreement is hugely significant for the domestic game, not just for The Football League, but also the Premier League and the England team, both of which benefit from a vibrant and financially sustainable set of clubs beneath the top division that will continue to invest in the players and managers of the future."