BBC SPORT | Football | League agrees �95m TV deal

The Football League has agreed a �95m deal with satellite broadcasters Sky to show matches over the next four years.

The agreement will initially televise live League football, Worthington Cup and LDV Trophy games.

The deal will be worth �20m in the first season.

Sky intends to broadcast live matches on Saturday evenings at 5.35pm, along with some games on Friday evening and Sunday afternoons.

The League could also agree a deal for a highlights package.

The deal will see:

60 live Nationwide League matches per season, with 50 from Division One.
Play-off finals screened live, and the possibility of showing six other play-off games live.
Two live games from each round of the the Worthington Cup plus the semi-finals and final.
Live coverage of the LDV Vans Trophy final.
Matches will be screened on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The deal brings fresh hope to a number of financially-crippled clubs who were left facing a bleak future after the collapse of the ITV Digital television deal.

The rights reverted to the League after the collapse, and they have now returned to Sky in a deal which will see more than 300 live matches shown between now and the end of the 2005-6 season.

Football League chief executive David Burns said in a statement: "This is great news for the Football League and its clubs.

Deon Burton celebrates Stoke's Division Two play-off win over Brentford last season
Play-off finals will also be televised

"This agreement will help to provide financial stability to clubs at a very important time, as well as top-class coverage of our games." Vic Wakeling, managing director of Sky Sports said in a statement: "Sky are delighted to be involved with The Football League and we hope that the clubs can now plan for the future.

The League will press ahead with legal action against the owners of ITV Digital, Carlton and Granada, at the High Court in London on 26 July.


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