As a passionate soccer fan with a deep appreciation for the rich history and culture of the game, I couldn’t be more thrilled about CBS Sports securing the U.S. TV rights to the English Football League (EFL). Having closely followed the journeys of Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in their quest to transform Wrexham into a formidable soccer team, I can’t help but feel a strong connection to this new development. The fact that CBS Sports is now bringing at least 250 EFL games to American audiences through Paramount+, CBS Sports Network, and CBS Sports Golazo Network is an exciting prospect.
Following Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s success in promoting a Welsh fifth-tier soccer team to the English Football League, CBS Sports has acquired the American broadcasting rights for the three lower divisions leading up to the prestigious Premier League.
Starting from the 2022-2025 term up to the 2027-2028 season, CBS Sports has secured a four-year agreement to broadcast at least 250 games featuring various EFL competitions, including the Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao Cup, and Bristol Street Motors Trophy. The matches will begin in August and can be streamed on Paramount+. Some games will also be shown on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.
The Premier League will remain on NBCUniversal’s NBC Sports platform, where viewers can watch top soccer matches on NBC, Peacock, and USA Network. Previously, Reynolds and McElhenney experienced the promotion of their team, Wrexham, to League One in the EFL, which was documented in the Emmy-winning FX series “Welcome to Wrexham” on CBS Sports.
Americans were able to enjoy an uplifting perspective of English soccer through Apple TV+’s show “Ted Lasso.” This series focuses on AFC Richmond, a fictional team that draws inspiration from Premier League soccer teams and found themselves relegated to the Championship league by the end of the first season – which is the second highest soccer division in Britain.
“We’re excited about the engaging narratives and rising fan base of the EFL, and with our top-notch broadcasting, we aim to boost its recognition in the US even more,” expressed Dan Weinberg, programming VP at CBS Sports, regarding the EFL TV rights agreement for the US market.
Since 2013, NBC Sports has been the exclusive U.S. broadcaster for the Premier League, taking over from Fox Sports who had the rights from 1998 to 2013. The current six-year deal between NBC Sports and the English soccer league started in 2022 and is estimated to be worth $2.7 billion ($450 million per season), extending until the end of the 2027-28 season.
Read More
Sorry. No data so far.
2024-07-18 17:55