The English Football League (EFL) is set for US growth after agreeing a new multi-year broadcast rights deal with CBS.
The exclusive deal will see up to 250 EFL matches from across the Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao Cup and Bristol Streets Motors Trophy competitions available for US audiences once the upcoming 2024/25 season commences in August.
This means that there will be more available EFL matches to watch in the US than ever before, marking a new opportunity for clubs across the three lower leagues of English football to establish and grow their support in the US.
The total CBS Sports package includes all 15 EFL play-off games, a minimum of 155 Championship fixtures, a minimum of 38 League One and League Two matches, 30 Carabao Cup matches and three Bristol Street Motors Trophy games.
Selected matches will also air on Paramount+, with others being aired on the CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network. The deal will expire at the end of the 2027/28 season.
Trevor Birch, CEO of the EFL, said: “Appetite for football in the North American markets has been growing year on year, and this partnership with CBS Sports and their leadership in covering the sport marks a significant milestone.
“The EFL is already broadcast to a global audience of 400 million across 182 territories, beaming into more than 250 million homes outside of the UK.”
At the end of the 2023/24 season, the EFL ranked as the highest-attended league body in Europe with 21.5 million fans attending Championship, League One or League Two fixtures.
Football is experiencing a new growth phase in the US following the arrival of Lionel Messi to Inter Miami last summer, as well as recently hosting the 2024 Copa Ámerica and the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.
There have also been clubs within the EFL embarking on their own journeys to grow their profile in the country, such as the Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney-owned Wrexham AFC, about to enter the US for the second consecutive year for its pre-season tour.
The Welsh club was also in reported talks with US-owned Birmingham City on hosting its League One fixtures in the US, although this was swiftly shot down by the EFL.
CBS has also been solidifying itself as a home of European football in the past several years. The sports network’s coverage of the UEFA Champions League has received plaudits from across both sides of the Atlantic, with its UCL Today show panellists Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards helping to drive the show’s popularity.
In regards to the new EFL deal, Dan Weinberg, Executive Vice President of Programming at CBS Sports, is looking forward to growing the popularity of the EFL within the US.
He said: “The exciting action and prestige of the EFL, as the oldest league in the world, adds tremendous value to CBS Sports’ premium soccer portfolio.
“With the EFL’s compelling storylines and growing popularity coupled with our first-class coverage, we look forward to further elevating this league in the US. CBS Sports continues to be the premier destination for European football fans in this country with Paramount+ and CBS Sports Golazo Network as must-haves with their wide array of soccer properties and robust year-round match coverage.
“We believe that American fans will embrace the excitement, tradition and competitiveness that is embodied by our EFL competitions. This is an exciting time for the league and our clubs, and we look forward to sharing our matches with viewers across the US.”
