Daily Mail; Sky Sports+ Explained: Everything you need to know about new channel

Story from Daily Mail:

Sky Sports are set to shake up the streaming world this year with the introduction of Sky Sports+.

The project which has been in the making for quite some time now was revealed on Wednesday, May 8.

The new channel which will debut in August 2024, has been developed with the primary aim of improving the broadcasters live coverage of the English Football League (EFL).

The creation of the new channel was given the green light this time last year when the 72 EFL clubs approved a recommendation by the league's board and commercial team to enter into a broad cast deal with the sport broadcasting giants.

So what does it all mean? Will it cost more? and How will it work? Here is everything you need to know about Sky Sports+.

What is Sky Sports+?

As previously stated Sky Sports+ is a new streaming channel which will be introduced at the start of August.

The new channel will have the scope to show up to 100 live events at once.

Although it may appear that the channel will only include EFL matches because of the whopping partnership deal with the football governing body, the channel will also show many other sports.

You will be able to watch every match from the men's rugby Super League, as well as the EFL, whilst major golf and tennis events will also be available for fans to watch on the channel.

How many EFL games will Sky Sports show next season?

Thanks to Sky Sports new broadcast deal with the EFL, the new channel will televise 1,059 EFL fixtures across the season.

The agreement with the two will run for five years from the 2024-25 season until the end of the 2028-29 season.

The sprawling deal is made up of guaranteed payments of £895million, with the addition of a further £40m thanks to marketing benefits.

Sky have revealed that the new channel and deal combined will allow them to show four times more EFL coverage than what they are currently out putting.

The new deal between the pair means that 328 Championship games and 248 League One and Two games will be available to stream for no extra cost, once you are already an existing Sky customer.

Sky Sports+ will also be exclusively showing all the midweek matches from the EFL's three divisions, as well as each game that will be played during international break, every game on the final day of the season and each divisions play-offs.

EFL won't be the only football action being shown on the plus channel, all games from both the Carabao Cup and the EFL trophy will also be broadcast live on the channel.

Does this benefit EFL clubs?

Yes, the new deal signed between the EFL and Sky Sports will witness a 50 percent rise in TV rights income for the clubs.

As of currently, it is estimated that the yearly income for the 72 clubs in the EFL is £119m with an add-on of £7m for streaming income.

The new deal however will see the income increase to £180m with the addition of the £7m for streaming.

Championship sides are projected to benefit the most from the increase as the way the money is distributed is favoured to those who tend to attract more viewers.

Will Sky Sports + cost more?

No... Sky Sports+ will be available free of charge to watch or stream live to existing Sky Sports customers.

Customers will be able to access the channel across all current Sky platforms such as Sky Glass, Sky Stream, Sky Q and NowTV as well as the Sky Shorts app.

The channel was bought in to provide:

Benefits of Sky Sports +:

• Four times as many matches from the EFL with all 72 teams featured more than 20 times per season.
• Every match from the men's Super League.
• Coverage from the ATP & WTA Tours and US Open Tennis.
• PGA Tour golf and more.
• Exclusive access to Sky's great sports documentaries.
• Sky Sports+ offers the capability to show up to 100 events concurrently.
• Customers can enjoy over 50% more live sport this year.
• It is free to access.