CBS Sports Secures Multi-Year Rights Deal for English Football League

CBS Sports has inked a multi-year, multi-platform rights agreement with the English Football League (EFL), marking the widest distribution of EFL soccer matches ever in the U.S. The previous rights holders were ESPN.

The deal, running through the 2027/28 season, will see CBS Sports air at least 250 EFL matches annually across various competitions. The coverage will span the Championship, League One, League Two, Carabao Cup and Bristol Street Motors Trophy. Matches will be available on Paramount+, with select games airing on CBS Sports Network and CBS Sports Golazo Network.

CBS Sports’ coverage will include a minimum of 155 Championship matches, 38 League One and League Two matches, all 15 Play-Off matches, 30 Carabao Cup matches, and three Bristol Street Motors Trophy matches. The opening weekend, set for Aug. 9-12, features matches including Birmingham City, Burnley, Leeds United and Wrexham. Carabao Cup Round One matches are scheduled to begin August 13-14. The EFL, which welcomed 21.5 million fans last season, is broadcast to a global audience of 400 million across 182 territories.

Dan Weinberg, executive VP of programming at CBS Sports, 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.”

Several EFL clubs boast American players and investors, potentially increasing U.S. interest.

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. We believe that American fans will embrace the excitement, tradition, and competitiveness that is embodied by our EFL competitions.”

CBS Sports Golazo Network will provide additional analysis and commentary through its live studio programming. The network is available on various platforms, including Paramount+, CBS Sports App, and several streaming services.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​