DAZN are planning an audacious bid to stream every EFL game - a move that would end the 3pm blackout rule in the lower leagues. Reports last year suggested the EFL are considering their options ahead of the next broadcasting cycle.
As it stands, Sky Sports show 138 games per season across all three divisions but only two Championship fixtures are televised each weekend. A report by Deloitte in 2020 claimed second-tier clubs are spending 107 per cent of their revenue on player wages - a knock-on effect of the Premier League’s allure.
Gambling to reach the promised land has resulted in countless sides suffering financial difficulties in recent years. Derby County are perhaps the most famous example but Reading, Queens Park Rangers and even league leaders Burnley have faced uncertainty.
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Exploring more lucrative broadcasting options, with Sky Sports’ current deal expiring at the end of 2023-24, could drastically revamp English football. According to iNews, multinational media giant DAZN have launched a bid to become the new home of the EFL.
Like lower-league clubs, DAZN have also suffered financial problems of their own. The streaming service, known predominantly in the UK for its boxing coverage, recorded an annual loss of £1.9billion in January.
They are, however, no strangers to football, winning the rights to showcase the Premier League in Spain and Andorra. It hoped that adding the EFL their its stable will help boost its underwhelming UK subscriber base.
Removing the 3pm blackout move would be seen as a seismic event in England. In place since the 1960s, the rule prevents football from being broadcast between 2.45pm and 5.15pm - to prevent match attendances from dwindling.
The argument has become less convincing in recent years and DAZN argue the current setup is outdated and repels young supporters. In another bold move, it is suggested that the service plans to replicate the NFL’s “RedZone”, a show allowing fans to watch each goal as they go in.
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