ITV will show a select few Carabao Cup and Championship matches in the UK from 2025 after reaching an agreement with Sky Sports.

Sky has been the rights holder for live Carabao Cup and EFL fixtures for several years but the agreement will see ITV jointly broadcast matches that are also on the subscription network.

ITV will show one match from each of the first four rounds of the Carabao Cup, one additional tie from the third or fourth round, two quarter-finals, one semi-final and the final.

The free-to-air channel will also simulcast 10 matches from each of the full Championship season within the agreement. The deal begins in January 2025, with five Championship games, the Carabao Cup semi-final and final to be shown next season.

The deal with ITV comes ahead of Sky’s new broadcast agreement with the EFL which begins next season. That will see 1,059 matches shown across the EFL’s competitions and all 72 teams shown at least 20 times.

“This deal brings viewers free to air coverage of top level knockout football over the coming years, as well as standout matches from the EFL, adding regular live matches to our highlights shows,” Niall Sloane, ITV director of sport, said: “We’re looking forward to bringing fans some superb action and insight from this new, fuller EFL package across the next few seasons.”

ITV has held the UK highlights rights for EFL games since 2022 and, as part of this new agreement with Sky, that deal will be extended, with 55 highlights programmes to be shown during the 2024-25 season.

“We’re delighted to continue a long-standing relationship with ITV, in partnership with Sky Sports, to deliver an added showcasing of the best of the EFL to a wider audience,” EFL chief executive Trevor Birch added.

“We want the EFL to be accessible to as many audiences as possible, and this extra offering, with no additional subscription required, only enhances our reputation. I’d like to thank both organisations for their ongoing support and genuine commitment to all EFL competitions.”

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