The EFL has announced a new broadcasting rights deal with Sky Sports worth £600 million which will run for five years from the start of the 2019/20 campaign.
The new deal - financially a 36 per cent year-on-year increase on the current agreement - will see Sky cover up to 183 matches a season - a 26 per cent increase - in the Championship, League One, League Two, the play-offs, the Carabao Cup and the Checkatrade Trophy.
Among the new developments will be Sky showing 16 Championship matches on Tuesday and Wednesday evenings each season.
The new arrangement will also see clubs offered the chance to live-stream games which aren’t being shown live by Sky via iFollow in the UK and Ireland as long as they don’t take place in the 2.45pm to 5.15pm blocked Saturday period. Sky will also stream those matches via their interactive and digital services.
EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "Sky Sports has for many years been a hugely important and valued partner of the EFL and we are delighted to extend our relationship by a further five years.
"I would like to thank all those who submitted bids and we now look forward to working with the Sky Sports team as they cement their position as the broadcast home of live EFL matches.
"These negotiations came at what was an incredibly challenging period in the sale and acquisition of sports rights in the UK and, having fully tested the market, we believe that not only has a significant increase in value for our clubs been achieved, but also the very best deal, with the best partner has been delivered.
"In agreeing a deal over five seasons, it delivers a guaranteed increase in the level of income distributed to EFL clubs from 2019/20 and long-term financial certainty was an absolute priority throughout this process.
"It is a partnership that as well as having mutual tangible benefits, allows the EFL to maximise reach and exposure for its competitions, alongside providing further opportunities for clubs to generate additional incremental revenues through iFollow.
"The new opportunity for EFL clubs to live-stream their matches through a direct to consumer service in the UK is a revolutionary and exciting step forward for football broadcasting rights in the UK and we will monitor its progress closely to determine how this model can be considered for future EFL rights cycles.”"
"Barney Francis, managing director of Sky Sports, added: "This is great news for EFL fans and our viewers, with more live games than ever before and more opportunities for fans to watch their teams live.
"With a new dedicated football channel, newly-enhanced digital platforms, adding more games means Sky Sports is getting even better for football fans.
"Securing the EFL strengthens the Sky Sports service even further with the rights that matter most to our customers.
""Viewing of live EFL games grew by 12 per cent year-on-year last season, and is up a further seven per cent so far this season. Fans value our live EFL coverage and we are delighted to be able to offer even more in the coming years.”