Championship Clubs Opposing Sky TV Deal Struggle To Find Alternate

Andrea Radrizzani has until 4pm Monday to come up with an alternative package.GETTY IMAGES

League Championship clubs that want to "rip up" the English Football League’s new £590M ($757M) TV deal with Sky are said to be "struggling to find an alternative main backer for the 72 clubs below the Premier League," according to Paul Hayward of the London TELEGRAPH. At a meeting on Monday, a group led by Leeds United, Aston Villa and Derby County will "attempt to force the EFL board to back out of a five-year arrangement with Sky" that would provide around £120M ($154M) per season until '24. The clubs want the 72 to be able to split their rights packages to take advantage of technological changes such as live streaming and OTT subscriptions. But industry rumors suggest DAZN and BT Sport have "not been persuaded to outbid Sky," which leaves Andrea Radrizzani, the owner of Leeds United and broadcaster Eleven Sports, "limited time to come up with an alternative package before Monday's 4pm deadline" (TELEGRAPH, 11/18).