The English Football League (EFL) and Carabao Cup have found a new broadcasting home in the United States. CBS Sports has officially become the exclusive American broadcaster of these high-profile English competitions, previously held by ESPN.
The EFL comprises of three divisions: the second-tiered Championship, League One, and League Two. The Carabao Cup, also known as the League Cup, is an annual knockout tournament founded in 1960. These matches will now be available across CBS Sports’ platforms.
CBS Sports plans to broadcast at least 250 total EFL matches each season over a four-year period. This move marks a significant shift for soccer fans who have been accustomed to watching these games on ESPN. In addition to these competitions, CBS Sports has also secured broadcasting rights to another annual tournament - Bristol Street Motors Trophy (EFL Trophy). This competition is open to all EFL teams from Championship through League Two levels but excludes Premier League clubs apart from their U21 teams.
Breakdown of games across competitions
According to an official announcement by the EFL, the distribution of games across competitions is well-structured. The Championship, being the highest level in EFL, will have at least 155 out of 250 games each season broadcasted on CBS Sports. This ensures that viewers get a substantial amount of action from this top-tier league.
Additionally, fans can look forward to a minimum of 38 fixtures from both League One and League Two divisions including promotion playoff matches available on CBS network. This gives exposure to lower-tier teams and provides a comprehensive view of English football leagues. Lastly, soccer enthusiasts can also enjoy at least 30 Carabao Cup games annually on CBS sports which adds variety with its knockout tournament format.
This distribution ensures that viewers get a taste of all levels within English football leagues while focusing primarily on top-tier championship matches.
Growing popularity of soccer on CBS
Trevor Birch, CEO at EFL specifically highlighted America's expanding soccer market when announcing this deal. His comments are backed by increasing popularity for recent soccer coverage provided by CBS sports with presenters like Kate Abdo, Thierry Henry and Micah Richards gaining acclaim for their UEFA Champions League and Europa League presentations.
Trevor Birch, the chief executive officer at 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. This is an exciting time for the league and our clubs, and we look forward to sharing our matches with viewers across the United States.”
The new EFL agreement is set to give CBS Sports, and particularly its streaming service Paramount+, a significant boost. Paramount+ has been the home for most of UEFA’s major tournament matches and Serie A matches in the past.
EFL games will also air on CBS Sports Network and the CBS Sports Golazo Network. The 2024/25 EFL season's opening match between Blackburn and Derby County on August 9th will be available on both Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network, while Preston North End faces Sheffield United simultaneously on Paramount+ and the CBS Sports Golazo Network.
While not every single English game will hit these networks, fans can turn to iFollow to catch remaining matches. This service comes with a fee but is available for users outside the United Kingdom. This move by CBS Sports marks an exciting time for soccer fans in America as they get ready to enjoy more English football action across various platforms.
