UK pay-television broadcaster Sky has entered into exclusive talks with the English Football League, which operates the three divisions below the top-tier Premier League, over an extension of its rights deal, according to The Guardian.
The newspaper reported that the talks between the EFL and Sky focus on a three to five-year deal, which would be worth between £500m (€553m/$650m) and £900m.
Sky is said to have beaten rival pay-television broadcaster BT Sport to the rights, which are available from the start of the 2019-20 campaign and cover all EFL matches including the play-offs, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy.
The EFL last month issued an invitation to tender for its domestic live broadcast rights after revealing that it would not be exercising the option to extend its current deal with Sky. That deal expires at the end of the 2018-19 season and Sky appears to have won the battle to retain the rights.
The Guardian also said that ITV is “heavily tipped” to land EFL highlights rights, dislodging rival commercial broadcaster Channel 5 in the process.