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Where EFL football is broadcast
| Broadcaster | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Sky Sports / Sky Sports+ | The main UK live rights: over 1,000 matches a season across the Championship, League One, League Two and the Carabao Cup |
| ITV / ITVX | A small number of live Championship and Carabao Cup matches free-to-air, simulcast with Sky, plus highlights |
Every Championship, League One and League Two club appears live on Sky many times a season. Weekend games are concentrated in Friday-night, Saturday-lunchtime and Sunday slots. The Saturday 3pm blackout still applies.
Following your club
- Club and EFL websites list which of your team’s matches are on TV.
- Sky Sports+ in the Sky Sports app carries many of the extra matches, included for Sky Sports subscribers.
- Free highlights are available on ITV and ITVX after each matchday.
The Saturday 3pm blackout explained
UK broadcasters may not show live football between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on Saturdays. The rule is meant to protect attendances across the football pyramid, so 3pm Saturday kick-offs are not on UK TV. Matches are moved to Friday nights, Saturday lunchtimes, Saturday evenings and Sundays to be broadcast. Midweek fixtures are not affected by the blackout.
The season at a glance
- August to May: the league season, with matches most weekends and regular midweek rounds.
- Carabao Cup: early rounds start in August, and the final is played at Wembley.
- Play-offs: in May, the clubs finishing just below the automatic promotion places play off, with the finals at Wembley.
Kick-off times are often confirmed only a few weeks ahead, as broadcasters pick their games. Check your club’s fixture list regularly.
Watching EFL matches smoothly
Midweek evening matches coincide with peak broadband use. A wired connection, a capable device and the steps in our buffering guide make the biggest difference.
Before a big match:
- Restart your device and open the app 15 minutes early so any updates finish first.
- Use a wired connection, or move the router closer to the TV.
- Check your screens if more than one person is watching on different devices. See multi-screen plans.
Be wary of “every EFL match” IPTV offers
Offers to show every EFL game, including 3pm Saturday kick-offs, are unlicensed. See Is IPTV legal in the UK?.
Sources: Sky Sports: how to watch your EFL team live and Sky Sports and ITV free-to-air EFL deal.