Everything a Blackpool supporter should know about the planned changes to the 2024/25 League One season. Blackpool have learned more about the English Football League’s £935 million agreement with broadcaster Sky Sports.
The EFL, which is paying £340 million more than its previous arrangement, will remain the primary broadcaster for the Championship, League One, and League Two. As a result, more games will be aired than ever before, and Sky Sports provided us with some insight into how it will all operate on Wednesday afternoon.
New app launched.
Sky Sports has announced that they will introduce a new app called Sky Sports Plus. It will be part of the Sky TV package, serving as an extra channel on the boxes, as well as appearing on NOW TV and a redesigned Sky Sports mobile app. They claim that up to 100 live events can run on the app at once, providing more options than ever before and a better user experience, including the ability to pause, rewind, and use other interactive features.
Sky Sports Plus is practically replacing iFollow. iFollow was a popular feature among supporters during the 2019/20 and 2020/21 seasons, when they were unable to attend games due to COVID-19 limitations. A few clubs did have their own outlets, including Blackpool’s Tangerine TV.
Tangerine TV and other platforms will continue to exist for individuals outside of the United Kingdom, however in the UK, they will only offer audio commentary.
League One fixture schedule
The EFL has committed to showing ten live matches, six of which will take place on Saturday at 12.30 p.m. Three Championship games will begin at that time, as will two League One and League Two fixtures.
Four other games will be shown on Sky Sports throughout the weekend, albeit these are typically reserved for Championship games. Every League One and League Two team will be broadcast live on Sky at least 20 times next season.
The majority of matches will not be relocated and will begin at their usual time of 3 p.m. on Saturday. As previously stated, four clubs will have their games televised every weekend at a Saturday lunchtime kickoff.
Sky Sports has made a commitment to causing as little inconvenience to supporters as possible with their broadcast selections. All live matches selected for transmission up until the FA Cup third round, which is generally held in the second week of January, will take place prior to the season starting. League games for August and September will be released in early July, and there will be more balance in the number of times a club is selected, so it will not be the same team every week.
The EFL said that Blackpool would learn their 2024/25 fixture schedule on Wednesday, June 26 at 9:00 a.m.
Which Blackpool matches can I watch?
The 2023/24 League One season begins on Saturday, August 10, and all Blackpool matches, home and away, will be webcast from the comfort of your own armchair.
The 3.00 pm blackout, technically known as Article 48, will remain in effect, although not for the first weekend of the season. All games from the Championship, League One, and League Two will be broadcast. Fans can also watch all midweek games, as well as matches on bank holidays such as Easter, Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day, as well as the season’s final game.
Supporters can now watch Carabao Cup matches online for the first time, and the Bristol Street Motors Trophy will also be available on the Sky Sports Plus platform.
How much will it cost?
Sky Sports claims that all of this will be included at no additional cost to Sky Sports subscribers. Fans who aren’t Sky Sports subscribers but want to watch their club can get a Now TV for a one-time payment of £14.99, or a month membership for £34.99 each month or £26 for six months. It is a modest increase over the £9.99 you would pay for a Match Pass on iFollow.
Leave a Reply