AHEAD OF THE GAME

EFL FURY OVER BBC’S £20M CHAMPIONS LEAGUE TV DEAL

THE BBC have angered the EFL by shelling out millions to buy Champions League highlights from 2024 after refusing to make a serious bid for their highlights package last season on the grounds it was too expensive. The three-year deal announced by UEFA last week will cost the BBC about £20million, whereas the broadcaster walked away from talks over weekly EFL highlights of the Championship and Leagues One and Two that would have cost them less than £500,000 a year. ITV snapped up the rights in a welcome boost of profile for the EFL after their highlights were shown on Quest last season. EFL executives are questioning if the BBC’s approach is consistent with their public service remit, as they are choosing to pay vast sums to UEFA, which will largely end up with wealthy foreign clubs rather than supporting local communities in England. This irritation is also felt by other sports — as the BBC have also reduced their coverage of athletics in recent years on the grounds that it does not provide good value for money.