League defends new broadcasting deal of three years...........

Chairman football league Greg Clarke believes clubs will “take heart” from the new deal of broadcasting with sky sports. He says that the new three-year broadcasting deal worth 195 million pounds- even though it represents a £69million drop on the current deal. The new contract is effective from the start of the season 2012/13 and still free-to-air highlights package to be agreed. And it will be 20% to 25% below the current deal with sky sports and BBC, which was the worth of 264 million pounds.

            He said: “I am confident that our clubs will take heart from seeing the significant ongoing investment in their competitions and despite a reduced level of broadcasting income. He added that this is challenging climate in which to negotiate TV rights.”

According to the new agreement Sky Sports will broadcast 75 matches from across the npower Football League, the play-offs including all three finals, 15 matches from the Carling Cup including both legs of each semi-final and the final, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy Final and at least two matches from the preceding rounds. The highlight of these matches also the part of the agreement.