Sky are getting serious about the EFL rights deal but could lose games to BT Sport

SKY is getting serious about the size of its EFL coverage offering with TV deals now up for grabs.

The broadcaster doesn’t want to lose the championship coverage award as bids come in ahead of Thursday’s meeting.

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But streaming specialists Viaplay and new partners from BT Sport want a piece of the action.

Sky is keen not to lose subscribers, including many in the EFL community.

As we previously reported, BT Sport’s suspended match-of-the-day presenter Gary Linkeker has already been offered a more conventional new role as part of the planned summer switchover to TNT Sports.

They want the 62-year-old ex-England star to be the face of their new venture, which includes Premier League and Champions League coverage.

The popular presenter has been suspended from presenting Beeb’s Premier League highlights show due to an ongoing row with the BBC over his tweets.

Lineker previously worked for BT Sport between 2015 and 2021 and has presented Match of the Day since 1999.

He decided to step down to watch his beloved Leicester on their European journey in the Europa Conference League last season as Brendan Rodgers’ side reached the semi-finals.

And Lineker was at King Power Stadium today to watch the Foxes in action against Chelsea after expectedly becoming vacant.

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It comes as the veteran broadcaster sparked a free speech spat when it likened the government’s plans to ban migrants arriving on small boats from settling in Britain to “1930s Germany”.

The BBC said Lineker’s criticism of the Government’s Illegal Migration Act on Twitter was a “breach of our policies”.

The pundit was then forced to back down from his presenting duties on the flagship football show – which he has been presenting since 1999 – pending a “clear position” on his use of social media.

However, his suspension wreaked havoc when numerous Match of the Day co-hosts refused to appear in solidarity with the veteran host.

Ian Wright, Alan Shearer, Jermaine Jenas, Alex Scott, Mark Chapman and Micah Richards all refused to step in amid the chaos.

The show’s commentary team is also stepping down – meaning the show will go ahead with no hosts, pundits or commentators.

This means that the show will only be highlights and will only last 20 minutes.