READING FC were among a number of Championship clubs to agree a contentious new Sky Sports broadcast deal yesterday.

The deal, worth £595m in all or £119m per season, will run from 2019-2024 and is a 35% increase on the previous contract.

The proposal was rubber stamped by the English Football League despite opposition from some clubs including Leeds United, Derby County and Aston Villa.

The trio – who boast bigger matchday attendances than several Premier League clubs – feel the contract undervalues them and does not bring in enough money from live television games.

Reports suggest the three clubs are due to meet today to discuss their next move.

In stark contrast, the Premier League’s three-year deal with Sky and BT Sports is worth a staggering £4.55bn, with Amazon also paying an undisclosed sum for a separate package of games.

It had been feared that up to 15 Championship clubs including Reading could reject the new offer from Sky and explore the idea of forming a breakaway league where they would negotiate their own tv rights.

However, the nine-member EFL board including representatives of Championship clubs Reading, Brentford and Bristol City, decided deal on the table was the best option and will give clubs the opportunity to enhance their own live streaming service.

The new contract covers the Championship, League One and League Two and is split between all 72 clubs depending on the division they are in.

Sky Sports will now show 138 live EFL matches per season including the play-offs, as well as the Carabao Cup final.

Sky also have the option of increasing the number of matches to 158 in the final two years of the new deal.

EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: "The deal we have entered into with Sky, after fully testing the current market through our external advisors, allows our clubs the benefit of financial security which was an absolute priority for us throughout this process.

"It is a partnership that, as well as having the necessary financial benefits, provides the EFL with the platform to maximise reach and exposure for its competitions, alongside providing further opportunities for clubs to monetise some of those games not broadcast on television.”

Sky Sports managing director, Barney Francis, said: “We are delighted to finalise our agreement with the EFL and give certainty to its clubs, their fans and our customers for five more years.”

The new Sky Sports deal includes:

  • 138 league games per season.
  • Minimum of 20 games from League One and League Two.
  • 12 EFL play-off semi-final games.
  • All three play-off finals from Wembley.
  • 15 Carabao Cup games including the final.
  • Checkatrade Trophy semi-finals and final.