With the new EFL broadcast deal coming into effect for the 2024/25 campaign, we can provide an update on how this impacts Wanderers supporters and the club’s in-house Wanderers TV channel ahead of the forthcoming season.
Last year, EFL clubs approved a proposal put forward by the EFL Board and Commercial Committee to enter into a new five-year broadcasting deal with Sky Sports.
This deal now means that over 1000 of the 1891 EFL games each season (EFL, EFL Cup, Bristol Street Motors Trophy) are set to be broadcast throughout the campaign.
As a result, the club would like to provide some clarity on what it means for Wanderers TV.
For supporters based in the UK and Ireland, Wanderers TV will no longer be able to provide live video streaming services to anyone based domestically – for any fixture.
For Wanderers fans located internationally, live streaming will continue as per the 2023/24 season. This means that there will be seasonal, monthly and game-by-game availability for supporters around the globe to back the boys for every game.
This was put in operation from 1st July 2024, with packages now available for the upcoming season for both streaming products and Wanderers TV packages, for supporters outside the UK.
See Available Subscriptions Here
Neil Hart, Chief Executive Officer at Bolton Wanderers, said: “The new, enhanced broadcast deal will provide more live EFL games on Sky Sports than ever before.
“While we understand the scheduling of fixtures for the 2024/25 season and beyond will vary, it’s fantastic news that we already have our live Sky fixtures for August and September. Before the start of the season, we will also receive our Sky selections scheduled before the weekend of the FA Cup Third Round in early January, allowing both the club and our fans to plan accordingly.
“In addition, due to the history and size of our fantastic Football Club we have thousands of supporters located around the world, so the fact that we can continue to live stream games across Wanderers TV to territories across the globe is brilliant. Therefore, I would urge international supporters to continue to sign up to Wanderers TV and support the club in this way.
“Can I place on record our thanks to the Bolton Wanderers Supporters Trust for their continued feedback on Wanderers TV, with reference to the high number of supporter groups we have abroad including BWFC Latinoamerica, BWSC Norway, BWFC USA and so many more – you will still be able to access Wanderers TV internationally to watch live games, we thank you for your support.
“Our Wanderers TV channel is now 12 months into operation and whilst the new TV deal domestically has changed the landscape slightly, it now has a solid base for us now to enhance the product moving forward. We know that supporters are wanting to see more behind-the-scenes content, and that is what we are planning on implementing.
“We have seen glimpses of that already with new segments in the off-season, emphasising the steps being taken to move to the next level with the aim of providing supporters with further insight into their Football Club.”
Wanderers TV - Further Explained
Our in-house TV channel will remain open to both domestic and international supporters, with monthly and seasonal passes available for purchase at just £5 per month, or £50 annually.
This will give fans access to all on-demand videos on the channel, with live audio commentary of every game, starting from our opening day trip to Leyton Orient, included in your subscription.
With full match replays, highlights, exclusive interviews, archive footage and so much more to come as we look to enhance the TV channel in the coming months, it’s a must-have product for all Wanderers’ fans!
Click Here To Subscribe To Wanderers TV!
Wanderers TV Packages for 2024/25 are as follows:
International
International
Wanderers TV International 2024-25 Season Pass
Price: Early Bird: £140 (until 22nd July). General price: £180 (from 23rd July)
Get full access to the following:
Live video stream of all eligible games
Live audio commentary of every first-team game
Match highlights
Extended highlights
Full match replays
Exclusive behind the scenes content
Exclusive feature content
Classic matches
Archive footage
Wanderers TV International Monthly Pass
Price: £25 per month
This pass auto-renews monthly unless cancelled. Get full access to the following:
Live video streams of all eligible games
Live audio commentary of every first-team game
Match highlights
Extended highlights
Full match replays
Exclusive behind the scenes content
Exclusive feature content
Classic matches
Archive footage
Game-By-Game Match Pass
Price: £10 (per individual game)
Pass will be set up in the days building up to the fixture for supporters to purchase (should the game qualify for streaming).
Game-By-Game Audio Pass
Price: £2.50 (per individual game)
Pass will be set up in the days building up to the fixture for supporters to purchase.
Wanderers TV 2024-25 Seasonal/Monthly Pass (TV CHANNEL ONLY)
Price: £50 (seasonal) / £5 (per month)
Please note, this pass does not include live video streaming of first-team games.
Get full access to the following for the 2024-25 season:
Live audio commentary of every first-team game
Match highlights
Extended highlights
Full match replays
Exclusive behind the scenes content
Exclusive feature content
Archive footage
Domestic (UK and Ireland)
Domestic (UK and Ireland)
Wanderers TV 2024-25 Seasonal/Monthly Pass (TV CHANNEL ONLY)
Price: £50 (seasonal) / £5 (per month)
Please note, this pass does not include live video streaming of first-team games.
Get full access to the following for the 2024-25 season:
Live audio commentary of every first-team game
Match highlights
Extended highlights
Full match replays
Exclusive behind the scenes content
Exclusive feature content
Archive footage
Game-By-Game Audio Pass
Price: £2.50 (per individual game)
Pass will be set up in the days building up to the fixture for supporters to purchase.
Will I be able to watch any games live via domestic streaming?
The short answer is no.
From the 2024/25 season, this new deal will effectively replace the domestic streaming option previously in place on Wanderers TV. This means that live video streaming will not be available for any fixture on Wanderers TV for anyone based in the UK and Ireland.
On-demand content for Wanderers TV (highlights/full match replays/behind the scenes action etc) will be unaffected for those based in the UK and Ireland if you have the relevant WTV subscription.
Will live audio commentary be available for games during this deal?
Yes! Audio commentary with Derek Clark will still be available to both domestic and international supporters on Wanderers TV on a seasonal/monthly/game-by-game basis – this is available through various subscription packages explained above.
Can I live stream games if I am based abroad?
Yes! The existing audio/video based subscriptions models will remain the same for those based overseas.
EFL clubs will be able to continue international streaming services to fans internationally, where matches are not being broadcast exclusively, with a number of packages available to purchase now.
Early Bird seasonal passes are available to Wanderers’ fans based overseas for just £140.
Will Article 48 (3pm blocked broadcasting period) remain?
Yes. The new deal allows for ‘Article 48’, the blocked broadcast period between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturday afternoons to remain, meaning that main broadcast fixtures will be scheduled for outside of this time.
How much notice will be given to clubs and supporters for games being moved for broadcast?
The new deal has committed to providing clubs and supporters with longer notice periods for when games will be moved for TV selections. The full notice period is as follows:
- Selections for all matches to be played before the end of September have already been confirmed. Click here to read on how this impacts us.
- Before the start of the season, selections shall be made in respect of all matches scheduled to be played prior to the end of the third round of the FA Cup (January 2025).
- By November 1, selections shall be made in respect of all matches to be played between the end of the third round proper of the FA Cup and the first weekend of March.
- Selections for matches scheduled after the first weekend in March will be made on a four-week rolling basis starting from February 1 (e.g. a selection for the first weekend in April will be selected in the first weekend in March).
How many games will be available for broadcast across the EFL?
This deal now means that over 1000 of the 1891 EFL games each season (EFL, EFL Cup, Bristol Street Motors Trophy) are set to be broadcast throughout the campaign.
This breaks down as the following:
- 328 Sky Bet Championship matches
- 248 Sky Bet League One matches
- 248 Sky Bet League Two matches
- All 15 Play-Off matches
- All 93 Carabao Cup matches
- All 127 Bristol Street Motors Trophy matches
These games will be broadcast on already existing Sky Sports channels or via Sky Sports+ - a new offering that will be integrated into Sky TV – with every club being showcased more than 20 times next season across the network.
All opening, final day, and midweek fixtures in the EFL will be shown live on Sky, as will all games played on Bank Holidays including Easter, Boxing Day and New Year's Day alongside the matches played in Sky Bet League One and League Two during international breaks.
For further details on Sky Sports+ and the new EFL Broadcasting deal, please click here.