Paramount+ Deploys EFL Championship as Entry Point for English Football

Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network are initiating their coverage of the EFL Championship, as CBS Sports first reported, positioning the second-tier English league as a driver for soccer viewership on the platform. The promotion push begins Friday, Aug. 14, with a match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers airing on both Paramount+ and CBS Sports Network.

The Championship consists of 24 teams competing in a grueling 46-game schedule, all vying for promotion to the Premier League, which CBS Sports describes as one of sports' most lucrative rewards. This structure creates a competitive environment that attracts a diverse array of clubs, including newly relegated sides like Wolverhampton Wanderers, West Ham United, and Burnley, as well as ambitious outfits like Wrexham and Middlesbrough.

Furthermore, the league acts as a talent incubator, drawing players who view the division as a stepping stone to more prestigious European leagues. The current season features a significant contingent of U.S. international talent, which broadens the domestic appeal for Paramount+ subscribers. CBS Sports reports that Middlesbrough has signed U.S. World Cup team members Max Arfsten and Sebastian Berhalter, who join fellow U.S. international Aidan Morris. Other Americans in the league include George Campbell at West Brom, Kristoffer Lund at Birmingham City (owned by Tom Brady's ownership group), Damion Downs at Southampton, and Charlie Kelman at Charlton Athletic. Derby County also features Patrick Agyemang, though he is currently sidelined with an ACL tear.

By securing the Championship, Paramount+ is building a dedicated soccer audience. This strategy allows the streamer to capture the inherent drama of the promotion race—exemplified by Wolves adding veterans Raul Jimenez and Kieran Trippier to facilitate a quick return to the top flight—while establishing a footprint in English football before the next Premier League rights cycle begins.