Major EFL change will affect QPR, Millwall and other Football League teams

QPR and Millwall are set to benefit financially from a major new broadcast deal struck between the EFL and Sky Sports, although there will be a knock-on impact on supporters in the UK.

Both of the London clubs are currently fighting for survival in the Championship with just three fixtures left to play this season. The Lions sit 16th and are six points clear of the drop zone while it's a more nervy situation at Loftus Road with QPR in 19th, just three points above the relegation zone.

Earlier this year, the EFL announced a new five-year broadcasting deal with Sky Sports, which is worth over £895 million. Clubs such as QPR and Millwall - as well as other EFL sides in London including Watford, Charlton Athletic and Leyton Orient - will see some of that cash, but it comes at a price for fans.

Sky Sports has promised to broadcast 10 EFL matches every week, with from taken from the Championship and the others split between League One and League Two. How these matches are scheduled to comply with the 3 pm blackout remains to be seen but upheaval with early, late and midweek kick-offs seems all but guaranteed.

Sky Sports has already promised to show all opening day fixtures in the EFL, which rules out a Saturday at 3 pm start to the season. The broadcaster and EFL have pledged to provide earlier notice for any fixture changes.

In return, clubs will receive a cash injection from the broadcast of matches. According to the Sunderland Echo, the EFL pays out around £8.5m to clubs in the second tier over the course of the campaign. £5.2m of it is made up of solidarity payments and £3.2m is a basic award payment.

The basic award payment will increase as a result of the new deal which will be 46% more lucrative to QPR, Millwall and their rivals. For each game that is chosen to be broadcast on Sky Sports, a facility fee will be received.

It does mean that supporters in the UK who are regular users of the iFollow platform and club streams will be impacted with matches only available on Sky Sports - although audio passes will still be available. Fans overseas should be able to stream matches via clubs as they can now.