THE Football League has agreed groundbreaking overseas broadcasting contracts, worth £24m over three seasons, beginning in 2009/10.

The new agreements represent an increase in revenue of almost 300% on existing arrangements and follow the £264m deal, announced earlier this season, with Sky Sports and BBC Sport for domestic broadcasting rights.

For the first time, The League has split its worldwide rights across a number of different partners. The new agreements will see four different broadcasters and agencies holding the rights to show League and Carling Cup matches in Africa and the Middle East, whilst IMG will market The League's rights to the rest of the globe.

In total, The Football League will have 6 overseas broadcasting partners from August 2009.They are:

IMG - Worldwide (excluding Africa and Middle East)
Pitch International - Middle East
Hi TV - Nigeria (part)
Supersport - South Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa (part), Nigeria (part)
GTV - Sub Saharan Africa (part)
Perform - Live online rights for betting websites

In announcing The League's new overseas broadcasting arrangements Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney said:

"The Football League prides itself on producing some of the most competitive and exciting league and cup football in the world game.

"These arrangements, which reflect a huge increase in resources for our clubs, demonstrate that the global football audience is increasingly recognising this too.

"I would like to welcome all our new broadcasting partners to working with The League and its clubs."