Sky’s Football Love Affair Underlined by a Mission to Burnley
Sky has announced the commission of a four-part television series, ‘Mission to Burnley’ that will launch on Sky Documentaries and NOW in September. The Sky Original series is described as “an epic story about the dramatic rebirth of one of England’s most historic clubs under the ownership of a charismatic group of American owners.”
The Burnley manager, Vincent Kompany, is lifted by his celebrating players after winning the 2023 Sky Bet Championship. ©GettyImages
Produced by award-winning indie Ad Hoc Films, the makers of the acclaimed ‘QPR: The Four-Year Plan’ and ‘The United Way’, this premium observational documentary series follows Burnley Football Club owners, ALK Partners, as they seek to navigate the snakes-and-ladders world of modern football.
Led by chairman Alan Pace and inspired by ALK’s faith as members of the Church of Jesus Christ of the Latter-day Saints, the group swapped Wall Street for Turf Moor, Lancashire, with a single vision – to build a global footballing dynasty in Burnley and beyond.
Two Religions but One Goal
Promising unprecedented access to the boardroom, dressing room, and inner workings of the club, Sky says: “Audiences will be taken on a compelling fly-on-the-wall journey with this unique band of owners in a one-team working-class town, where football is a religion in itself”.
Charting the highs and lows of the tumultuous period that starts with the devastation of final-day relegation from the Premier League, the documentary goes on to examine how the club has evolved under the stewardship of one of football’s most exciting young managers, Vincent Kompany.
Football Action at a Pace
A trailer promoting the new documentary appears to encapsulate what Sky describes as “action on and off the pitch, the grit and glamour, the toil and the triumph” as the owners re-group and re-organize the club, despite the relentless challenges and hurdles they must overcome. The result is redemption, with Kompany spearheading an unforgettable title-winning season in style.
Speaking of the documentary, Burnley FC chairman Alan Pace, said: “It’s been a truly unforgettable year, full of stratospheric highs, some daunting lows, and everything in between. I’m delighted Ad Hoc and Sky have been there to capture this incredible journey, in all its emotion, depth, and passion.”
“At its heart, it’s a story of family, faith, friendship, and of course football, set during an amazing time, in a great town, and of course led by a very special manager in Vincent Kompany.”
Sky on the Ball With EFL Rights
Meanwhile, EFL (English Football League) clubs have unanimously approved a record domestic rights deal with Sky Sports – worth £935 million over five years – that will see the platform broadcast over 1,000 matches every season.
Running from the outset of the 2024/25 season until the end of the 2028/29 season, the arrangement will result in 1,059 EFL matches being broadcast exclusively across existing Sky Sports channels or live via a Sky Sports streaming destination available on TV and mobile devices.
The new deal represents a fifty percent increase in the value of the current rights agreement and will see significantly enhanced exposure for all EFL clubs. Each season, Sky Sports will broadcast a minimum of 328 Championship matches, 248 League One matches, 248 League Two matches, all 15 Play-Off matches, all 93 Carabao Cup matches, and all 127 EFL Trophy matches.
From the 2024/25 season onward, the new agreement will make more matches available to stream. It will effectively replace the current Sky Sports EFL red button coverage (and the EFL’s domestic streaming option provided via iFollow and club streaming services). Domestic streaming audio services will remain alongside existing audio-visual arrangements for international audiences via iFollow and club streaming services.
