Sky Sports to end live broadcasts of Baller League for next season

Sky Sports will not carry live coverage of next season’s Baller League, the celebrity six-a-side competition backed by KSI, Idris Elba, Ian Wright and Alan Shearer. KSI’s Prime FC won the Season 3 final at a sold-out O2 Arena in May, an event that Sky broadcast live.

The broadcaster has opted not to renew its contract for the next season of the tournament, according to sources. While Sky was said to be satisfied with audience numbers and the level of engagement on social media, those sources described the partnership as having come to a natural end.

Baller League began in Germany in 2024 with backing from World Cup winners Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski before expanding rapidly. A UK edition was staged for the first time in 2025, featuring 12 teams and management roles taken on by former players including Jens Lehmann, Micah Richards and England Lioness Chloe Kelly.

A US tournament was held for the first time this year, continuing the competition’s international expansion. The creation of Baller League has followed the rise of short-form celebrity tournaments in recent years.

That trend was initiated by Gerard Piqué, who set up the seven-a-side Kings League in 2022; the Kings League now takes place in eight countries and has a broadcast deal with Dazn. Baller League’s organisers are understood to be seeking a new broadcast partner following the termination of their relationship with Sky.

The competition will be shown on YouTube regardless of the broadcast negotiations, ensuring the next season will still be available to viewers online.