Sky Sports Ends Coverage of Baller League

Sky Sports has walked away from live coverage of next season’s Baller League, drawing a line under its short but high-profile flirtation with the celebrity six-a-side competition fronted by KSI and Idris Elba.

KSI’s Prime FC lifted last season’s title in a packed O2 Arena, with the final beamed out live on Sky in a made-for-social-media spectacle. The broadcaster was pleased with the viewing figures and the online noise it generated, but has still chosen not to renew its deal. Those close to the talks describe the decision as the partnership reaching “a natural end” rather than a reaction to performance.

Born in Germany in 2024 with heavyweight backing from World Cup winners Mats Hummels and Lukas Podolski, Baller League has grown at speed. The UK edition arrived in 2025, bringing familiar faces from the traditional game into the new format: Jens Lehmann, Micah Richards and England Lioness Chloe Kelly all stepped into management roles across the 12-team competition. A US tournament has already followed this year, underlining the project’s global ambition.

This boom in short-form, star-driven football owes plenty to Gerard Piqué. The former Spain and Barcelona defender lit the fuse in 2022 with the launch of Kings League, a seven-a-side hybrid that now operates in eight countries and sits on a broadcast deal with Dazn. Baller League is part of that same wave – football reimagined for streaming, clips and constant engagement.

With Sky stepping aside, the league is now hunting a new television partner. Talks are expected to continue across the market, but one thing is already clear: Baller League will still be available on YouTube, with or without a traditional broadcaster on board.