Albion chairman Dick Knight today hailed a new TV deal which will give the Seagulls and their Championship rivals a major cash boost.

The Football League has agreed a three-year contract with Sky Sports and ITV believed to be worth about £110 million, a 40 per cent rise in revenue.

The previous deal was worth £25 million a season over four years but, in a market where TV rights are facing a downturn in value, the League has negotiated a substantial increase for the 72 clubs in the Championship, League One and League Two.

Each Championship club will earn an estimated £300,000 per season over the course of the new deal, which begins in 2006-07.

Albion and their Championship rivals are also guaranteed at least one live home match and one away.

Knight said: "The deal in the television market place today is an extremely good one and shows the increasing competitive power of league football. It's so exciting and goes right down to the last day of the season.

"Everyone knows about our problem. We need to get a new stadium and meanwhile this money will be very helpful, as it will to every club in the Football League."

Under the new agreement, Sky will broadcast about 100 live matches a season from the Football League's competitions, including 55 Championship fixtures.

ITV will continue with its Sunday morning programme The Championship, as well as regional highlights programmes.

Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney said: "This tremendous news caps what has been an enormously encouraging season.

"Crowds have increased yet again, as have viewing figures, and we are also delivering on the promise we made to increase our clubs' commercial revenues."