The latest EFL TV selections have been revealed by broadcaster Sky Sports for the next few months, with some surprises.
The next set of matches chosen for broadcast includes intense derbies such as the revival of the Steel City Derby between Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday in the Championship.
In League One, the derby between Bolton Wanderers and Wigan Athletic, while Chesterfield and Notts County will take centre stage in League Two action on Sky Sports Football in October – a rematch of the 2023 National League Playoff Final.
In addition, fans can anticipate a full day of football on Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, with all matches airing live on Sky Sports.
Sky Bet EFL fixtures will be shown on either an existing Sky Sports channel or Sky Sports+ – a new platform for fans to access and stream live sports through a new channel and multiple live streams.
Integrated into the current Sky TV experience and the updated Sky Sports mobile app, Sky Sports+ is offered at no additional cost for subscribers of the full Sky Sports package.
All televised fixtures will also be accessible on the streaming service NOW.
EFL STATEMENT:
The EFL and Sky Sports have confirmed all broadcast-selected Sky Bet EFL matches for the period up to the FA Cup third round, the weekend of 11/12 January 2025.
As per our previous commitment these selections have been published before the start of the EFL season, ensuring Clubs are now in a position to advise supporters of the changes to be made well in advance of the fixtures taking place. Selections have been made by Sky after liaising with the respective Clubs, relevant authorities and the League.
This new notice period is a significant improvement on the previous position, which saw five weeks’ notice given across the majority of the season. By selecting TV picks early and giving much more notice, fans will be able to plan with more certainty when making travel and hotel arrangements. While some fixtures have been moved in order to be broadcast, during a regular weekend, 26 of the 36 matches across the three divisions have not been moved from the Saturday 3:00pm kick off slot.
The League is also committed to greater parity in the number of times that Clubs are selected for TV coverage across all competitions, with Clubs set to feature more than 20 times per season on Sky Sports.
Broadcast selections are subject to change due to fixture rearrangements in relation to international call-ups and Cup ties.
See the full list of TV selections below:
Tuesday 1 Oct 24 – 20:00 – West Bromwich Albion v Middlesbrough – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 2 Oct 24 – 20:00 – Bristol City v Sheffield Wednesday – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Friday 4-Oct 24 – 20:00 – Sunderland v Leeds United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 5-Oct 24 – 12:30 – Burnley v Preston North End – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 5-Oct 24 – 12:30 – Norwich City v Hull City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 5-Oct 24 – 12:30 – Portsmouth v Oxford United – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 6-Oct 24 – 15:00 – Bristol City v Cardiff City – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 5-Oct 24 12:30 – Huddersfield Town v Barnsley – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 5-Oct 24 12:30 – Peterborough Utd v Stevenage – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 5-Oct 24 12:30 – Fleetwood Town v Bromley – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 5-Oct 24 12:30 – Grimsby Town v Doncaster Rovers – League Two – Sky Sports +
Monday 5-Oct 24 20:00 – Bradford City v Newport County – League Two – Sky Sports Football
*Saturday 12-Oct 24 12:30 – Chesterfield v Notts County – League Two – Sky Sports Football
Friday 18-Oct 24 20:00 – Leeds United v Sheffield United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 19-Oct 24 12:30 – Oxford United v West Bromwich Albion – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 19-Oct 24 12:30 – Cardiff City v Plymouth Argyle – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 19-Oct 24 12:30 – Preston North End v Coventry City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 20-Oct 24 15:00 – Hull City v Sunderland – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Thursday 17-Oct 24 20:00 – Shrewsbury Town v Exeter City – League One – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 19-Oct 24 12:30 – Wycombe Wanderers v Peterborough Utd – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 19-Oct 24 12:30 – Reading v Crawley Town – League One – Sky Sports +
Friday 18-Oct 24 20:00 – Newport County v Chesterfield – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 19-Oct 24 12:30 – Accrington Stanley v Barrow – League Two – Sky Sports +
Tuesday 22-Oct 24 20:00 – Queens Park Rangers v Coventry City – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 23-Oct 24 20:00 – Middlesbrough v Sheffield United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Friday 25-Oct 24 20:00 – Portsmouth v Sheffield Wednesday – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 26-Oct 24 12:30 – Coventry City v Luton Town – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 26-Oct 24 12:30 – Bristol City v Leeds United – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 26-Oct 24 12:30 – Watford v Blackburn Rovers – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 27-Oct 24 15:00 – Norwich City v Middlesbrough – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 26-Oct 24 12:30 – Mansfield Town v Birmingham City – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 26-Oct 24 12:30 – Reading v Bristol Rovers – League One – Sky Sports +
**Monday 28-Oct 24 20:00 – Blackpool v Wigan Athletic – League One – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 26-Oct 24 12:30 – Morecambe v Chesterfield – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 26-Oct 24 12:30 – Colchester Utd v Salford City – League Two – Sky Sports +
Friday 1-Nov 24 20:00 – Luton Town v West Bromwich Albion – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 2-Nov 24 12:30 – Stoke City v Derby County – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 2-Nov 24 12:30 – Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 2-Nov 24 12:30 – Oxford United v Swansea City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 3-Nov 24 15:00 – Millwall v Burnley – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Tuesday 5-Nov 24 20:00 – Plymouth Argyle v Portsmouth – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 6-Nov 24 20:00 – Preston North End v Sunderland – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Thursday 7-Nov 24 20:00 – West Bromwich Albion v Burnley – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Tuesday 5-Nov 24 20:00 – Swansea City v Watford – Championship – Sky Sports +
Wednesday 6-Nov 24 20:00 – Luton Town v Cardiff City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Friday 8-Nov 24 20:00 – Watford v Oxford United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 9-Nov 24 12:30 – Cardiff City v Blackburn Rovers – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 9-Nov 24 12:30 – Middlesbrough v Luton Town – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 9-Nov 24 12:30 – Stoke City v Millwall – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 10-Nov 24 12:00 – Sheffield United v Sheffield Wednesday – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 9-Nov 24 12:30 – Burton Albion v Shrewsbury Town – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 9-Nov 24 12:30 – Wrexham v Mansfield Town – League One – Sky Sports +
*Monday 11-Nov 24 20:00 – Barnsley v Rotherham Utd – League One – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 9-Nov 24 12:30 – Harrogate Town v Morecambe – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 9-Nov 24 12:30 – Salford City v Carlisle Utd – League Two – Sky Sports +
*Saturday 16-Nov 24 12:30 – Exeter City v Lincoln City – League One – Sky Sports Football
Friday 22-Nov 24 20:00 – Plymouth Argyle v Watford – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 23-Nov 24 12:30 – Coventry City v Sheffield United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 23-Nov 24 12:30 – Sheffield Wednesday v Cardiff City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 23-Nov 24 12:30 – Bristol City v Burnley – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 24-Nov 24 15:00 – Swansea City v Leeds United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 23-Nov 24 12:30 – Bolton Wanderers v Blackpool – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 23-Nov 24 12:30 – Stevenage v Leyton Orient – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 23-Nov 24 12:30 – Grimsby Town v Colchester United – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 23-Nov 24 12:30 – Notts County v Newport County – League Two – Sky Sports +
Monday 25-Nov 24 20:00 – Port Vale v Crewe Alexandra Sky Sports Football
Tuesday 26-Nov 24 20:00 – Sunderland v West Bromwich Albion – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 27-Nov 24 20:00 – Derby County v Swansea City – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Friday 29-Nov 24 20:00 – Sheffield United v Sunderland – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 30-Nov 24 12:30 – Watford v Queens Park Rangers – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 30-Nov 24 12:30 – Middlesbrough v Hull City – Championship -Sky Sports +
Saturday 30-Nov 24 12:30 – Oxford United v Millwall – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 1-Dec 24 15:00 – Derby County v Sheffield Wednesday – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Tuesday 3-Dec 24 20:00 – Huddersfield Town v Wigan Athletic – League One – Sky Sports Football
Friday 6-Dec 24 20:00 – Burnley v Middlesbrough – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 7-Dec 24 12:30 – Leeds United v Derby County – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 7-Dec 24 12:30 – Sheffield Wednesday v Preston North End – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 7-Dec 24 12:30 – Sunderland v Stoke City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 8-Dec 24 15:00 – West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 7-Dec 24 12:30 – Wigan Athletic v Leyton Orient – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 7-Dec 24 12:30 – Lincoln City v Charlton Athletic – – League One – Sky Sports +
Monday 9-Dec 24 20:00 – Northampton Town v Peterborough Utd – League One – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 7-Dec 24 12:30 – Crewe Alexandra v Bradford City – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 7-Dec 24 12:30 – Port Vale v Walsall – League Two – Sky Sports +
Tuesday 10-Dec 24 20:00 – Leeds United v Middlesbrough – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 11-Dec 24 20:00 – West Bromwich Albion v Coventry City – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Friday 13-Dec 24 20:00 – Derby County v Portsmouth – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 14-Dec 24 12:30 – Preston North End v Leeds United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 14-Dec 24 12:30 – Bristol City v Queens Park Rangers – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 14-Dec 24 12:30 – Coventry City v Hull City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 15-Dec 24 15:00 – Norwich City v Burnley – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 14-Dec 24 12:30 – Bolton Wanderers v Wigan Athletic – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 14-Dec 24 12:30 – Leyton Orient v Burton Albion – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 14-Dec 24 12:30 – Salford City v Notts County – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 14-Dec 24 12:30 – Tranmere Rovers v Harrogate Town – League Two – Sky Sports +
**Monday 16-Dec 24 20:00 – Fleetwood Town v Accrington Stanley – League Two – Sky Sports Football
Friday 20-Dec 24 20:00 – Luton Town v Derby County – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 21-Dec 24 12:30 – Portsmouth v Coventry City – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 21-Dec 24 12:30 – Hull City v Swansea City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 21-Dec 24 12:30 – Sheffield Wednesday v Stoke City – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 22-Dec 24 15:00 – West Bromwich Albion v Bristol City – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 21-Dec 24 12:30 – Bristol Rovers v Wrexham – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 21-Dec 24 12:30 – Lincoln City v Reading – League One – Sky Sports +
Monday 23-Dec 24 20:00 – Crawley Town v Birmingham City – League One – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 21-Dec 24 12:30 – Barrow v Fleetwood Town – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 21-Dec 24 12:30 – Doncaster Rovers v Tranmere Rovers- League Two – Sky Sports +
Thursday 26-Dec 24 17:30 – Derby County v West Bromwich Albion – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Thursday 26-Dec 24 20:00 – Stoke City v Leeds United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Thursday 26-Dec 24 15:00 – Charlton Athletic v Cambridge United – League One – Sky Sports Football
Sunday 29-Dec 24 12:30 – Sheffield United v West Bromwich Albion – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Sunday 29-Dec 24 12:30 – Preston North End v Sheffield Wednesday – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 29-Dec 24 12:30 – Norwich City v Queens Park Rangers – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 29-Dec 24 17:45 – Derby County v Leeds United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Sunday 29-Dec 24 20:00 – Middlesbrough v Burnley – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Sunday 29-Dec 24 12:30 – Charlton Athletic v Wycombe Wanderers – League One – Sky Sports +
Sunday 29-Dec 24 12:30 – Rotherham Utd v Stockport County – League One – Sky Sports +
Sunday 29-Dec 24 12:30 – Carlisle United v Accrington Stanley – League Two – Sky Sports +
Sunday 29-Dec 24 12:30 – Bromley v Swindon Town – League Two – Sky Sports +
Monday 30-Dec 24 20:00 – AFC Wimbledon v Gillingham – League Two – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 1-Jan 25 12:30 – Queens Park Rangers v Watford – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 1-Jan 25 17:30 – Hull City v Middlesbrough – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 1-Jan 25 20:00 – Sunderland v Sheffield United – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Wednesday 1-Jan 25 15:00 – Swindon Town v Colchester United – League Two – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 4-Jan 25 12:30 – Blackburn Rovers v Burnley – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 4-Jan 25 12:30 – Stoke City v Plymouth Argyle – Championship – Sky Sports +
Saturday 4-Jan 25 12:30 – Swansea City v West Bromwich Albion – Championship – Sky Sports +
Sunday 5-Jan 25 15:00 – Sunderland v Portsmouth – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Monday 6-Jan 25 20:00 – Queens Park Rangers v Luton Town – Championship – Sky Sports Football
Saturday 4-Jan 25 12:30 – Cambridge Utd v Bristol Rovers – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 4-Jan 25 12:30 – Burton Albion v Northampton Town – League One – Sky Sports +
Saturday 4-Jan 25 12:30 – Cheltenham Town v Walsall – League Two – Sky Sports +
Saturday 4-Jan 25 12:30 – Notts County v Swindon Town – League Two – Sky Sports +
ALREADY PICKED EFL TV SELECTIONS – MW2 to MW8
Matchday Two – Sky Bet Championship
Fri 16 Aug 2024 – 20:00 – Coventry City v Oxford United – Sky Sports Football
Sat 17 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – West Bromwich Albion v Leeds United – Sky Sports Football
Sat 17 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Derby County v Middlesbrough – Sky Sports+
Sat 17 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Portsmouth v Luton Town – Sky Sports+
Sun 18 Aug 2024 – 12:00- Sunderland v Sheffield Wednesday – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Two – Sky Bet League One
Sat 17 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Charlton Athletic v Leyton Orient – Sky Sports+
Sat 17 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Shrewsbury Town v Peterborough United – Sky Sports+
Sun 18 Aug 2024 – 15:00 – Bolton Wanderers v Wrexham – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Two – Sky Bet League Two
Sat 17 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Bromley v AFC Wimbledon – Sky Sports+
Sat 17 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Carlisle United v Barrow – Sky Sports+
Matchday Three – Sky Bet Championship
Fri 23 Aug 2024 – 20:00 – Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United – Sky Sports Football
Sat 24 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Queens Park Rangers v Plymouth Argyle – Sky Sports Football
Sat 24 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Hull City v Millwall – Sky Sports+
Sat 24 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Bristol City v Coventry City – Sky Sports+
Sun 25 Aug 2024 – 15:00 – Swansea City v Cardiff City – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Three – Sky Bet League One
Sat 24 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Burton Albion v Stevenage – Sky Sports+
Sat 24 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Stockport County v Bristol Rovers – Sky Sports+
Matchday Three – Sky Bet League Two
Thu 22 Aug 2024 – 20:00 – Notts County v Grimsby Town – Sky Sports Football
Sat 24 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Crewe Alexandra v Swindon Town – Sky Sports+
Sat 24 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Tranmere Rovers v Walsall – Sky Sports+
Matchday Four – Sky Bet Championship
Fri 30 Aug 2024 – 20:00 – Luton Town v Queens Park Rangers – Sky Sports Football
Sat 31 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Burnley v Blackburn Rovers – Sky Sports Football
Sat 31 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Cardiff City v Middlesbrough – Sky Sports+
Sat 31 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Coventry City v Norwich City – Sky Sports+
Sun 1 Sep 2024 – 15:00 – Sheffield United v Watford – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Four – Sky Bet League One
Sat 31 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Blackpool v Wycombe Wanderers – Sky Sports+
Sat 31 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Rotherham United v Huddersfield Town – Sky Sports+
Matchday Four – Sky Bet League Two
Sat 31 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Gillingham v Chesterfield – Sky Sports+
Sat 31 Aug 2024 – 12:30 – Port Vale v Doncaster Rovers – Sky Sports+
Mon 2 Sep 2024 – 20:00 – Salford City v MK Dons – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Five – Sky Bet Championship
Fri 13 Sep 2024 – 20:00 – Hull City v Sheffield United – Sky Sports Football
Sat 14 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Millwall v Luton Town – Sky Sports Football
Sat 14 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Leeds United v Burnley – Sky Sports+
Sat 14 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Oxford United v Stoke City – Sky Sports+
Sun 15 Sep 2024 – 15:00 – Portsmouth v West Bromwich Albion – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Five – Sky Bet League One
Sat 7 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Burton Albion v Crawley Town – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Six – Sky Bet Championship
Fri 20 Sep 2024 – 20:00 – Stoke City v Hull City – Sky Sports Football
Sat 21 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Sunderland v Middlesbrough – Sky Sports Football
Sat 21 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Queens Park Rangers v Millwall – Sky Sports+
Sat 21 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Norwich City v Watford – Sky Sports+
Sun 22 Sep 2024 – 12:00 – Preston North End v Blackburn Rovers – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Six – Sky Bet League One
Sat 14 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Mansfield Town v Cambridge United – Sky Sports+
Sat 14 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Northampton Town v Wycombe Wanderers – Sky Sports+
Mon 16 Sep 2024 – 20:00 – Birmingham City v Wrexham – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Six – Sky Bet League Two
Thu 12 Sep 2024 – 20:00 – Harrogate Town v Doncaster Rovers – Sky Sports Football
Sat 14 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Swindon Town v Newport County – Sky Sports+
Sat 14 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – AFC Wimbledon v MK Dons – Sky Sports+
Matchday Seven – Sky Bet League One
Fri 27 Sep 2024 – 20:00 – Plymouth Argyle v Luton Town – Sky Sports Football
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Derby County v Norwich City – Sky Sports Football
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Blackburn Rovers v Queens Park Rangers -Sky Sports+
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Sheffield Wednesday v West Bromwich Albion – Sky Sports+
Sun 29 Sep 2024 – 15:00 – Swansea City v Bristol City – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Seven – Sky Bet League One
Sat 21 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Exeter City v Stevenage – Sky Sports+
Sat 21 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Lincoln City v Wigan Athletic – Sky Sports+
Matchday Seven – Sky Bet League Two
Sat 21 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Accrington Stanley v Port Vale – Sky Sports+
Sat 21 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Chesterfield v Cheltenham Town – Sky Sports+
Mon 23 Sep 2024 – 20:00 – Fleetwood Town v Morecambe – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Eight – Sky Bet League One
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Crawley Town v Bolton Wanderers – Sky Sports+
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Reading v Huddersfield Town – Sky Sports+
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 19:45 – Barnsley v Stockport County – Sky Sports Football
Matchday Eight – Sky Bet League Two
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Harrogate Town v Bradford City – Sky Sports+
Sat 28 Sep 2024 – 12:30 – Walsall v Colchester United – Sky Sports+
Fans reacted to the latest EFL TV selections revealed by Sky Sports for up until January…
@rey_chu1: You genuinely couldn’t care less about match going fans
@HJClarke95: Plymouth Argyle v Watford, Home Park, Friday November 22, 8pm KO. Moved forward from Saturday (November 23, 3pm KO) for live transmission on Sky Sports Football. No care for fans
@WrightyFTM1979: Guess there’s no point in buying a season ticket anymore. 8pm kick off on new years day?? Off your lips you lot!
@riiinaa_a: No thoughts for the fans at all. Absolute joke.
@TheDB30: They’re giving out more notice at least but this deal is yet another 2 fingers up at match going fans
@Element_M1ller: This TV deal is hands down one of the worst things to ever happen to our game
@RJones1905: Can’t believe there was EFL fans on here thinking this broadcast deal was a good idea. Match going fans are fucked for the foreseeable 🤣
@james_flynn: Moving so many games every week brings the worst of the Premier League to the EFL. There are often seven games intentionally clashing at 12:30 on a Saturday – eight if you count the PL game on TNT. Expect a lot of games will have more fans in the ground than watching at home.
@theboygosling: Universal hate for this new tv deal. Congratulations on ruining our gave @SkySports and @EFL. Get rid of the 3pm blackout now and have one central streaming platform. These change of kick of times will kill attendances not protect them.
@valerossii46: What a joke. If you’re gonna do early kick offs at least make them the ones that aren’t fucking miles away 🙄🙄
@wardythemagpie: We buy season tickets in good faith so that our kids play football on a Saturday morning, knowing we can make it for a 3pm kick off and away games nearby. Game’s gone.
@Ian_Bushby: Horrendous, you have killed Saturday 3pm football…
@Daveybob1986: Sky can get in the bin. Purely caters to armchair fans
@midwinter_geoff:
Thanks for nothing #EFL.
Some of us like to watch live football on a Saturday at 3 pm.
12:30 kick offs wtf? Friday night’s in far away places?
Ditch this awful deal with sky. Not everyone can afford their expensive products.
😡😡
@danhibbertSWFC: RIP Saturday 3:00 😔
@OrthoMafia: Well done for prioritising arm chair fans. Can’t wait to see you go the way of ITV digital 🤞🏻
@chrismitch99: This latest broadcast deal is ruining the game for the fans. The majority of games should be 3pm on a Sat. The complete contempt for the fans is a disgrace. @WeAreTheFSA please get involved. For example Luton now have to travel to Plymouth 8pm Fri and Middlesbrough 1230 Sat. Joke
EFL DATES FOR TV SELECTIONS
Remainder of August Selections for 13 August to 31 August by 8 July
Selections for 03 September to 17 September by 29 July
Selections for 01 October to 22 October by 26 August.
Selections for 29 October to 12 November by 23 September.
Selections for 19 November to 03 December by 14 October.
Selections for 10 December to 01 January by 04 November.
Selections for 14 January to 04 February by 03 December.
Selections for 11 February to 25 February by 06 January.
Selections for 04 March by 03 February.
Selections for 11 March to 15 March by 10 February.
Selections for 18 March by 17 February.
Selections for 26 March (Int Break) by 24 February.
Selections for 01 April by 03 March.
Selections for 07 April to 10 April (Easter) by 10 March.
Selections for 15 April by 17 March.
Selections for 22 April by 24 March.
Selections for 29 April by 07 April.
Selections for 06 May by 01 May.
Meanwhile, the EFL confirms its stance on a potential scrapping of the 3pm television blackout rule.
Clubs in the English Football League are to have their say about potentially scrapping the 3pm television blackout rule this summer.
The rule, which was brought into force back in the 1960s, bans live football from being shown on TV between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday. However with people’s viewing habits changing and the pandemic seeing blackout rules temporarily axed, it raises talk of Saturday 3pm games being made available to broadcast.
However, contrary to various reports, the EFL aren’t said to be actively promoting this outcome but do insist that member clubs who want change can talk about it during this summer’s AGM which takes place in June.
When football returned after the Covid break in June 2020, all EFL games were broadcast over the iFollow streaming service with fans unable to attend matches. This included those taking place at 3pm on Saturdays.
That rule remained for all of the 2020-21 campaign, which took place almost entirely behind closed doors and allowed one source of much-needed income for many clubs, though it would have been considerably less than normal gate receipts.
The temporary rule was got rid of for the start of the current season, with no restrictions on attendances inside stadiums and this meant lower amount of games streamed over iFollow, instead showing them during midweek but only if they weren’t already on Sky Sports. Speaking in October 2021, the EFL’s chair Rick Parry refused to rule out the prospect of the law being scrapped.
He said: “I don’t see (an end to the blackout) as being essential. Having said that, I don’t necessarily rule it out. We are almost unique in Europe now in having a blackout period. I’m not presuming that it goes, but equally, if we’re looking at streaming, at new technologies and new broadcasters, we will probably have to be open-minded in terms of scheduling.”
Any plans to scrap the rule would need to be passed by UEFA. Of what we know already, the decision to keep or axe the Tv blackout is a mixed one. Bradford City CEO Ryan Sparks told i news that he was in favour of the 3pm blackout being axed.
He said: “I know there’s people asking: ‘Will away fans still come?’ It’s a fear for League One or League Two clubs but they are two different markets. People who want to go to away games will still go to away games – the numbers don’t change when we have midweek games that are on iFollow. What you do get is a not inconsiderable extra revenue stream from those who wouldn’t go to the game but buy an iFollow pass. It is about opening up that new revenue stream.”
In contrast, The Football Supporters Association chairman Malcolm Clarke said earlier this season that he saw “no reason” to change the current broadcasting rules.
Another reason to raise discussion is the EFL’s existing TV deal with Sky Sports, who this season will show a total of 228 live games, is due to end in 2024 and ITV had won a two-year deal to show highlights of the competition, starting from the new season.
SEE MORE: EFL plan to end 3pm Saturday blackout and make available live games on streaming giants
Huge changes announced by EFL in landmark broadcasting deal with Sky Sports
EFL clubs have unanimously approved a record domestic rights deal with broadcaster Sky Sports worth £935m over a five-year period with over 1,000 matches to be broadcast each season – a record number of games for any club football agreement.
Running from season 2024/25 to season 2028/29, the arrangement will be made up of guaranteed payments of £895m and £40m in marketing benefits. In total, 1,059 EFL matches are set to be broadcast exclusively across existing Sky Sports channels or live via a Sky Sports streaming destination available on TV and mobile devices.
Increased value and promotion
The new deal represents a 50% increase on the value of the current rights agreement and will see significantly enhanced exposure for all EFL clubs provided through on-air and digital support from Sky Sports to promote EFL competitions, clubs, and community initiatives.
Each season, Sky Sports will broadcast a minimum of:
- 328 Sky Bet Championship matches
- 248 Sky Bet League One matches
- 248 Sky Bet League Two matches
- All 15 Play-Off matches
- All 93 Carabao Cup matches
- All 127 EFL Trophy matches
Each League weekend fixture round will see 10 live EFL fixtures shown. Five matches will be shown from the Sky Bet Championship and supporters of Sky Bet League One and League Two teams will now benefit from greater coverage than ever before with five of their games being broadcast live. For the first time ever, fans will be also able to watch every match from the Carabao Cup and EFL Trophy.
All opening, final day, and midweek fixtures in the Sky Bet EFL will be shown live as will all games played on Bank Holidays including Easter, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day alongside the matches played in Sky Bet League One & Two during international breaks.
Increased notice for fans
With the substantial increase in the number of live matches, Sky Sports and the EFL will introduce a new commitment for clubs and fans which will provide longer notice periods on TV selections. The defined notice periods will enable clubs and fans to plan further in advance and this will include the placement of all live matches selected for broadcast for the period to FA Cup 3rd Round before the start of the season. Greater parity in the number of times that clubs are selected for TV coverage is also guaranteed.
Article 48 to remain
The new deal allows for ‘Article 48’, the blocked broadcast period between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on Saturday afternoons to remain, meaning that main broadcast fixtures will be scheduled for outside of this time. Final fixture slots will be confirmed at a later date.
Domestic Streaming
From the 2024/25 season onward, this agreement makes more matches available to stream and 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.
Enhanced production values and camera numbers
The EFL and Sky Sports will continue to work together to innovate, seeking opportunities to improve coverage and take viewers closer to the action, while the EFL will be investing significantly in production infrastructure to enhance the viewing experience. Sky Sports will have a minimum of eight cameras for each game broadcast on existing channels. For matches available to stream, Sky commentary will be provided and a minimum of four cameras will be used at Championship and League One matches, and a minimum of two cameras in League Two.
Commenting, Chief Executive of the EFL, Trevor Birch said:
“After completing an extensive tender and negotiation process, this is a landmark broadcast deal for EFL clubs, establishing the League as a premium partner with a world-renowned broadcaster in Sky Sports.
“The EFL is an iconic sports property and one of the biggest and best attended Leagues in European football. This increased investment and coverage from Sky Sports will showcase much more of our compelling match action to fans, while delivering record rights values as we seek to make our clubs sustainable at all levels.
“For decades, Sky Sports has been a fantastic broadcast partner for both the EFL and English football, helping our sport grow through its sustained support, so we are delighted to announce this innovative agreement that combines the strength of an established brand with a modern streaming service for the benefit of EFL clubs, fans and Sky Sports alike.
“With some 20 million attending Sky Bet EFL matches each season and significant interest in the League at home and abroad, we look forward to growing our collective fanbase further and we’d like to thank Sky Sports for its ongoing commitment to the clubs and the communities which this investment will directly support.”
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