After a successful opening weekend to the 2016/17 domestic campaign, the EFL has outlined this season’s approach to TV fixture scheduling to provide the best experience for its clubs and their fans.
In a joint commitment with broadcast partner Sky Sports, the recently rebranded EFL has vowed to ensure all its clubs are given at least five weeks’ notice ahead of any matches selected for live television coverage.
Furthermore, the EFL will then commit to publicly announcing any fixture changes within three working days in order to give EFL supporters as much time as is possible to allow for any alterations to travel plans that may be required.
If both the EFL and Sky Sports are unable to meet this timeframe then the clubs involved have the ability to choose not to be broadcast live on television. However, if both clubs mutually agree to the rescheduling of the fixture within this five-week period then the game will be played on the new date.
Throughout the course of Season 2016/17, 92 Sky Bet Championship fixtures will be screened exclusively live on Sky Sports along with 20 games from Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two.
EFL Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said: “This is an extremely important issue for fans up and down the country, one we understand and we will always seek to give fans as much notice as we can in respect of fixtures that are requested to be shown live on television as part of the broadcast contract.
“Sky Sports has invested significantly in our competition, helping clubs bring through improved facilities and better players on the pitch so while we are conscious of the impact scheduling matches for television coverage can have, there is a balance to strike. We want as many people to enjoy the EFL as possible; in the stadiums, at home or watching in the pub. We look forward to working together on the five-week commitment and other initiatives over the course of the next 10 months, in what is shaping up to be yet another exciting season in the EFL.”
In addition to moving fixtures for TV, games can still be rearranged at short notice if players are called up to their respective international sides. Under current EFL rules, if three players from a first team squad are selected by their national team for a competitive or friendly match on a FIFA International Match Calendar date, clubs have the right to postpone and reschedule.
As part of this announcement the latest tranche of live Sky Bet EFL TV games, in October and November, are revealed and there are plenty of mouth-watering clashes set to take place in front of the cameras.
In their first league meeting for five years, the eagerly anticipated second city derby between Birmingham City and Aston Villa is live on Sky Sports on October 30. Almost a month later on November 20, Newcastle United will make their long-awaited return to Leeds United’s Elland Road.
Wolverhampton Wanderers host Norwich City at the beginning of October before welcoming Derby County to Molineux on November 5 and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink’s QPR will entertain Brentford at Loftus Road in the West London derby on October 28.
In Sky Bet League One, Charlton Athletic make their first live appearance of the season on November 12 against Swindon Town and following their respective promotions last season, Oxford United and AFC Wimbledon will lock horns at the Kassam Stadium on Sunday, October 9.
The list of games selected for live coverage are as follows:
Saturday, October 1 - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Norwich City - Kick-off 17.30
Saturday, October 8 - Peterborough United v Bury - Kick-off 12.00
Sunday, October 9 - Oxford United v AFC Wimbledon - Kick-off 12.15
Sunday, October 9 - MK Dons v Port Vale - Kick-off 14.15
Friday, October 14 - Cardiff City v Bristol City - Kick-off 19.45
Saturday, October 15 - Aston Villa v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Kick-off 17.30
Sunday, October 16 - Huddersfield Town v Sheffield Wednesday - Kick-off 12.00
Friday, October 21 - Burton Albion v Birmingham City - Kick-off 19.45
Saturday, October 22 - Nottingham Forest v Cardiff City - Kick-off 17.30
Friday, October 28 - Queens Park Rangers v Brentford - Kick-off 19.45
Saturday, October 29 - Blackburn Rovers v Wolverhampton Wanderers - Kick-off 17.30
Sunday, October 30 - Birmingham City v Aston Villa - Kick-off 12.00
Friday, November 4 - Brentford v Fulham - Kick-off 19.45
Saturday, November 5 - Wolverhampton Wanderers v Derby County - Kick-off 12.30
Saturday, November 5 - Bristol City v Brighton & Hove Albion - Kick-off 17.30
Saturday, November 12 - Swindon Town v Charlton Athletic - Kick-off 12.00
Sunday, November 13 - Peterborough United v Bolton Wanderers - Kick-off 12.15
Sunday, November 13 - Chesterfield v Sheffield United - Kick-off 14.15
Friday, November 18 - Brighton & Hove Albion v Aston Villa - Kick-off 19.45
Saturday, November 19 - Ipswich Town v Nottingham Forest - Kick-off 17.30
Sunday, November 20 - Leeds United v Newcastle United - Kick-off 13.15
Friday, November 25 - Barnsley v Nottingham Forest - Kick-off 19.45
Saturday, November 26 - Rotherham United v Leeds United - Kick-off 17.30
Remaining TV Selection Dates 2016/17 (Illustrative but subject to five-week commitment)
- Clubs notified of selections for December to first week in January 2017 by 30 September;
- Clubs notified of selections for remainder of January by 30 October;
- Clubs notified of selections for February by 30 November;
- Clubs notified of selections for first week in March on Monday 9 January following FA Cup Third
Round;
- From 1 February, 2017 a five-week rolling selection commences for matches up to and including the penultimate weekend;
- Clubs notified of selections for the final day made following the completion of the penultimate round of matches.
NB: Dates will be publically announced three working days after being selected