The latest round of TV selections have been announced...
This latest selection covers Matchdays 30-34 and comes as the stakes ramp up for EFL clubs with promotion, relegation and play-off battles starting to take shape.
Sky Bet Championship matchday 30 will kick-off with a Friday night fixture in the North West as Wigan host Sheffield Wednesday on the 3 February at the DW Stadium.
It’s an all Midlands encounter up next between two former European Cup winners, with Aston Villa making the short trip from West to East Midlands to take on Nottingham Forest at the City Ground on Saturday 4 February in a 5.30pm kick-off.
Sheffield Wednesday are up again for Friday night football on the 10 February, hosting Birmingham City at Hillsborough, before Newcastle United make a trip to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Saturday 11 February.
Brighton and Reading kick-off matchday 34 with a Friday night game on the south coast on Friday 24 February, kick off 7.45pm
That same weekend viewers will then be able to see the first silverware of the 2016/17 season lifted as the 2017 EFL Cup Final will take at Wembley. Sky Sports will broadcast exclusive live coverage of the match, which is scheduled to kick-off at 4.30pm, although this time is subject to change based on police intelligence.
The confirmed list of games selected for live coverage are as follows:
Friday 3 February Wigan Athletic v Sheffield Wednesday Kick-off 7.45pm
Saturday 4 February Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa Kick-off 5.30pm
Friday 10 February Sheffield Wednesday v Birmingham City Kick-off 7.45pm
Saturday 11 February Wolverhampton Wanderers v Newcastle United Kick-off 5.30pm
Friday 24 February Brighton & Hove Albion v Reading Kick-off 7.45pm
Sunday 26 February EFL Cup Final Kick-off 4.30pm
Confirmed subject to FA Cup Commitments
Sky Sports and the EFL have made a joint commitment to ensure clubs and supporters are given at least five weeks’ notice ahead of any matches selected for live television coverage. The following games have been selected for live coverage but are subject to the progress of the selected teams in the FA Cup.
A much-anticipated Yorkshire Derby will be played on Monday 6 February with promotion rivals Leeds United and Huddersfield Town going head-to-head at the John Smith’s Stadium if both teams are knocked out of the FA Cup in the 3rd Round (without a replay).
If either team is still involved in the FA Cup on Monday 9 January, the match will revert to Sunday 5 February at 12.30pm - its original date and kick-off time and will not be shown live.
The final game subject to change is on Monday 20 February, with Aston Villa making the journey north to St James’ for an 8pm kick-off against Newcastle United. If either team is still involved in the FA Cup (at the 5th Round stage) then the match will be postponed and will not be shown live.
The list of games selected for live coverage are as follows:
Other matches are under discussion with the relevant authorities, including the police, and will be confirmed at a later date but within the five week commitment.
Monday 6 February Huddersfield Town v Leeds United Kick-off 7.45pm
(Subject to FA Cup results)
Monday 20 February Newcastle United v Aston Villa Kick-off 8pm
(Subject to FA Cup 5th Round)
Remaining TV Selection Dates 2016/17 (Illustrative but subject to a five-week minimum notice commitment)
• Clubs notified of selections for 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: The EFL has committed 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.