The first TV games have been confirmed...
Three Sky Bet EFL fixtures will be screened live across the opening weekend of the 2016/17 domestic football season.
The first tranche of live Sky Bet EFL TV games to be played between Friday 5 August and Sunday 7 August, 2016 were announced moments after the fixture list was officially released on Wednesday morning.
TV selections have historically been revealed in the days following the fixture list announcement but in a joint commitment by both the EFL and Sky Sports, decisions on televised fixtures are to be made at the earliest possible convenience to assist attending supporters.
The games selected for live coverage are as follows:
• Fri 5 Aug Fulham v Newcastle United KO 7.45pm
• Sun 7 Aug Queens Park Rangers v Leeds United KO 12.00pm
• Sun 7 Aug Sheffield Wednesday v Aston Villa KO 4.30pm
Throughout the course of Season 2016/17, 92 Sky Bet Championship fixtures will screened live along with 20 games from Sky Bet League One and Sky Bet League Two.
EFL Chief Executive, Shaun Harvey said: “Our first season rebranded as the EFL promises to be one of the most exciting yet for league football and we’re delighted the TV cameras will be with us every step of the way to showcase all the action as it unfolds at stadia up and down the country.
“As ever, whilst being supportive to our principal broadcast partner, who continue to provide our clubs with an important guaranteed income, we are extremely conscious of the impact moving fixtures for television can have on fans.
“We are in a regular dialogue with Sky to ensure that any Sky Bet EFL matches set to be displaced for live coverage are done so as soon as is practically possible.”
The 2016/17 season will draw to a close in Sky Bet League One on Sunday 30 April (KO 12.00pm), in Sky Bet League Two on Saturday 6 May (KO 3.00pm) and in the Sky Bet Championship on Sunday 7 May (KO 12.00pm) with a number of key fixtures being selected for live coverage.