Local rivalries throughout the country will be the centre of attention in October and November, with high-profile derbies across the Sky Bet EFL set to appear live on Sky.
EFL matches up until Sunday 1st October were announced on the 19th July and the latest round of TV games have now been confirmed, with fixtures finalised up until Leeds United’s clash with Middlesbrough on Sunday 19th November.
Before the derbies take centre stage, 2017 Checkatrade Trophy winners Coventry City are up first, with their Sky Bet League Two visit to Barnet being switched to a 12:30pm kick-off on Saturday 7th October. Gillingham host Portsmouth in Sky Bet League One the following day at 2:30pm.
The Midlands then comes into focus as Wolves’ Sky Bet Championship clash with Aston Villa takes place at 5:30pm on Saturday 14th October, ahead of Nottingham Forest’s visit to local rivals Derby County on Sunday 15th.
East Anglia is up next with Ipswich Town welcoming Norwich City in a 12pm kick-off on Sunday 22nd October, before the TV cameras head north for an all-Yorkshire affair at Elland Road, where Leeds United host Sheffield United on Friday 27th.
Hull City then take on Nottingham Forest in a 5:30pm kick-off on the Saturday, before Steve Bruce’s Villa are back on live TV as they take on Harry Redknapp’s Birmingham City for a 12pm fixture on Sunday 29th October.
The derbies continue into November, with Sunderland’s match at Middlesbrough set to take place in front of the Sky Sports cameras at 12:15pm on Sunday 5th, and Rotherham United’s visit to nearby Doncaster Rovers on Saturday 11th.
The final weekend of confirmed TV fixtures sees Preston North End hosting North West rivals Bolton Wanderers on Friday 17th November, ahead of Derby’s visit to Fulham on Saturday 18th.
The list of games selected for live coverage are as follows:
Throughout the course of the 2017/18 season, Sky Sports will exclusively show 127 live matches from the Sky Bet EFL season - including the Play-Offs - as well as 15 matches from the Carabao Cup and at least three from the Checkatrade Trophy.
As with 2016/17, the EFL and broadcast partner Sky Sports have again committed to give clubs and supporters at least five weeks’ notice ahead of any EFL matches being selected for live television coverage.
As part of the agreement, the EFL will publicly announce any fixture changes within three working days of their selection (following club consideration) 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 televised on the new date.