Football supporters across England face a significant television blackout this Monday, with the vast majority of EFL fixtures unavailable for live broadcast in the UK. The scheduling shift, caused by the festive period, has left fans of numerous clubs unable to watch their teams on television.
Why Are So Many Games Missing From TV?
The issue stems from the rescheduling of matches originally set for Saturday, December 27, to Monday, December 29. Sky Sports, which holds the domestic broadcasting rights for the EFL, is treating this altered matchday as a standard weekend schedule. Consequently, the broadcaster is only obligated to show a limited selection of games on its main channels.
Instead, a handful of matches will be available on the red-button service, Sky Sports +. The chosen Championship fixtures for main broadcast are Coventry City vs Ipswich Town, Leicester City vs Derby County, and Birmingham City vs Southampton.
Major Fixtures Left in the Dark
This selective approach means several high-stakes encounters will not be televised live for UK audiences. A notable omission is the Championship clash between Middlesbrough and Hull City, a key battle involving teams chasing automatic promotion and play-off places.
Other significant matches missing from the live schedule include the play-off contest between Millwall and Bristol City, and the vital relegation scrap featuring Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers.
In League One, fans can watch Bradford City vs Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle vs Wycombe Wanderers. League Two coverage will feature Grimsby Town vs Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers vs Barrow.
How Can Fans Follow the Action?
For matches without live TV coverage, there is no official domestic live streaming option available. Supporters are directed to alternative methods to stay updated:
- Live radio commentary via official club websites and partner broadcasters.
- International broadcasts for fans abroad, such as Wrexham's match against Preston North End on Paramount+.
- Post-match highlights available shortly after full-time on official club YouTube channels and league platforms.
The league standings add context to the frustration. In the Championship, Frank Lampard's Coventry City lead the table, with Middlesbrough in the second automatic promotion spot. Sheffield Wednesday are deep in relegation trouble. League One is topped by Cardiff City, while in League Two, Walsall sit at the summit.
There is a silver lining for fans: every EFL match scheduled for New Year's Day will be broadcast live on Sky Sports in the UK. The coverage begins at 12:30pm with Wrexham's trip to Blackburn Rovers and concludes with Sheffield United hosting Leicester City at 5:30pm.
