Football supporters across England face significant disappointment this festive season as a raft of crucial EFL matches will be missing from live television broadcasts. The issue stems from a rescheduling of games originally set for Saturday, December 27, to Monday, December 29, due to the packed holiday calendar.
Why Key Matches Are Missing From TV
Sky Sports, which holds the domestic broadcasting rights for the EFL, is treating these Monday fixtures as part of a standard weekend schedule. This policy means the broadcaster will only show a limited selection of games on its primary channels. Only three Championship matches have been selected for full live coverage: Coventry City versus Ipswich Town, Leicester City against Derby County, and Birmingham City's clash with Southampton.
Consequently, several high-stakes encounters involving teams fighting for promotion or battling relegation will not be televised live in the UK. This includes the top-of-the-table clash between Middlesbrough and Hull City, a vital game for automatic promotion hopes. Also omitted are Millwall against Bristol City, a key match for play-off contenders, and the relegation six-pointer between Sheffield Wednesday and Blackburn Rovers.
Limited Coverage Across the Leagues
The blackout extends beyond the Championship. In League One, only Bradford City's match with Port Vale and Plymouth Argyle's game against Wycombe Wanderers will be aired. For League Two, fans can watch Grimsby Town take on Shrewsbury Town and Tranmere Rovers face Barrow. All other fixtures across the three divisions will not have a domestic live broadcast.
For UK-based fans of the affected clubs, there will be no official live streaming option available. The primary methods to follow the action will be through live radio commentary, available via official club websites and partner broadcasters, or by waiting for post-match highlights.
International Viewers and Future Broadcasts
In a twist that will frustrate domestic supporters, some of the snubbed games will be available to international audiences. Notably, Wrexham's home fixture against Preston North End will be broadcast live on Paramount+ for viewers outside the UK.
There is some positive news on the horizon for fans. Every single EFL match scheduled for New Year's Day will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports. The coverage begins at 12:30pm with Wrexham's trip to Blackburn Rovers on Sky Sports Football and concludes with Sheffield United hosting Leicester City at 5:30pm.
The current league standings add context to the significance of the missed matches. In the Championship, Frank Lampard's Coventry lead the table, with Middlesbrough in the other automatic promotion spot. At the opposite end, Sheffield Wednesday are deep in relegation trouble. Similar high-stakes battles are unfolding in League One and League Two, where every point is critical in the push for promotion or the fight for survival.
