Yahoo News EFL have made a promise to West Brom before they shake up fixture list
One gripe those who follow West Bromwich Albion around the country might've had in recent years is the frequency with which they've been selected by rights holders for broadcasting. Sky Sports tend to outline their picks between a month and six weeks prior to the kick off itself, but there have still been understandable grumblings.
It can often be an inconvenience for the average supporter who, months in advance, may have made plans to travel and organised the logistics around attending a match, only for nearer to the date to be informed that Sky Sports wish to provide coverage of the game on their channels.
The new rights deal is bigger than ever before and will benefit every EFL club as a result, but Sky have also made a promise - although there'll be more football available to watch for the average supporter from their home, or in the pub, over the course of any given week in the new season, Sky will provide a greater period of notice for all fans looking to make plans well in advance of any given game.
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The day of the traditional 3pm kick off is on the wane; as part of the deal, more games will be televised than ever before. Albion's first game is at QPR and is one of eight Championship matches being shown at 12:30pm, with seven of them on the new Sky Sports+ channel. While there'll be more fixture disruption and moving away from the regular Saturday afternoon slots, Baggies supporters and their equivalents around the country will have plenty of notice.
Within seven days of the fixtures release, fans will know the dates and times of their games up until the end of September. By August, and the big kick off, fans will know those dates and times are set in stone up until the third round of the FA Cup in early January. By 1 November, we'll know the dates and television picks for the period between January and March. From there, it'll be on a four-week rolling basis.
It's been described as a 'landmark commitment' by Sky to ensure minimal disruption and a promise that there'll be a greater parity as regards which clubs are selected for coverage which, for a side like Albion who have been shown more than their fair share, might provide an element of relief for the fanbase.
