Sky Sports will launch its biggest ever season of live football with coverage of seven Football League matches in ten days, starting on August 2.
Beginning with the 2013/14 season’s opening Football League fixture – Sheffield United v Notts County – Sky’s live schedule begins with live matches on five consecutive dates and offers fixtures from all three divisions, plus two ties from the Capital One Cup.
As the Football League celebrates its 125th anniversary, the pay-TV broadcaster’s first five matches will feature all eight founding clubs still in the League, including three special anniversary fixtures matches over the first weekend.
The matches are the first of Sky Sports’ biggest ever season of live football, which includes 116 live Barclays Premier League fixtures, more than ever before, featuring the majority of the big head to head clashes and every club at least four times.
Sky Sports customers can also enjoy live coverage of UEFA Champions League, La Liga, SPL and a host of international fixtures during the season.
The schedule begins on Friday, August 2, with Sheffield United v Notts County as the world’s oldest football club travels to the world’s oldest professional football ground in the first of three anniversary matches live.
Sky’s opening fixtures (see below) will be the first of up to 90 live Football League games to be shown on Sky Sports this season, including the Play-offs and all three Play-off finals from Wembley in May 2014.
Barney Francis, Managing Director of Sky Sports said: “The new season kicks off here on Sky Sports with a feast of live football for our viewers. Seven live matches in ten days is the perfect start for our biggest ever season of football.”
He continued: “We’re honoured to be part of the celebrations for the Football League’s 125th anniversary.
“We also can’t wait to see if anyone can emulate Bradford’s stunning achievements in last season’s Capital One Cup too.
“With fixtures from all three divisions and some intriguing cup ties, these opening live matches again show why football on Sky Sports has never been stronger.”
In addition to a wealth of top domestic football, Sky customers can enjoy its live matches across TV, online and mobile devices on Sky Go, as well as regular support programming such as Soccer AM and Soccer Saturday.
The opening live Premier League fixtures to be shown on Sky Sports and the new BT Sport network are expected to be announced on July 8.
Sky Sports have confirmed the following seven live fixtures that will kick-off its 2013/14 Football League coverage:
Friday 2nd August
Sheffield United v Notts County (League 1)
19:45 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 3rd August
Burnley v Bolton Wanderers (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Sunday 4th August
Derby County v Blackburn Rovers (Championship)
16:00 – Sky Sports 1
Monday 5th August
Preston North End v Blackpool (Capital One Cup – Round 1)
19:45 – Sky Sports 1
Tuesday 6th August
Morecambe v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Capital One Cup – Round 1)
19:45 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 10th August
Accrington Stanley v Portsmouth (League 2)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Sunday 11th August
Leicester City v Leeds United (Championship)
16:30 – Sky Sports 1
UPDATE: More live games added…
Saturday 17th August
Leeds United v Sheffield Wednesday (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Friday 23rd August
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Crawley Town (League 1)
19:45 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 24th August
Bolton Wanderers v Queens Park Rangers (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Sunday 25th August
Watford v Nottingham Forest (Championship)
13:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 31st August
Leeds United v Queens Park Rangers (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 7th September
MK Dons v Swindon Town (League 1)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Monday 9th September
Preston North End v Oldham Athletic (League 1)
19:45 – Sky Sports
Sunday 15th September
Reading v Brighton & Hove Albion (Championship)
13:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 21st September
Charlton Athletic v Millwall (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 28th September
Nottingham Forest v Derby County (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 5th October
Birmingham City v Bolton Wanderers (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Sunday 13th October
Coventry City v Sheffield United (League 1)
16:00 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 19th October
Blackpool v Wigan Athletic (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Sunday 20th October
Leeds United v Birmingham City (Championship)
13:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 2nd November
Watford v Leicester City (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 9th November
Reading v Queens Park Rangers (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Friday 22nd November
Doncaster Rovers v Yeovil Town (Championship)
19:45 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 23rd November
Sheffield Wednesday v Huddersfield (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
Saturday 30th November
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton & Hove Albion (Championship)
12:15 – Sky Sports 1
