Championship opening weekend fixtures: Preston, Sheffield United, Blackburn Rovers & Derby County kick us off

Preston North End’s first game of next season sees the Lilywhites host Sheffield United on Friday, 9 August.

It’s one of two Friday night matches to get the new campaign up and running, with Blackburn Rovers also hosting newly promoted Derby County. Every fixture across the weekend will be broadcast live, to mark the new domestic TV deal. More than 1,000 EFL games are going to be shown on Sky Sports+ over the course of the season - with each team featuring 20+ times.

In the next seven days, all matches selected for broadcast - through to the end of September - will be announced. Prior to the season starting, all TV picks - until the FA Cup third round in January - will be confirmed. Fans and clubs being given up to five months’ notice is hailed as a ‘landmark commitment’ - given the increase from five weeks.

On standard weekends, 10 games will be shown across the Championship, League One and League Two - five from the second tier and five from tiers three and four. It will include seven 12:30pm kick-offs on a Saturday, too. On the opening weekend of the Championship season, every Saturday game gets under way at half twelve - with a Sunday 4pm game and Monday 8pm.

Full opening weekend in the Championship

Friday 9 August - all 8pm

Blackburn Rovers v Derby County (8pm)

Preston North End v Sheffield United (8pm)

Saturday 10 August - all 12:30pm

Oxford United v Norwich City

Cardiff City vs Sunderland

Hull City vs Bristol City

Leeds United vs Portsmouth

Middlesbrough vs Swansea City

Millwall vs Watford

Oxford United vs Norwich City

QPR vs West Bromwich Albion

Stoke City vs Coventry City

Sunday 11 August - 4pm

Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle

Monday 12 August - 8pm

Luton Town v Burnley