The English Football League and its domestic live rights partner, pay-television broadcaster Sky, have pledged to give clubs at least five weeks’ notice ahead of any matches that will have their kick-off times changed to allow for live television coverage this season.
The league, which operates the three divisions below the top-tier Premier League, will also announce any fixture changes within three working days in order to give fans as much time as possible to alter travel plans.
If the league and Sky are unable to meet the timeframe, then the clubs involved will have the option to choose not to be shown live on television.
Last season, second-tier Championship club Leeds complained to the league about the degree of control exerted by Sky over the fixture list after a number of its games were rearranged for live coverage.
The newly-rebranded EFL said that the latest pledge was a joint commitment between the league and Sky, which will show 92 Championship fixtures this season on an exclusive basis, as well as 20 games from third-tier League One and fourth-tier League Two.
EFL chief executive Shaun Harvey said: “This is an extremely important issue for fans up and down the country, one we understand and we will always seek to give fans as much notice as we can in respect of fixtures that are requested to be shown live on television as part of the broadcast contract.”