COLCHESTER United fans are already plotting their trips up and down the country, after the EFL fixtures for the 2024-25 season were released today.

But U's supporters might want to hold fire at least for a few days, before booking their trains and hotels for the first few away trips.

The forthcoming 2024/25 season will see the launch of a new five-year broadcast deal between the EFL and Sky Sports.

 

It will see all opening weekend games - including Colchester's trip to play AFC Wimbledon on August 10 - broadcast live on Sky Sports to kick-off the new season.

And the U's games that follow the trip to Plough Lane in August and September could be switched in the coming days, in order to be screened live on television.

Within seven days of today’s EFL fixture release, all matches selected for broadcast for the period to the end of September will be announced.

And before a ball is kicked of the 2024/25 season, all TV selections will be confirmed for the period up to the FA Cup third round, in early January.

READ MORE: Colchester to visit AFC Wimbledon in League Two curtain-raiser

This is a landmark commitment, providing fans and clubs up to five months’ notice, an increase from the five weeks' notice given across the majority of the 2023/24 season.

Sky Sports will screen ten EFL games per weekend, with at least two from League Two, all outside the Saturday 3pm slot. 

In line with the uplift in matches, weekends where all divisions and the Premier League are scheduled to play, ten regular weekend games across the three divisions will be broadcast, including seven games at 12.30pm on a Saturday.

This will include up to five matches, across League Two.

 

Sky Bet EFL fixtures will be broadcast via either an existing Sky Sports channel or Sky Sports+ - a new way for fans to discover and stream live sport.

All televised fixtures will also be available on streaming service NOW.

More than 1,000 of the EFL’s 1,891 games across the Sky Bet EFL, Carabao Cup and Bristol Street Motors Trophy will be broadcast, with every one of the 72 EFL Clubs to be featured live on Sky more than 20 times this season.