Why there will only be one Premier League game shown on TV on Boxing day - It won't affect the EFL | OneFootball

Boxing Day football is one of English football’s most cherished traditions

The Premier League is set to abandon its Boxing Day tradition with only one game expected to be broadcast on December 26th, though the EFL won't be affected.

It’s pretty normal for most European leagues to have a winter break over Christmas, but it is one of English football’s most cherished traditions.

In fact, Boxing Day football has been around since the first year of the Football League in 1888, when Derby County played Bolton Wanderers and West Bromwich Albion lost to Preston North End. Teams even used to play on Christmas Day itself until the 1960s.

It seems fitting that fans of all these aforementioned founding teams will be able to watch their club on TV if they don't choose to go in person that day - but why won't some fans of Premier League teams be able to watch theirs like in previous years?

Premier League broadcasting dilemma forces Boxing Day schedule change

The Premier League's unique broadcasting schedule for the 25/26 season has created an unprecedented situation that is rightly going to cause some outrage.

As reported by The Daily Mail, who revealed that only one Premier League game will likely be televised on Boxing Day, the top-flight has to deliver 33 weekend rounds and five midweek fixtures as part of this said schedule to the likes of Sky and TNT Sports.

This year presents a particular challenge because Boxing Day falls on a Friday, which technically counts as part of a weekend round rather than a midweek slot.

As a result, all ten matches for 'round 18' have initially been scheduled for Saturday, December 27th. Whilst they can still be moved to Boxing Day for broadcasting, it appears unlikely that this will happen.

Instead, broadcasters are expected to select perhaps one Premier League fixture, or at most a handful, to be shown on Boxing Day, with the majority remaining the day after.

EFL set to fill Boxing Day void with full fixture programme

Whilst the Premier League scales back its Boxing Day offering, the EFL will stage a complete programme of matches across all three divisions on the 26th.

This marks a continuation of the EFL's commitment to festive football, with all fixtures set to be broadcast live on Sky Sports and Sky Sports+ for the second successive season.

The EFL's scheduling is unaffected by the Premier League's structural constraints because the lower leagues operate independently with their own broadcasting arrangements.

Sky Sports holds a separate five-year deal with the EFL worth approximately £1b, covering over 1,000 games from 1,891 matches across league and cup competitions.

So, for purists disappointed by the Premier League's reduced Boxing Day offering, the knowledge that all EFL matches will be played and broadcast live provides some consolation.

Looking ahead to the 26/27 season, there is optimism that a full Boxing Day programme could return to the Premier League, as December 26th will fall on a Saturday, making it a more straightforward weekend fixture - well you'd like to think so anyway!