It is one of the frustrations of modern football that the day the fixtures are released is a bit of a false dawn because the television companies are yet to rip them to shreds.
But Sunderland fans can plan ahead with certainty that their opening game of the season, against Oxford United, will kick off at the Stadium of Light at 3pm.
League One sides do not have to worry so much about the disruption live TV coverage brings, yet still the Black Cats had five league games rearranged for the benefit of armchair viewers in 2018-19, including their opening match at home to Charlton Athletic.
This time, though, Sky have gone elsewhere for their kicks.
Middlesbrough’s Championship game at Luton Town will kick off the 2019-20 Football League season but League One’s opening day is untouched, all matches taking place at 3pm on August 3.
The rest of the schedule is still up for grabs, however.
Under a new agreement with Sky, the broadcaster has committed to giving supporters up to five weeks’ notice of rearrangements only up to March 7. After that, they are only promised four weeks’ warning, or three for the penultimate weekend.
In 2020 the final games will all kick off at noon for the benefit of TV, as opposed to the evening kick-offs of last season. Sunderland are at Rotherham United that day, May 3.
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