Why Leeds United are more popular for Sky TV than most of the Premier League - Leeds Live
Leeds United are the most televised team in English football outside the Premier League's top six clubs.
It’s been 14 long years since United regularly rubbed shoulders with the country’s elite sides. It’s been even longer since they could seriously claim to be part of that elite.
However, that doesn’t seem to have stopped Leeds from being one of the biggest draws in the country for broadcasters.
Last Wednesday’s match against Derby was the 16th United game to be shown live this season.
That’s more than four out of every 10 games the Whites have played so far in 2017/18 (42%).
Leeds also have another four games scheduled to be shown live - against Middlesbrough, Wolves, Fulham and now Aston Villa, which was announced on Thursday - which will take their total up to 20 by April 30, the date that the TV scheduled games go up to.
You're only here to watch the Leeds(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Only six other clubs will have had more domestic games shown live by then - Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham.
Televised domestic games up to April 30:
Arsenal: 31
Manchester United: 30
Tottenham: 30
Liverpool: 28
Manchester City: 28
Chelsea: 26
Leeds: 20
Aston Villa: 19
Leicester: 18
Newcastle: 18
So why Leeds?
The football’s been good at times, but not consistently good. The promotion push was on at one point, but that feels like a while ago now.
The answer is simple really - viewing figures.
United’s televised league games have had an average of 361,583 people watching them this season.
Leeds United have had bumper attendances on television as well as at Elland Road this season(Image: Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Sunderland are the only Championship team whose games can boast a bigger average audience than Leeds’ - 395,500. Nottingham Forest have the next best average (349,000) followed by Middlesbrough (321,250) and Sheffield United (315,667).
Championship average viewing figures
Sunderland: 395,500
Leeds: 361,583
Nottingham Forest: 349,000
Middlesbrough: 321,250
Sheffield United: 315,667
Cardiff: 301,714
Derby: 293,800
Bristol City: 293,667
Reading: 289,500
Aston Villa: 286,083
If United are able to achieve the dream of reaching the Premier League, their viewing figures would no doubt skyrocket even further.
