The Whites have already been shown - or are scheduled to be - 25 times this term, up to and including Leeds' home fixture against Millwall next month. Broadcasting selections have wrought havoc on the fixture schedule, eliciting chants from supporters directed at broadcasters and lengthy press conference responses from manager Daniel Farke, urging decision-makers at Sky Sports and various other television channels to consider the strain placed upon players and fans when scheduling United's fixtures for TV.
This month, Leeds have travelled to Plymouth Argyle twice, Swansea City and Bristol City - all of which were fixtures shown live in the UK. None of those listed were a standard 3pm Saturday afternoon kick-off, leaving supporters short-changed with travel arrangements. The Whites' fans have become accustomed to Friday night matches, Saturday lunchtime kick-offs and midweek jaunts to South Wales and further afield over the years but this season, Leeds are on course to break records, in a broadcasting sense.
Aside from the 2020/21 campaign, in which all but two of United's games were played behind closed doors due to the coronavirus pandemic, 32 times is the highest number of Leeds matches to be shown live in the UK during a single season. Following next month's meeting with Millwall at Elland Road, Leeds will have eight fixtures remaining as they chase down league leaders Leicester City, meaning they could feasibly hit 33 televised games in 2023/24, especially if they progress further in the FA Cup.
It is plausible that every Leeds game between now and the end of the season is selected for broadcast, such is the nature of the race for automatic promotion which currently separates second place Leeds and third place Southampton by just two points.
Courtesy of data compiled by Twitter user and Leeds fan Ben Gershaw, the following is a breakdown of every time United have been shown live in the United Kingdom since the beginning of the 1990/91 season.
13. The Whites were Sky Sports media darlings in 1995/96, appearing eight times on the pay-to-view channel and three on terrestrial TV.
1995/96 - 11 matches | Getty Images
14. The Whites were on TV a further 11 times in 1998/99, appearing twice on the free-to-air BBC.
1998/99 - 11 matches | Getty Images
15. Leeds' return to the Championship in 2010/11 saw the team selected for live broadcast in the UK a total of 11 times - three of which were on the BBC, more than any other season since 1990.
2010/11 - 11 matches | Getty Images
16. Leeds were shown live a further 11 times in the Championship during 2012/13, including twice on ESPN.
2012/13 - 11 matches | Getty Images
17. Leeds were on TV 12 times during 2011/12 - a season which was marred by the death of club icon Gary Speed in November 2011.
2011/12 - 12 matches | Getty Images
18. Ross McCormack scored 28 times in the Championship as Leeds were selected for broadcast 12 times during this particular season - all on Sky.
2013/14 - 12 matches | Getty Images