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.
25. Leeds drew in the audiences in 2017/18 as Paul Heckingbottom's side were shown 20 times - including one appearance on BBC Wales.
2017/18 - 20 matches | Getty Images
26. Leeds' TV appeal dwindled during their battle against relegation last season.
2022/23 - 23 matches | Getty Images
27. Leeds' eventual Premier League survival in the 2021/22 campaign saw the Whites televised 24 times - 16 of which were on Sky Sports.
2021/22 - 24 matches | Getty Images
28. A new broadcast deal with Sky meant a huge uptick in the number of Premier League games shown live in 1999/00. Leeds were on Sky 18 times, while a further seven appearances were made on Channel 5, ITV and the BBC.
1999/00 - 25 matches | Getty Images
29. Up to and including Leeds vs Millwall next month, which has been selected for live broadcast, United will have been shown 25 times this season. Although, that number is expected to climb north of 30 by the end of the campaign.
2023/24 - 25 matches* | Getty Images
30. Leeds' 2001/02 campaign was a big one for broadcasters, with United shown on four separate channels.
2001/02 - 27 matches | Getty Images