BLACKBURN Rovers’ big Championship opener at home to Cardiff City has been brought forward to Friday, August 8 (7.45pm) after it was selected for live television coverage.

The Ewood Park clash, originally scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 9 at 3pm, will be shown on Sky Sports and it will be the first match in the entire Football League season.

Sky Sports will be broadcasting two further live Championship games over the opening weekend, Fulham's trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday, August 9 (5.15pm) and League One champions Wolves' home encounter with Norwich City on Sunday, August 10 (4pm).

Norwich, Fulham and Cardiff came down from the Premier League last season.

It is the second season in a row that Rovers' first match of the campaign has been shown live after Sky televised their 2013-14 opener away to Derby County.