NORTH End will be the first team to host a league game next season -- by about two and a half hours.

Programmers at SKY Sports have confirmed that they want to show North End's opener against relegated West Ham at 12.30pm on Saturday, August 9.

Their decision means that North End's result will be known before the other sides in the division kick off.

And it also means that North End's first two games will now be shown live on SKY. Their second home fixture, against Sunderland on Saturday, August 23.

That game will be shown at 5.35pm.

Ticket details for either fixture have yet to be announced.