The most recent announcement of televised fixtures features a Friday night trip to Bournemouth for Man Utd fans and an early hours journey to Brighton for Liverpool supporters
You have to wonder what happens at the meetings of Premier League and television executives that decide the competition’s fixture schedule. After they have been chauffeur-driven to some plush London office, it must be like some sort of game in itself. Like Top Trumps.
Bournemouth versus Manchester United at 8pm on a Friday night? Hold my beer, how about Bournemouth v Sunderland at 12.30pm on a Saturday?
Let’s push Manchester United’s kick-off at Newcastle back to 8.15pm when the rest of that night’s fixtures are at 7.30pm. Don’t want any of those pesky away fans thinking they can get the last train home.
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Hey, any of you notice that Brighton supporters have an 8pm kick-off at Anfield in the FA Cup to look forward to? Well, don’t laugh Liverpool fans, here’s a 12.30pm on a Saturday away at Brighton for you.
Any pretence that, in the scheduling of televised matches, there is any concern for the travelling supporters of a Premier League club has long been cast aside. Quite simply, the logistical issues facing committed travelling fans have zero resonance when the TV rescheduling is being done.
There is no point anyone from the Premier League claiming otherwise. But remember, the Premier League is a private members’ club and it is the 20 members who sign the broadcast deals.
Essentially, they have a choice. Agree a deal with TV companies that gives them a decisive influence on the timing of fixtures, or take as much money as they can get by giving the broadcasters the licence to pretty much do as they please.
They do the latter – every time – and then present the massive payment as some sort of triumph. Hooray, we got £6.7billion. Well done.
But for that £6.7billion, the broadcasters decide when matches are played. A manager might complain, fans might complain but so what? Their concerns are of no interest to the TV executives.
And it is hard to detect that much interest from the Premier League and its members. That is because stadiums are still full for most games.
The demographic of the crowds might be changing but the crowds are still coming. The excitement levels might be getting lower – more goalless draws this season than in the whole of last season and there are still 16 match days to go – but the crowds are still coming.
The moaning about VAR is constant, the interruptions in play incessant, but the crowds are still coming. So, clubs feel empowered to take supporters – or, more specifically, full houses – for granted.
Even when there are 700-mile round trips that have to begin at four o’clock in the morning, even when there are nine-hour return journeys that will have fans getting home at three o’clock in the morning. Those sorts of inconveniences have no relevance for clubs any more because they knew that they would be a consequence of selling the Premier League lock, stock and barrel to television companies.
Which is why, unfortunately, fan groups are wasting their time when complaining about ludicrous timings for matches. The loyal travelling fans have been sold out by club owners, simple as that.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £192 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
