Saturday Night Football

[Stranded]

So been mentioned in the press today that the new PL TV deal will see an additional 42 games shown live making it 210 games live of the 380 played each season.

As part of the deal a new Saturday night time slot will be added, seeing games kicking off at prime time, probably 19.45. This raises 2 questions, is there really the demand for another slot, this means that on one weekend, there could be live games at:

Friday 20.00
Saturday 12.30, 17.30 and 19.45/20.00
Sunday 13.30, 16:00
Monday 20:00

Though would imagine the number of games live in one weekend would be capped at 5.

Second question - given the move to 210 games, is it just time for the PL to give up on Saturday 3pm games and show every game live? Have 5 fixed time slots over a weekend and just have 2 games live in each slot and scrap the 17.30 slot and leave that open for Championship games.

[Sanguine]

So been mentioned in the press today that the new PL TV deal will see an additional 42 games shown live making it 210 games live of the 380 played each season.

As part of the deal a new Saturday night time slot will be added, seeing games kicking off at prime time, probably 19.45. This raises 2 questions, is there really the demand for another slot, this means that on one weekend, there could be live games at:

Friday 20.00
Saturday 12.30, 17.30 and 19.45/20.00
Sunday 13.30, 16:00
Monday 20:00

Though would imagine the number of games live in one weekend would be capped at 5.

Second question - given the move to 210 games, is it just time for the PL to give up on Saturday 3pm games and show every game live? Have 5 fixed time slots over a weekend and just have 2 games live in each slot and scrap the 17.30 slot and leave that open for Championship games.

Yes, in short. There's been a thread in AE about TV subscriptions discussing similar - but I think this might be a next step in the move towards something similar to the NBA 'League Pass', where people can pay $30 a month, or whatever, and watch any game live.
For now this additional 42 games is likely only to dilute the value of TV subscriptions since, I'd be willing to wager, those games will end up on platforms other than Sky and BT.

[Stranded]

So been mentioned in the press today that the new PL TV deal will see an additional 42 games shown live making it 210 games live of the 380 played each season.

As part of the deal a new Saturday night time slot will be added, seeing games kicking off at prime time, probably 19.45. This raises 2 questions, is there really the demand for another slot, this means that on one weekend, there could be live games at:

Friday 20.00
Saturday 12.30, 17.30 and 19.45/20.00
Sunday 13.30, 16:00
Monday 20:00

Though would imagine the number of games live in one weekend would be capped at 5.

Second question - given the move to 210 games, is it just time for the PL to give up on Saturday 3pm games and show every game live? Have 5 fixed time slots over a weekend and just have 2 games live in each slot and scrap the 17.30 slot and leave that open for Championship games.

Yes, in short. There's been a thread in AE about TV subscriptions discussing similar - but I think this might be a next step in the move towards something similar to the NBA 'League Pass', where people can pay $30 a month, or whatever, and watch any game live.
For now this additional 42 games is likely only to dilute the value of TV subscriptions since, I'd be willing to wager, those games will end up on platforms other than Sky and BT.

Yep talk is of Amazon or Netflix bidding for these. Wouldn't surprise me if DAZN use this package as a look to move into the UK market.

[Sutekh]

Sorry but it's all just so very ****

Can't wait for Reading to one day get back to the PL and have every league game kicking off a twat o'clock because some greedy suits say so.

Just waiting for Sky to spot nothing happens at 10am on Saturday or Sunday, then there'll be a "demand" for regular 8pm starts on a Sunday...

[AthleticoSpizz]

Sorry but it's all just so very ****

Can't wait for Reading to one day get back to the PL and have every league game kicking off a twat o'clock because some greedy suits say so.

Just waiting for Sky to spot nothing happens at 10am on Saturday or Sunday, then there'll be a "demand" for regular 8pm starts on a Sunday...

^

Pretty much this.

.....but it’s obviously what the public “want” and the game demands.

[double d]

So been mentioned in the press today that the new PL TV deal will see an additional 42 games shown live making it 210 games live of the 380 played each season.

As part of the deal a new Saturday night time slot will be added, seeing games kicking off at prime time, probably 19.45. This raises 2 questions, is there really the demand for another slot, this means that on one weekend, there could be live games at:

Friday 20.00
Saturday 12.30, 17.30 and 19.45/20.00
Sunday 13.30, 16:00
Monday 20:00

Though would imagine the number of games live in one weekend would be capped at 5.

Second question - given the move to 210 games, is it just time for the PL to give up on Saturday 3pm games and show every game live? Have 5 fixed time slots over a weekend and just have 2 games live in each slot and scrap the 17.30 slot and leave that open for Championship games.

Yes, in short. There's been a thread in AE about TV subscriptions discussing similar - but I think this might be a next step in the move towards something similar to the NBA 'League Pass', where people can pay $30 a month, or whatever, and watch any game live.
For now this additional 42 games is likely only to dilute the value of TV subscriptions since, I'd be willing to wager, those games will end up on platforms other than Sky and BT.

I believe that this is the way forward (NBA/WWE pass type thing). 30 quid a month and access to every PL game.

Ofc BBC will still get MOTD and FA cup.

Although sky and bt will be a massive stumbling block being massive sponsers and all.

[John Madejski's Wallet]

A further nail in the coffin of my ex-love of the prem.

One of the joys of football is following you result in the wider context of all the other results going on. With every team playing at different times, that's gone

And it makes me want us promoted even less..... just messes with your weekend plans

[From Despair To Where?]

Just wait until they start kicking off at 8am to cater for the Asian audience.

[Marino13]

personally i think everyone should play on a saturday at 3pm.
and all cup games should be played on the same day too.

that way each team gets the same number of days preparation for each fixture,
for example, liverpool play chelsea at the weekend. liverpool played in spain on tuesday night.
chelsea played in azerbaijan last night. that's simply not making it a level playing field....fitness.tirendess
wise,

[6ft Kerplunk]

Can't remember Chelsea fans complaining that their team kept getting extra rest last season.

[Marino13]

Can't remember Chelsea fans complaining that their team kept getting extra rest last season.

that was just an example because two teams are playing each other this weekend
who competed in the champs league in the week.
one plays tuesday in spain, one players wednesday much further away in azerbaijan

i think it certainly needs looking at.

off the top of my head too - i recall chelsea playing away at atletico on the wednesday and
manchester city were at home on the tuesday prior to their premier league game in
september.

[Silver Fox]

Maybe that's why Chelsea stockpile so much young talent, meaning there squad has the strength to deal with such away days.

Except they forget this at the start of every season and send everyone out on loan?

[Stranded]

Can't remember Chelsea fans complaining that their team kept getting extra rest last season.

that was just an example because two teams are playing each other this weekend
who competed in the champs league in the week.
one plays tuesday in spain, one players wednesday much further away in azerbaijan

i think it certainly needs looking at.

off the top of my head too - i recall chelsea playing away at atletico on the wednesday and
manchester city were at home on the tuesday prior to their premier league game in
september.

Go on then how would you change it when the two competition schedules are set at different times - PL has started before the CL groups are drawn? Personally I think it's a disgrace that Spurs have to play WBA tomorrow despite having to fly to Germany and back this week while WBA players got to sit on the sofa watching them play.

[6ft Kerplunk]

Can't remember Chelsea fans complaining that their team kept getting extra rest last season.

that was just an example because two teams are playing each other this weekend
who competed in the champs league in the week.
one plays tuesday in spain, one players wednesday much further away in azerbaijan

i think it certainly needs looking at.

off the top of my head too - i recall chelsea playing away at atletico on the wednesday and
manchester city were at home on the tuesday prior to their premier league game in
september.

How far are you taking this all things must be equal thing? Do you want indoor stadiums so that all the weather conditions are exactly the same for all matches? Wouldn't be fair if Chelsea had to play in a blizzard in Stoke on a cold Wednesday January night when Liverpool might have played them on a glorious sunny Saturday afternoon in August. Should Newcastle* get some kind of weighting applied to their points tally cos they've travelled a few extra miles over the season.


*Stattos can tell me which team travels the furthest in a season if they wish.

[Marino13]

Can't remember Chelsea fans complaining that their team kept getting extra rest last season.

that was just an example because two teams are playing each other this weekend
who competed in the champs league in the week.
one plays tuesday in spain, one players wednesday much further away in azerbaijan

i think it certainly needs looking at.

off the top of my head too - i recall chelsea playing away at atletico on the wednesday and
manchester city were at home on the tuesday prior to their premier league game in
september.

Go on then how would you change it when the two competition schedules are set at different times - PL has started before the CL groups are drawn? Personally I think it's a disgrace that Spurs have to play WBA tomorrow despite having to fly to Germany and back this week while WBA players got to sit on the sofa watching them play.

More flexibility with the fixtures. would have
made sense for chelsea to play on the tuesday night in baku or
move the liverpool fixture to sunday.
chelsea have played atletico away and quarbag away on the wednesday ahead of two top 6 v top 6 fixtures
where the opponents have had their games on the tuesday.

[double d]

that was just an example because two teams are playing each other this weekend
who competed in the champs league in the week.
one plays tuesday in spain, one players wednesday much further away in azerbaijan

i think it certainly needs looking at.

off the top of my head too - i recall chelsea playing away at atletico on the wednesday and
manchester city were at home on the tuesday prior to their premier league game in
september.

Go on then how would you change it when the two competition schedules are set at different times - PL has started before the CL groups are drawn? Personally I think it's a disgrace that Spurs have to play WBA tomorrow despite having to fly to Germany and back this week while WBA players got to sit on the sofa watching them play.

More flexibility with the fixtures. would have
made sense for chelsea to play on the tuesday night in baku or
move the liverpool fixture to sunday.
chelsea have played atletico away and quarbag away on the wednesday ahead of two top 6 v top 6 fixtures
where the opponents have had their games on the tuesday.

You seem to be defending Chelsea alot. Do you support them?

[Marino13]

NOT ON YOUR NELLY.

[Stranded]

that was just an example because two teams are playing each other this weekend
who competed in the champs league in the week.
one plays tuesday in spain, one players wednesday much further away in azerbaijan

i think it certainly needs looking at.

off the top of my head too - i recall chelsea playing away at atletico on the wednesday and
manchester city were at home on the tuesday prior to their premier league game in
september.

Go on then how would you change it when the two competition schedules are set at different times - PL has started before the CL groups are drawn? Personally I think it's a disgrace that Spurs have to play WBA tomorrow despite having to fly to Germany and back this week while WBA players got to sit on the sofa watching them play.

More flexibility with the fixtures. would have
made sense for chelsea to play on the tuesday night in baku or
move the liverpool fixture to sunday.
chelsea have played atletico away and quarbag away on the wednesday ahead of two top 6 v top 6 fixtures
where the opponents have had their games on the tuesday.

Well the 1st wouldn't happen as UEFA split the groups in half and that half always plays on the same night - Chelsea and Liverpool could have been in the same half but the draw didn't fall that way and UEFA aren't going to mess around their fixtures based on the odd game in England that may not be totally "fairly" scheduled.

I tend to agree there should be flexibility on when games are scheduled in the UK not just around European games but in general. Unfortunately the TV deal means that there are set timeslots and as this was a BT game, they have the 5.30 Saturday timeslot so the game had to go there and BT want one of their higher profile fixtures to be in their high profile timeslot. It's a catch 22 as the TV money is what allows English clubs to compete in Europe but with that you have to accept that fixtures may not always be played at the perfect time.

[Marino13]

do the french FA not allow PSG to play on a Friday
evening ahead of UCL games?

[Stranded]

do the french FA not allow PSG to play on a Friday
evening ahead of UCL games?

Most leagues do - however, unlike most countries the Premier League is a separate entity to the FA so the FA has minimal power to shift games.