Championship TV deal

[Super_horns]

We know Sky are increasing the number of TV games they will show next season but will ITV get some Championship games?

ITV in £15m talks with Sky to bring Championship football back to free-to-air

The terrestrial broadcaster will ask EFL clubs to approve a proposed deal to show 20 matches on the channel next season

inews.co.uk

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

We have had 9 of our fixtures between now and the new year changed now because of TV.

Means we have only 7 games at 3pm on a Saturday between now and then. Annoying

 

[Super_horns]

We have had 9 of our fixtures between now and the new year changed now because of TV.

Means we have only 7 games at 3pm on a Saturday between now and then. Annoying

Plymouth away on a Friday night hasn’t gone down well .

 

[91SPP]

We have 11 games between now and the end of the season on Sky - do they still do the midweek games for everyone? It would mean an extra 5/6 on top - so 16/17 of our first 24 games are viewable on Sky.

We've always been one of the more selected teams by Sky, but that's taking the piss - surely?

 

[Kenneth E End]

Plymouth away on a Friday night hasn’t gone down well .

Luton have the same. Sky really should give up any premise that they care about match going fans, because there clearly isn’t any consideration.

I do wonder though if this is designed to get rid of the 3pm blackout by stealth and EFL supporters being used as pawns. For me, I’d agree to remove it - there’s only marginal evidence to suggest that it would have any effect on the lower leagues. As Covid proved, people will still put the match going experience above TV.

 

[Super_horns]

Luton have the same. Sky really should give up any premise that they care about match going fans, because there clearly isn’t any consideration.

I do wonder though if this is designed to get rid of the 3pm blackout by stealth and EFL supporters being used as pawns. For me, I’d agree to remove it - there’s only marginal evidence to suggest that it would have any effect on the lower leagues. As Covid proved, people will still put the match going experience above TV.

And if you really support a team your going to watch them regardless of who is on .

They obviously think our rivals are QPR not you too !

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Luton have the same. Sky really should give up any premise that they care about match going fans, because there clearly isn’t any consideration.

I do wonder though if this is designed to get rid of the 3pm blackout by stealth and EFL supporters being used as pawns. For me, I’d agree to remove it - there’s only marginal evidence to suggest that it would have any effect on the lower leagues. As Covid proved, people will still put the match going experience above TV.

It kind of does need to go now really, it makes less and less sense by the year. All the money in football is in tv deals and most EFL games are on at the one time they cannot televise them to a UK audience.

Maybe some agreement that PL games are not on the same days/times as EFL games instead of the 3pm blackout maybe could be halfway house here

 

[Kenneth E End]

I didn't realise the rule dates back to the 1960s - clearly from an era without streaming, social media, overseas fans and... err.. internet. It only exists in the UK, not in any other country.

Football will never get back to the attendances pre-"modern era" but in that modern era, attendances have never been so high, nor has there been as much money in the game.

I'd also argue that fans need to get with the programme a bit more - the world doesn't stop at 3pm on a Saturday. No other country keeps their top level sport in the same slots each time. That said, the EFL really need to do more to prevent long distance travel on midweeks and bank holiday weekends. Each team should play their local rivals on either Boxing Day or NYD (or do what they do in the Conference, both!) Sometimes people need to be forced to change habits.

I would propose a compromise that all AWAY EFL matches not shown by Sky Sports should be streamed on their own club platforms for £10 each and all matches available for overseas viewers. And games that are sold out for home supporters are also available domestically. Sky would have slots to 12 weekend games themselves - 2 @ Fri 2000, 2 @ Sat 1230, 5 @ Sat 3pm (of which at least 2 outside the Championship), 2 @ Sun 1pm. In addition, I'd allow 1 PL game to be shown in that 3pm Sat slot. In return, the PL should offer an additional £200M/year in solidarity payments, split 55/27.5/17.5.

Some might ask why Sky put up EFL games against PL... internally it's for market share, for games competing against TNT Sports it's designed as a spoiler.