Yeovil moved to Fri, live on sky

[Easy 10]

I recall reading somewhere that a club could decline to have their game televised once per season. I may have imagined that however.....

Can't say I've ever heard of that clause. I'm not saying you're wrong, but I can't imagine that being workable. What if a whole raft of clubs saved their "veto" game for the end of the season ? Sky play millions and millions for broadcast rights, they're not then going to be dictated to as to which games they can or can't show, or be left scratching around for a game to show on the penultimate Saturday of the season because several clubs have invoked their right to decline.

Other than if theres a very legitimate reason, I don't think clubs are ever in the position to decline just because its deemed "inconvenient" for some. As far as TV games go, thats never been how it works. We take their money, they call the shots.

 

[modulate]

If it wasn't us this very discussion would be played out on another championship clubs forum

 

[Blue and White Tiger]

Flying back from Vegas that day, so hopefully no delays!

 

[Bozza]

To be fair to Sky, there aren't many appealing fixtures that weekend. I'm not sure anything else will be decided in any of the games. You could make a case for a few of the games, but most could mean nothing by then.

Burnley v Ipswich
Birmingham v Leeds
Bournemouth v Nottm Forest
Charlton v Blackburn
Derby v Watford
Doncaster v Reading
Huddersfield v Leicester
Middlesbrough v Barnsley
QPR v Millwall
Sheff Wed v Bolton
Wigan v Blackpool

 

[portlock seagull]

Its NOT the clubs decision !

As part of the current TV deal, Sky pay every Championship club £2.3m a season to buy the rights to televise games (plus whatever they pay out for each individual game). Thats the TV deal the clubs sign up to in advance, and that gives Sky the pick of whatever games they want to select for broadscast.

So Sky ring up and say "we're televising your home game vs Yeovil, so its switched to the Friday night". Having taken their £2.3m as part of our slice of the agreed TV deal, how can Barber then turn round and say "Err...naah you're alright. Pick someone else will ya ?".

Sky pay the money, so we have to dance to their tune. I'm pissed off its on a Friday as well, but theres no point blaming the club - its NOT their call.

If true (if) then this really ought to be brought to the attention of season ticket holders in a far clearer and specific manner than referring to small print. It's simply not fair fans lose money in this way.

What's more, the clubs ought to work with Broadcasters to improve situation. Sure a lot more can be done than shrugging shoulders and saying that's just football, the way it is blah blah. There is little or no incentive though - they get their cake and eat it. Contempt in other words.

 

[Hotchilidog]

It's the LAST home game of the season. Traditionally a full day of socialising and reflection on the season past, now reduced to a mass scramble back from work on short formation trains because Sky want to mess us and Yeovil about. Very annoyed by this.

I actually don't object to friday games per se, but this is the last home league game and it has a special atmosphere which has now been taken away from us.

 

[somerset]

To be fair to Sky, there aren't many appealing fixtures that weekend. I'm not sure anything else will be decided in any of the games. You could make a case for a few of the games, but most could mean nothing by then.

Burnley v Ipswich
Birmingham v Leeds
Bournemouth v Nottm Forest
Charlton v Blackburn
Derby v Watford
Doncaster v Reading
Huddersfield v Leicester
Middlesbrough v Barnsley
QPR v Millwall
Sheff Wed v Bolton
Wigan v Blackpool

I dont know,...

Birmingham v Leeds,.. the battle to see who has the most crooked owner.
QPR V Millwall - London derby, Holloway interest.
Hudds v Leicester - big turnout from Leicester -
Wigan v Blackpool - local-ish derby.....

 

[Easy 10]

If true (if) then this really ought to be brought to the attention of season ticket holders in a far clearer and specific manner than referring to small print. It's simply not fair fans lose money in this way.

What's more, the clubs ought to work with Broadcasters to improve situation. Sure a lot more can be done than shrugging shoulders and saying that's just football, the way it is blah blah. There is little or no incentive though - they get their cake and eat it. Contempt in other words.

Throughout the season Sky are showing games from the FL on Friday and Monday nights, as well as chopping and changing weekend kickoff times. Its hardly a recent development. And its clearly stated at the bottom of my fixture list (in my wallet) that fixture dates are correct at the time of going to print, and are subject to change. What else can they do ? I'd have thought EVERYONE is aware any game could be selected for broadcast and switched.

As for improving the situation, I guess the only way to do this would be to provide longer than the (current) months notice about a switch - which at the start and middle of season, they do. But when we get near the end of the season, the final games are always going to be announced closer to the date, just to minimise the risk of them ending up showing a dead rubber.

TV dictates, money talks. Its the same for everyone.

 

[Bozza]

It's the LAST home game of the season. Traditionally a full day of socialising and reflection on the season past, now reduced to a mass scramble back from work on short formation trains because Sky want to mess us and Yeovil about. Very annoyed by this.

I actually don't object to friday games per se, but this is the last home league game and it has a special atmosphere which has now been taken away from us.

Agreed. I can go to the game regardless, but the move does help me out with other things that weekend. (A copy and paste from my thread on the poll.) I still don't think it's right though - the last home game of the season should be about milling around outside a pub in the sun with mates, enjoying the sauna of the WSU concourse, a decent away contingent (fancy dress optional), taking time after the game to appalled the players and back into town for more tomfoolery. As it is, it will be a horrible transport-related rush for all concerned, little time for socialising, 27 away fans and the Amex being nearly empty if there is any sort of post-match acknowledgement.

 

[edna krabappel]

taking time after the game to appalled the players and back into town for more tomfoolery

This is one of the more pleasing auto-corrects I've seen on here

 

[keaton]

If true (if) then this really ought to be brought to the attention of season ticket holders in a far clearer and specific manner than referring to small print. It's simply not fair fans lose money in this way.

What's more, the clubs ought to work with Broadcasters to improve situation. Sure a lot more can be done than shrugging shoulders and saying that's just football, the way it is blah blah. There is little or no incentive though - they get their cake and eat it. Contempt in other words.

They could choose not to take Sky's money and either a) get relegated or b) double the price of season tickets.


I don't understand how as a football fan are you not aware that fixtures are subject to change?

 

[Albumen]

Hang on, have they moved it cos Oscar didn't want it clashing on his birthday?

(not sure if anyone has mentioned this).

 

[portlock seagull]

They could choose not to take Sky's money and either a) get relegated or b) double the price of season tickets.


I don't understand how as a football fan are you not aware that fixtures are subject to change?

Ridiculous assumptions. Moreover At no point did I say not aware. Of course I am, you're not seeing or wanting to see that changes at short notice create problems. Couple this with it seems to happen a lot for us and I really think the club ought to say based on 3 seasons now, at championship level, this is how many games are likely to be subject to change (times or day) because of all the factors like trains not available, TV, university open days, Watford can't make it, gay parades, these ones may change because it's end of season etc etc. Give us a proper heads up etc before we're asked to tip money down the drain. Sorry but I don't belong to the brigade that sees the club is above criticism and/or able to improve things.

Worth pointing out it's not just me affected. Though of course some people (trolls) just want to see this an opportunity to lambast fellow fans for not having the same flexibility or lack of other things in their lives compared to themselves. As already witnessed on this thread.

 

[Giraffe]

I'm not personally affected by this at all. However I can see there if you were looking at this fixture some months before you would think it is highly unlikely to be moved being the last home game of the season. Certainly if it was going to be moved you would expect it to have been done before now. It is fairly late to change it. So I can fully understand why some people are miffed.

 

[Blues Rock DJ]

What's the sodding POINT of moving ALL the last games to 12.45 if you're going to let one kick off on the Friday the week before? What if Burnley need a point for automatic and, as a result of our game, Ipswich only need a point to get in the playoffs? What if Millwall need a point to stay up and QPR need one as a result of our game to get in the playoffs. It's sodding ridiculous. Not because it's us. It would be the same for any team with something to play for kicking off 24 hours in advance on the second last weekend.

think you'll find you're a week ahead of yourself, this is the penultimate week of the season end.

 

[Grombleton]

Of course I am, you're not seeing or wanting to see that changes at short notice create problems.

It depends on your definition of 'short notice'. It's one month, which isn't particularly short...it isn't a week, for example. I know it's not the greatest example to give, but it needs a bit of perspective.

Couple this with it seems to happen a lot for us and I really think the club ought to say based on 3 seasons now, at championship level, this is how many games are likely to be subject to change (times or day) because of all the factors like trains not available, TV, university open days, Watford can't make it, gay parades, these ones may change because it's end of season etc etc. Give us a proper heads up etc before we're asked to tip money down the drain. Sorry but I don't belong to the brigade that sees the club is above criticism and/or able to improve things.

As has been mentioned before - the club has their hands tied by Sky/the Football League - no club can choose which games are moved - they can only apply based on certain criteria (having an away game on a certain day to stop traffic issues, policing issues etc). The FL have the right to deny those applications.

Also, have we really been affected that much by moving games? We've had a few, but not so many that i'd deem it problematic.

It's the issue of Sky/broadcasting TV - they've got power to move the games to match their schedules, and because the clubs are getting hefty sums of money from them they'd be stupid to turn it down. It's the price the clubs pay for dancing with the devil.

Don't get me wrong - i love the idea of a 3pm saturday kick off for the final home match of the season.

 

[somerset]

.........- the last home game of the season should be about milling around outside a pub in the sun with mates, ........

This exactly,.....

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

Are Sky looking at the fixture on the basis it confirms a play off spot and a relegation ?

 

[Easy 10]

Are Sky looking at the fixture on the basis it confirms a play off spot and a relegation ?

Well they're certainly hoping it will. And so am I.

 

[Guinness Boy]

think you'll find you're a week ahead of yourself, this is the penultimate week of the season end.

Yep, I knew but I didn't phrase it very well. The point is that things are often settled in the penultimate week rather that the actual last game. Sky have moved a game involving a play off contender versus a relegation candidate on the assumption there will be something on it. If they are correct then what an earth is the point of making everyone kick off ar the same time on the last week?