J
Joe Brophy
Guest
This weekend’s Premier League action will contain just three Saturday games, with no early fixture scheduled for lunchtime.
English top-flight football has seen numerous schedule changes and alterations recently as we enter the business end of the 2023/24 season.
Newcastle’s thrilling 4-0 win over Tottenham kicked off last weekend’s football
Getty
Elite clubs will be more stretched than ever, with the second legs of the Champions, Europa and Europa Conference League quarter-finals all held this midweek.
To make matters more difficult, the FA Cup semi-finals will then take place this weekend as well.
It has led to just two Premier League games scheduled for the 3pm blackout slot, with relegation-threatened Luton hosting Brentford, while Sheffield United entertain fellow strugglers Burnley.
Put simply, there is no Saturday lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League this weekend due to no games being selected for broadcast.
A key reason behind that is European and FA Cup commitments limiting TNT Sports from picking a noteworthy fixture to screen.
Under the Premier League’s current broadcast deal, TNT Sports occupies the 12:30pm Saturday slot with Package A.
TNT screens the rights to 52 Premier League games a season, with only three remaining to be aired this campaign as it stands.
Both Manchester United, Man City, and Chelsea are involved in FA Cup semi-final action on Sunday and therefore unavailable.
Liverpool will be involved in another 12:30pm KO when the schedule reverts to normal
Getty
Liverpool, Aston Villa, and West Ham also all play Thursday night in the Europa League meaning they have to play Sunday.
Tottenham and Brighton are not involved at all, with the clubs’ respective fixtures against Man City and Chelsea postponed due to the latter’s involvement at Wembley.
TNT has occasionally moved their early Saturday slot to 8pm if clubs involved have played an away Champions League game earlier that week.
However, Arsenal‘s trip to Wolves, live on talkSPORT, is being shown by rival broadcasters Sky Sports from 7:30pm instead.
This has resulted in only the fourth Premier League weekend of the season that TNT will not show a live match at any time.
The regular Premier League schedule of lunchtime kick-offs will return for the next three Saturday lunchtimes – before the final weekend of the season sees all fixtures take place on Sunday, May 19.
Continue reading...
English top-flight football has seen numerous schedule changes and alterations recently as we enter the business end of the 2023/24 season.
Newcastle’s thrilling 4-0 win over Tottenham kicked off last weekend’s football
Getty
Elite clubs will be more stretched than ever, with the second legs of the Champions, Europa and Europa Conference League quarter-finals all held this midweek.
To make matters more difficult, the FA Cup semi-finals will then take place this weekend as well.
It has led to just two Premier League games scheduled for the 3pm blackout slot, with relegation-threatened Luton hosting Brentford, while Sheffield United entertain fellow strugglers Burnley.
Why is there no 12:30pm kick-off this Saturday?
Put simply, there is no Saturday lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League this weekend due to no games being selected for broadcast.
A key reason behind that is European and FA Cup commitments limiting TNT Sports from picking a noteworthy fixture to screen.
Under the Premier League’s current broadcast deal, TNT Sports occupies the 12:30pm Saturday slot with Package A.
TNT screens the rights to 52 Premier League games a season, with only three remaining to be aired this campaign as it stands.
Both Manchester United, Man City, and Chelsea are involved in FA Cup semi-final action on Sunday and therefore unavailable.
Liverpool will be involved in another 12:30pm KO when the schedule reverts to normal
Getty
Liverpool, Aston Villa, and West Ham also all play Thursday night in the Europa League meaning they have to play Sunday.
Tottenham and Brighton are not involved at all, with the clubs’ respective fixtures against Man City and Chelsea postponed due to the latter’s involvement at Wembley.
TNT has occasionally moved their early Saturday slot to 8pm if clubs involved have played an away Champions League game earlier that week.
However, Arsenal‘s trip to Wolves, live on talkSPORT, is being shown by rival broadcasters Sky Sports from 7:30pm instead.
This has resulted in only the fourth Premier League weekend of the season that TNT will not show a live match at any time.
The regular Premier League schedule of lunchtime kick-offs will return for the next three Saturday lunchtimes – before the final weekend of the season sees all fixtures take place on Sunday, May 19.
Continue reading...