Fixture changes- How to make a point.

[alan ball]

I am sure there are many fans like myself who are getting sick and tired of the inconvenience of changes to our fixtures because of TV. We all know that the money from the broadcasters is massive, but does that give them the right to what they want without any consultation with fan groups, advisory boards etc??
What do fans need to do to show their feelings, make themselves heard, being taken serious?
It’s got to be right across the country. Enough is enough. Fans need to stick together, but how?

 

[Johnniepk]

Isnt the role of these official fan organisations to put the fans point of view across. That would be a start if they could do something.
There seems little understanding of the need of fans to plan trips and make bookings. To have moves happen almost every game is ridiculous.
It impacts the match goer, the club staff, local businesses, transport, all for tv audiences.

 

[blue to the bone]

When clubs stop taking the hundreds of millions off broadcasters.
So it wont.

 

[ToffeeTim]

There's nothing that can be done about it when the TV money is so important to clubs

All I would say is that Monday night football is the worst. Horrible time for a game. Horrible for fans. Usually rubbish matches (excluding the 4-4 this week) and really an unnecessary time for a game given all the possible options for kick off times over the weekend.

 

[Eggs]

….televising football matches won’t change, but those involved should consider;

Compensating fans for purchases made before change was announced.
Ensuring early and late kick-off times involve teams in a similar geographical location, e.g. within 100 miles.

 

[degsy]

….televising football matches won’t change, but those involved should consider;

Compensating fans for purchases made before change was announced.
Ensuring early and late kick-off times involve teams in a similar geographical location, e.g. within 100 miles.

They'll just change the way they format / announce the fixtures

Match Week 1
Weekend of Friday 10th Aug to Monday Aug. 13th*
* actual date to be arranged

 

[Moomin]

Will only keep getting worse as Sky will want more return on it's investment for the TV deal it pays for.

 

[TN Toffee]

I think the only realistic way things might ever change would be for restrictions to be implemented at a governmental level, a la the 3PM blackout and away ticket price cap.

Things like requiring the TV providers to either set the full broadcast schedule ahead of the season when they release the fixtures, or at the very least 3 months in advance to allow people (including fans from abroad) to make the necessary travel arrangements without being forced to pay a premium for booking last minute. Obviously there would need to be some narrow exceptions for things like spring fixtures that have to be rearranged because of FA Cup participation. Or no fixtures can be moved off 3PM Saturday into a timeslot that will see the match either kick off too early or finish too late for traveling supporters to take the train without having to stay overnight. Just those two things would help massively, and wouldn't require consulting fan groups on a case by case basis as they are universal problems. Also maybe implement a Monday night blackout to stop them moving games there altogether because everyone seems to hate them.

If pure capitalism is allowed to rule, things will at best stay this way, or more realistically just continue to get worse because the PL isn't going to stop chasing profits. I suspect that the clubs have no power here either, as their choice is likely to either abide by the whims of the league's TV partners, or just not participate in the league.

 

[Jacko93]

….televising football matches won’t change, but those involved should consider;

Compensating fans for purchases made before change was announced.
Ensuring early and late kick-off times involve teams in a similar geographical location, e.g. within 100 miles.

The compensation should be paid for by the Broadcasters as well btw. Every single change of fixture from Saturday 3pm should include a £1m payment to the local FA to fund local clubs. Anybody that cant make.it should be offered a full refund of all expenses.

 

[chrismpw]

Nag the hell out of mps until they're bored to death hearing about how those who elect them want some representation against the almighty behemoth of unregulated market forces.

Sky etc operate in this country with our consent. They should expect to work within rules. I wouldn't care ifvthey buggered off to a different market.

 

[Alanbileysfeathercut]

There's nothing that can be done about it when the TV money is so important to clubs

All I would say is that Monday night football is the worst. Horrible time for a game. Horrible for fans. Usually rubbish matches (excluding the 4-4 this week) and really an unnecessary time for a game given all the possible options for kick off times over the weekend.

8pm sat night is the worse imo.
Overkill of live football, and I love football.
Oversaturation.
Hopefully it will kill the current game.

 

[Pootsy]

Friday 8pm
Saturday 12:30pm, 3pm, 5:30pm, 8pm
Sunday 2:00pm, 4:30pm

With this amount of Kick Off times, why do we need a MNF @ 7:45 too?

 

[Jacko93]

I think the only realistic way things might ever change would be for restrictions to be implemented at a governmental level, a la the 3PM blackout and away ticket price cap.

Things like requiring the TV providers to either set the full broadcast schedule ahead of the season when they release the fixtures, or at the very least 3 months in advance to allow people (including fans from abroad) to make the necessary travel arrangements without being forced to pay a premium for booking last minute. Obviously there would need to be some narrow exceptions for things like spring fixtures that have to be rearranged because of FA Cup participation. Or no fixtures can be moved off 3PM Saturday into a timeslot that will see the match either kick off too early or finish too late for traveling supporters to take the train without having to stay overnight. Just those two things would help massively, and wouldn't require consulting fan groups on a case by case basis as they are universal problems. Also maybe implement a Monday night blackout to stop them moving games there altogether because everyone seems to hate them.

If pure capitalism is allowed to rule, things will at best stay this way, or more realistically just continue to get worse because the PL isn't going to stop chasing profits. I suspect that the clubs have no power here either, as their choice is likely to either abide by the whims of the league's TV partners, or just not participate in the league.

I have to say the worst fixture change I have known in my time watching Everton, is this Saturday, for both sets of supporters.

Last Saturday before Christmas, an already crippled rail network, hammered local transport. Its going to be an absolute nightmare.

Just for me, travelling back to Warrington the train is bad enough for night games, never mind what to expect this coming weekend.

This is the first game at the new ground I'm driving to. (Prebooked Q Park at Liverpool One for £9) but I expect it will still be a nightmare getting away.

The worst part about it is that even with knowing everything that has happened transport wise since we have moved in, we still agreed to it. Agreeing to it was tone deaf to a lot of what the fanbase has been saying in the past few months. I wiuld even say it shoul have been refused on safety grounds, citing night games and the poor lighting around the ground. Land it back on Commander Steve's desk.

 

[kev]

I think the only realistic way things might ever change would be for restrictions to be implemented at a governmental level, a la the 3PM blackout and away ticket price cap.

I fear that this is correct.

 

[dockroad]

When you dance with the devil you lose your soul . That is what's happened.