Everton's fans have been left frustrated after their team's game against Manchester City was moved to a Monday night, bringing the total number of Monday 20:00 slot fixtures to seven. This move has sparked questions about how the limit on Sky Sports' TV picks is being broken. The Premier League has made about 270 out of 380 matches available for live broadcast this season, leaving Sky Sports in a position of dominance with four of the five TV packages.
The Everton Fan Advisory Board has expressed its discontent, labeling the move as "another signal of the disregard footballing authorities and broadcasters have for supporters." This sentiment is shared by other teams, including Manchester United, West Ham United, and Leeds United, who have also seen a significant number of their games moved to Friday or Monday. Manchester United, in particular, have had eight games moved to these slots, with five of them taking place at Old Trafford.
The Premier League's decision to make more games available for broadcast has inevitably led to a situation where some teams are being impacted more than others. Sky Sports' dominance in the TV market means that it can make selections that work in its favour, effectively rendering the broadcast limit a flexible guideline rather than a hard-and-fast rule.
The Premier League's broadcast limit has been rendered meaningless by Sky Sports' dominance, and fans are paying the price. The fact that Manchester United have had eight games moved to Friday or Monday, with five of them at Old Trafford, is a stark illustration of how the system is skewed in favour of the broadcaster. With more matches being made available for live broadcast, it's time for the Premier League to re-examine its TV selection process to ensure that fans are not being shortchanged.
