How the Fixture list is manipulated to meet the needs of Broadcasters

[Chester Perry]

If you thought the fixtures were randomly generated then you are wrong

restrictions in the fixture computer mean there is no top six clash at either the start or end of a season (to stop people staying at home to watch the big game) and each of the different TV packages sold are done so with the guarantee that they will have the chance to show big fixture matches between the big six - none of this should come as a surprise really but interesting that this long established practice is only just coming to light

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[IanMcL]

It is also set up to give teams like Burnley a hard tome early on! However, we might form part of the planning this year, with Thurs and Sun matches

[Pstotto]

Come on. Burnley v. Rovers on Boxing Day etc.

[TsarBomba]

I’m amazed that people are only just cottoning on.

You telling me that the annual Derby v Forest, United v Liverpool, and Rangers v Celtic ‘derby day’ weekend isn’t purely coincidence?

[LeadBelly]

Haven't they always arranged it so that local teams (eg Everton/Liverpool or Man City/Man United) don't play at home on the same day?
Also it's not random in that homes/aways are approximately balanced - if it were truly random, you'd have plenty of runs of 3/4 home or away games cropping up.
The fixture generator programme clearly has some constraints built into it for good reasons. If it was truly random, there'd be a lot of problems thrown up.

[Falcon]

Yes they've always made it be known that they'd limit consecutive home/away matches to 2, and you can tie yourself to a local rival so you never play at home on the same day. You could also request not to be at home on certain dates in the calendar so as not to clash with other local events.

However, they've never announced that there is a bias towards the top 6.

[claptrappers_union]

As mentioned above they had the rivalry weekend, and there was another one and I can't remember its title... It was a few years ago when Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and one of the other big six played each other in the same weekend... I forgot what they called it...

Something Grand Slam Football... Mega Weekend Football.... or something. Its going to bug me, this.

[Dejavu]

Let it go!!

[NottsClaret]

I never thought they were randomly generated? As we always say on fixture day, you've got to play everyone twice. Makes little difference really.

[No Ney Never]

I never thought they were randomly generated? As we always say on fixture day, you've got to play everyone twice. Makes little difference really.

Me too, and if it helps sell the rights to broadcasters, good on 'em. We're making fantastic money out of the premier league, long may it continue.

[timshorts]

The lower down the leagues you go, you find different little "extra's added in. August, September, April and May have all the long trips accommodated so that, say, Gateshead v Torquay is less likely to get called off for weather difficulties. Games that are not derby matches but not too far away get put in midweek - Boston v Kidderminster or Southport v North Ferriby, say.