The Chronicle

Sky’s the limit as TV Cup clash hits fixtures

- By STUART RAYNER Sports Writer stuart.rayner@trinitymir­ror.com @StuRayner

THE decision to show Sunderland’s League Cup live on television could have a domino effect on their early August fixture list.

On Wednesday the Football League published its 2017-18 fixture list but in an era of so many televised games, the Championsh­ip list is no more than a rough guide.

The authoritie­s did at least announce straight away which three matches Sky would be broadcasti­ng on the opening weekend but no further decisions are expected until late June.

That Sunderland’s game at home to Derby County will kick off the season’s coverage on Friday August 4 is an indication the Black Cats will be a big draw in the coming campaign, potentiall­y making Saturday three o’clock fixtures more scarce.

The League Cup first-round tie at Bury has also been moved and the fact it will now be played on a Thursday – August 10 – could have a knock-on effect.

Bury’s League One game against Wigan Athletic the following weekend has already been put back to Sunday to give them more preparatio­n time.

It could be the same happens to Sunderland. They are due to play at Norwich City – their first away trip of the Championsh­ip campaign – on the Saturday.

The round trip to Carrow Road is a 510-mile one.

If the match was to move to Sunday, the subsequent midweek fixture at Sheffield Wednesday could potentiall­y be moved from Tuesday to Wednesday.

It shows the complexity of the fixture list, particular­ly when you find yourself as the division’s biggest attraction, and why fans cannot afford to make too many concrete plans beyond the opening week. To help them, Sky has announced when it expects to select its games for eight different parts of the season. It has also promised clubs can reject a change if they are not given at least five weeks’ notice.

The good news for the club is they will receive £175,000 from the TV companies for their week’s work. It is not much compared to what TV revenue the Wearsiders were bringing in for Premier League football but welcome nonetheles­s at a time when finances are so tight.

Last year Sky paid every Premier League club to show them 10 times but only took up the option on eight occasions with Sunderland and Hull City, the joint fewest. Clubs received extra money for every match over the ten shown. It contribute­d to the £93m the Black Cats received even though they finished bottom of the table.

Sunderland’s opening pre-season friendly at Bury’s Gigg Lane will go ahead as planned on July 7, Shakers’ manager Lee Clark has confirmed, and the club are expecting to receive more than 4,000 tickets for the cup tie.

 ??  ?? Bury’s Gigg Lane
Bury’s Gigg Lane

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