I've done a bit of research into the Championship games that have been televised live on Sky this season (including those which are scheduled to be shown in the coming weeks). The 'League Table' of what I've found is below, with the overall number of matches in bold, then the number of a club's away fixtures used as a 'goal difference'. This is because the negative impact on a club is greater when home games are televised, given the likely reduction in ticket sales. Bear in mind, clubs are paid extra by Sky per televised game. 1. Aston Villa - 15 (11 away) 2. Newcastle United - 14 (10 away) 3. Leeds United - 14 (9 away) 4. Brighton & Hove Albion - 14 (6 away) 5. Sheffield Wednesday - 10 (8 away) 6. QPR - 10 (4 away) 7. Derby County - 9 (3 away) 8. Nottingham Forest - 8 (5 away) 9. Birmingham City - 8 (4 away) = Norwich City - 8 (4 away) 11. Wolverhampton Wanderers - 8 (3 away) 12. Huddersfield Town - 8 (2 away) 13. Ipswich Town - 4 (2 away) 14. Brentford - 4 (1 away) = Reading - 4 (1 away) = Wigan Athletic - 4 (1 away) 17. Blackburn Rovers - 3 (1 away) = Bristol City - 3 (1 away) = Cardiff City - 3 (1 away) = Fulham - 3 (1 away) 21. Barnsley - 2 (0 away) = Burton Albion - 2 (0 away) = Preston North End - 2 (0 away) = Rotherham United - 2 (0 away) No surprises to see us rock bottom - but there should be. We've been one of the most exciting teams to watch this year, involved in competitive games with lots of goals and entertainment, yet Sky clearly prefer the 'big name' teams with larger fanbases who'll watch their team away. The argument will be that those are market forces in natural action, but it skews an already rocky playing field even more when Newcastle and Villa are paid even more for televised games on top of their parachute payments, and have revenue from home gate receipts protected. From a fans' point of view, it stinks that a Villa fan can watch 34 of their games without leaving Birmingham, whereas those of us at the bottom have to shell out in travel and over-inflated ticket prices to watch a single away game. Long may we continue to defy the odds and balance sheets, all the while under the radar.
Like to know how many QPR were on after Holloway went back. Sky looking after their buddy, seem to be on every week.
Thats pretty shocking Bizarrely though, look at Fulham. Only 3 games, and one of those was the opener against Newcastle. Ex prem club, large investment, playing some very good football at times, and only on 3 times. Then you look at Wednesday, QPR, Brum, Forest and Wolves who have all played some terrible football this season. I actually thought we may have been on more after the back end of last season when we were on quite a bit and scored plenty of goals and seemed to win some admirers. Obviously not.
It is based on anticipated viewers, which adds up to more money through advertisements. Easier to flog thirty seconds ad space in between Leeds Vs Villa than it would be Barnsley Vs Burton.
It doesn't seem to be about the quality of the product but how easy it's perceived to be to con people into believing it's shiny and exciting and ram it down their throats. It's actually a lot like the music industry. We're making some cracking albums and packing out small venues, but you won't hear us on Capital.
Only because Newcastle are in division there not watch next season it be Leeds every week because the not going up I fancy Fulham to pip them
Yep, agree I have been saying for weeks now, Fulham will creep up into the playoffs and end up winning them. I can see Huddersfield sneaking into 2nd spot ahead of Brighton.