Why is there no 12:30 pm kick-off in the Premier League this Saturday despite the top flight's busy schedule?
Premier League football will be non-stop for the next four months, but this weekend there will be no early kick-off on Saturday.
Top-class clubs prepare to enter the busy winter schedule after the end of the last international break until March.
The Premier League returned with a bang last weekend, with Chelsea beating Leicester in Saturday's 12:30pm kick-off, live on talkSPORT.
However, no Premier League club have been booked for the same venue on November 30 after further adjustments to the schedule…
Why is there no start at 12:30 pm?
There will be no Saturday lunchtime kick-off in the Premier League this weekend as no games have been selected for broadcast.
TNT Sports occupies the broadcasting rights to broadcast the top category matches at 12:30 pm with Package A.
That deal gives them access to broadcast 52 Premier League matches per season, split between Saturday lunchtime and two rounds of midweek matches.
That means there are four blank game weeks without TNT coverage from England's elite.
Unfortunately for the fans, TNT Sports turned this Saturday into the second weekend without presence in the national game.
He The first of which came in gameweek 9. After eight consecutive selections to start the 2024/25 season.
Week 11 too He didn't have a show early Saturday.but that was because Liverpool's 2-0 win over Aston Villa was moved to 8pm.
TNT now prevents clubs playing away from home in the Champions League in midweek from returning to action at 12:30pm, but that is not a factor this week.
Matchday 12 of the Premier League
Friday, November 29
- Brighton vs Southampton – 8pm, talkSPORT EXCLUSIVE
Saturday November 30
- Brentford-Leicester City – 3pm
- Crystal Palace vs Newcastle – 3:00 p.m.
- Nottingham Forest vs Ipswich Town – 3pm, talkSPORT 2 EXCLUSIVE
- Wolves vs Bournemouth – 3pm
- West Ham-Arsenal – 5:30 p.m.
Sunday December 1
- Chelsea-Aston Villa – 1:30 p.m.
- Manchester United-Everton – 1:30 p.m.
- Tottenham-Fulham – 1:30 p.m.
- Liverpool-Manchester City – 4:00 p.m.
That's because there won't be an 8 p.m. kickoff this weekend either, and TNT simply opted not to broadcast a game.
While there will be no official reasoning behind their decision, as the timing of their targets is not mandatory, European action has surely played a role.
TNT Sports own most of the British rights to the Champions League football and exclusive UK coverage of the Europa League, and European conference league action.
Liverpool, Arsenalcity of man, Villa AstonTottenham, Chelsea and manchester unitedAll European adventures will be shown by them in the middle of the week.
The last three teams enter action on Thursday, meaning they are not eligible to play at 12:30 pm and have to play on Sunday.
Leading Premier League broadcaster Sky Sports has already selected the best Liverpool against champions City for its coverage.
2
Sky will also broadcast live coverage of Brighton vs. Southampton on Friday before West Ham hosts London rival Arsenal the following night.
That left TNT with just four matches to choose from, with only one team of eight finishing in the top nine last season.
Includes the participation of both Bournemouth and Brentfordwhich have the two smallest stadiums in the Premier League.
Newly promoted Leicester, who were in last weekend's 12.30pm slot, and Newcastle, who already had two early starts on Saturday.
Clubs must appear at least once per season in TNT's 12:30 pm slot, with a maximum of six.
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