Stoke City will go looking for their first win on live television in 13 attempts this weekend as Mark Robins takes his team to Coventry.
A total 30 Stoke games have been or will be televised live in all this term, with more possibly to be added to the list, after a revolution in how the EFL was broadcast. A £935 million deal with Sky Sports runs for five years has meant all mid-week fixtures, all games on Bank Holidays, the opening weekend and final fixtures have been or will be shown on TV, as well as all Carabao Cup ties and a host of games initially pencilled in for Saturday afternoons.
There have been seven 12.30pm kick-offs so far, with at least another three to go, including the Coventry game. Fifteen home matches have been picked as well as 15 away.
Stoke won seven of their first 11 that were on the box from August to early November but they have since drawn five and lost seven.
It has been interesting to note the attendances as supporters have got used to the transformation of their diaries and particularly the away followings. Hats off to the 947 Stoke fans in the away end at Portsmouth on a Wednesday night in January when they could have watched at home, or the 800 at Bristol City, 900 at Sunderland or 900 at Southampton, as well as 360 for a Carabao Cup tie at Middlesbrough on a Tuesday evening and 894 at Carlisle.
We also noted as we went along that the number of tickets sold for the given attendance pretty clearly hasn’t always tallied with the number of seats actually filled in the stadium. There were not 24,738 at the bet365 Stadium for a Boxing Day defeat to Leeds United, for example.
What will also be particularly of note to clubs up and down the country is the corporate sales and hospitality packages that they have been able to sell for matches that have been moved. That was one of the concerns raised when this package was announced last year and the full impact will only be seen in the fullness of time.
Stoke chairman John Coates said last summer: “To a level, we’ll have to see. I’m conscious with us being allocated quite a few 12.30pm kick-off times and the effect that could well be having on supporters. I was speaking to (chief operating officer) Simon King about the effect it could also potentially have on corporate sales.
“I think it was undoubtedly the best deal that was put in front of the EFL but we’ll have to monitor how it affects ourselves and supporters.”
Stoke City matches already selected for live TV coverage
Saturday, Aug 10, 12.30pm: Coventry City, home – 1-0 win. Attendance: 25,037 (2,983 away)
Tuesday, Aug 13, 7.30pm: Carabao Cup first round – Carlisle United, away – 2-0 win. Att: 4,441 (894 away)
Tuesday, Aug 27, 7.15pm: Carabao Cup second round – Middlesbrough, away – 5-0 win. Att: 17,408 (360 away)
Saturday, Sept 14, 12.30pm: Oxford United, away – 1-0 defeat. Att: 11,507 (1,476 away)
Tuesday, Sept 17, 7.30pm: Carabao Cup third round – Fleetwood Town, home – 1-1 (Stoke won 2-1 on penalty). Att: 8,927 (206 away)
Friday, Sept 20, 8pm: Hull City, home – 3-1 defeat. Att: 23,366 (757 away)
Wednesday, Oct 2, 7.45pm: Portsmouth, home – 6-1 win. Att: 20,824 (1,721 away)
Tuesday, Oct 22, 7.45pm: Bristol City, home – 2-2 draw. Att: 19,679 (582 away)
Tuesday, Oct 29, 7.45pm: Carabao Cup fourth round – Southampton, away – 3-2 defeat. Att: 16,092 (estimated 900 away)
Saturday, Nov 2, 12.30pm: Derby County, home – 2-1 win. Att: 24,511 (3,364 away)
Wednesday, Nov 6, 7.45pm: Blackburn Rovers, away – 2-0 win. Att: 13,133 (1,644 away)
Saturday, Nov 9, 12.30pm: MIllwall, home – 1-1 draw. Att: 21,060 (691 away)
Tuesday, Nov 26, 7.45pm: Preston North End – 0-0 draw. Att: 19,805 (873 away)
Saturday, Dec 7, 12.30pm: Sunderland, away – 2-1 defeat. Att: 39,311 (estimated 900 away)
Tuesday, Dec 10, 7.45pm: Luton Town, away – 2-1 defeat. Att: 10,537 (1,157)
Saturday, Dec 21, 12.30pm: Sheffield Wednesday, away – 2-0 defeat. Att: 26,743 (estimated 2,100)
Thursday, Dec 26, 8pm: Leeds United, home – 2-0 defeat. Att: 24,738 (3,383 away)
Wednesday, Jan 1, 3pm: Burnley, away – 0-0 draw. Att: 20,119 (estimated 1,500 away)
Saturday, Jan 4, 12.30pm: Plymouth Argyle, home – 0-0 draw. Att: 26,168 (1,407 away)
Wednesday, Jan 22, 7.45pm: Portsmouth, away – 3-1 defeat. Att: 19,388 (947 away)
Saturday, Jan 25, 12:30pm: Oxford United, home – 0-0 draw. Att: 22,911 (2,010 away)
Wednesday, Feb 12, 7.45pm: Bristol City, away – 2-0 defeat. Att: 18,457 (estimated 800 away)
Tuesday, Feb 25, 7.45pm: Middlesbrough, home – 3-1 defeat. Att: 20,141 (1,088 away)
Saturday, Mar 8, 12.30pm: Coventry City, away
Wednesday, Mar 12, 8pm: Blackburn Rovers, home
Saturday, Mar 15, 12.30pm: Millwall, away
Tuesday, April 8, 7.45pm: Luton Town, home
Friday, April 18, 3pm: Sheffield Wednesday, home
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