Why is there no 12.30pm kick off in the Premier League on Saturday?
THE 2024/25 Premier League season has got off to a flying start – and even more thrilling action will take place this weekend.
Gameweek Nine begins with Leicester City hosting Nottingham Forest in only the second Friday night match of the campaign.
Nuno Espirito Santo‘s men travel to the King Power Stadium just four days after their 1-0 win over Crystal Palace on Monday night.
But the unusual Friday evening Premier League clash between Leicester and Forest is not the reason behind why there is no early Premier League game on Saturday.
SunSport has all the details below.
Why is there no 12.30pm kick off in the Premier League on Saturday?
There is no 12.30pm kick off in the Premier League on Saturday due to no games being selected for broadcast.
TNT Sports are the provider that occupies the 12.30pm slot for top-flight matches with Package A.
The broadcasting giants are able to air 52 Premier League games a season, which are split between Saturday lunchtime and all 20 fixtures from two separate midweek Gameweeks.
After the two rounds of midweek fixtures, TNT are left with 32 picks from the remaining 36 Gameweeks.
This means that the broadcaster must have four weekends where they are not able to air a Premier League fixture.
TNT have opted to make this Saturday the first Gameweek of the season without a Saturday lunchtime fixture after eight consecutive picks.
Full Premier League schedule for November
Saturday 2 November
12:30 Newcastle v Arsenal (TNT Sports)
AFC Bournemouth v Man City
Ipswich Town v Leicester
Liverpool v Brighton
Nott’m Forest v West Ham
Southampton v Everton
17:30 Wolves v Crystal Palace (Sky Sports)
Sunday 3 November
14:00 Spurs v Aston Villa (Sky Sports)
16:30 Man Utd v Chelsea (Sky Sports)
Monday 4 November
20:00 Fulham v Brentford (Sky Sports)
Saturday 9 November
Brentford v AFC Bournemouth
Crystal Palace v Fulham
West Ham v Everton
Wolves v Southampton
17:30 Brighton v Man City (Sky Sports)
20:00 Liverpool v Aston Villa (TNT Sports)
Sunday 10 November
14:00 Man Utd v Leicester*
14:00 Spurs v Ipswich Town*
14:00 Nott’m Forest v Newcastle (Sky Sports)
16:30 Chelsea v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
*Due to participation in UEFA Europa League the preceding Thursday
Saturday 23 November
12:30 Leicester v Chelsea (TNT Sports)
AFC Bournemouth v Brighton
Arsenal v Nott’m Forest
Aston Villa v Crystal Palace
Everton v Brentford
Fulham v Wolves
17:30 Man City v Spurs (Sky Sports)
Sunday 24 November
14:00 Southampton v Liverpool (Sky Sports)
16:30 Ipswich Town v Man Utd (Sky Sports)
Monday 25 November
20:00 Newcastle v West Ham (Sky Sports)
Friday 29 November
20:00 Brighton v Southampton (Sky Sports)
Saturday 30 November
Brentford v Leicester
Crystal Palace v Newcastle
Nottingham Forest v Ipswich Town
Wolves v AFC Bournemouth
17:30 West Ham v Arsenal (Sky Sports)
Sunday 1 December
13:30 Chelsea v Aston Villa (Sky Sports)
13:30 Man Utd v Everton*
13:30 Spurs v Fulham*
16:00 Liverpool v Man City (Sky Sports)
*Due to participation in UEFA Europa League the preceding Thursday
There is no official reasoning behind the broadcaster’s decision not to select any fixtures to air this weekend, but European football in midweek has likely played a part.
Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and Aston Villa all featured in the Champions League on Tuesday and Wednesday, on TNT Sports channels.
Manchester United, Tottenham and Chelsea played on Thursday night, also on TNT Sports, which means they are unable to take the 12.30pm lunchtime slot on Saturday.
Arsenal were the only Premier League team in Europe not to be aired live on TNT Sports earlier this week, with Amazon Prime Video holding the rights to air the standout Champions League fixture on Tuesday.
Leading Premier League broadcaster Sky Sports selected Arsenal vs Liverpool for the 4.30pm game on Sunday, putting the Gunners and Reds out of consideration for TNT’s lunchtime slot.
Aston Villa vs Bournemouth and Man City vs Southampton may have tempted the broadcaster for the 12.30pm pick, but TNT have to bear in mind that clubs can feature a maximum of six times in the Saturday lunchtime slot – so they have to be selective.
TNT are also required to show all Premier League clubs at least once at 12.30 on a Saturday.
The other fixtures snubbed are Brentford vs Ipswich and Brighton vs Wolves, while Everton vs Fulham is Saturday’s late kick off on Sky Sports.