Just four matches involving Bristol City were selected for broadcast by Sky Sports this season, the fewest among all 24 clubs in the Championship.
Data collated by author Chris Weatherspoon reveals the Robins rank last over the 2022/23 season with play-off challengers Blackburn Rovers (20) and Sunderland (18) and promoted Burnley (17) and Sheffield United (16) leading the way.
All four of City’s games that have been shown by Sky on one of its dedicated channels were at Ashton Gate: the 2-0 Severnside Derby win over Cardiff City on August 21, the 1-0 defeat to Sheffield United on November 1, the victory over Blackpool on March 11, and most recently the 2-2 draw with Middlesbrough on April 10.
City have had further midweek matches shown through the Red Button service but that is blanket coverage rather than focusing on a specific match. The FA Cup tie against Manchester City on February 28 was also shown live on ITV1.
The reasons behind the comparative lack of coverage would appear to lie in the Robins’ league position over the course of the campaign. Outside of September and the start of October where they were threatening to be a top six side, Nigel Pearson’s team have fluctuated between 13th and 19th.
With no pressure on them being promotion or play-off contenders or battling against relegation, they haven’t possessed the same obvious narrative as other clubs, as four of the current top seven occupy the top four places, followed by division heavyweights West Brom, Norwich City and Watford. On a slightly different note, Reading and Cardiff City have been fighting relegation - unsuccessfully in the case of the Royals - for much of the season.
Unfortunately that does impact City's revenue for the campaign with their four matches shown worth up to £400,000 to the club, whereas Blackburn Rovers and Sunderland's earning will be comfortably in the millions not even taking into account redistribution payments.
Under their current agreement, the EFL give clubs £2.5m each, with a further £4.5m from the Premier League for non-parachute payment clubs, and then monies are awarded on a game-by-game basis with home sides earning up to £100,000 and visiting sides receiving £10,000.
Despite reports that DAZN could win the contract to broadcast Championship and EFL fixtures from 2024/25 onwards, the governing body confirmed at the start of April that Sky are preferred bidders with their period of exclusivity having ended and an announcement due shortly.
Times shown on Sky 2022/23
- Blackburn Rovers - 20
- Sunderland - 18
- Burnley - 17
- Sheffield United - 16
- West Brom - 15
- Norwich City - 15
- Watford - 12
- Middlesbrough - 12
- Millwall - 11
- Reading - 10
- Luton Town - 10
- Cardiff City - 10
- QPR - 8
- Hull City - 8
- Birmingham City - 8
- Preston North End - 7
- Coventry City - 7
- Rotherham United - 6
- Blackpool - 6
- Wigan Athletic - 5
- Swansea City - 5
- Stoke City - 5
- Huddersfield Town - 5
- Bristol City - 4
*does not include Red Button coverage
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