How Premier League Fixtures Are Scheduled Around TV Slots
Every June, the Premier League releases its fixture list for the coming season, and fans around the world immediately check when their club plays its rivals. But the dates on that first list are not final. Many matches later move to different days and times so they can be shown on television. This guide explains how the fixture list is built, why games are moved, what the famous Saturday 3pm blackout is, and what all of this means for fans in Bangladesh who watch late at night.
Step one: building the fixture list
The fixture list is produced with specialist scheduling software and checked by the league, clubs and the police. It must follow a long list of rules. Each club plays every other club twice, once at home and once away. Clubs should not play more than two home or two away games in a row where possible. The opening and closing matches avoid repeating the previous season’s pattern. Clubs that share a city, such as the Manchester or Merseyside teams, are usually not scheduled at home on the same day, to help policing and public transport.
The software also considers Christmas and New Year, when travel is limited, so many clubs play nearby opponents during the festive period.
Step two: selecting games for television
The first list shows every match on a Saturday at 3pm UK time, but that is only a placeholder. The league’s broadcast partners then pick which games they want to show in their slots. Selections are made in batches several weeks ahead, which is why fans often learn the final time of a match only a month or so before it is played.
- Saturday early kick-off, usually 12:30 UK time.
- Saturday 3pm, mostly not televised in the UK.
- Saturday evening, usually 17:30 UK time.
- Sunday afternoon slots, typically 14:00 and 16:30 UK time.
- Monday or Friday night games on some weekends.
For more guides on watching football from Bangladesh, the VelkiVIP sports guide keeps the explainers together.
The Saturday 3pm blackout
In the UK, matches that kick off at 3pm on Saturday cannot be broadcast live on television. The rule dates back decades and is meant to protect attendance at lower-league and grassroots matches. The blackout only applies inside the UK. International broadcasters, including those serving South Asia, can show these games live, which is why fans in Bangladesh can watch matches that UK fans cannot.
Why fixtures move after the list is published
- Television selection, as explained above.
- European competitions: clubs playing on Thursday in the Europa League or Conference League are usually moved to Sunday.
- Domestic cup rounds, which can push league games to midweek dates.
- Policing and safety concerns for high-risk matches.
- Weather or stadium problems on rare occasions.
What this means in Bangladesh time
Bangladesh is six hours ahead of UK winter time (GMT) and five hours ahead during UK summer time (BST). A 3pm Saturday game therefore starts at 9pm in Dhaka during the winter, and the 17:30 slot begins at 11:30pm. Sunday 16:30 games start at 10:30pm in winter. Midweek evening games at 20:00 UK time start at 2am Bangladesh time in winter, which explains the many late nights for local fans.
Tips for following the schedule
- Check the official club or league site for confirmed kick-off times, not the original June list.
- Watch for clock changes in late March and late October, which shift Bangladesh times by an hour.
- Remember that European weeks often move weekend fixtures.
- Set reminders once a game is confirmed for television.
If you use an online platform while following matches, check that your contact is listed. The current Velki agent roster for Bangladesh shows the verified entries.