Should the middle eight fixture permutations be published with a guarantee that they remain as such I could see the benefits of finishing first.

Thought Sky has the rights to all the Championship games (until 2021 or something like that, it runs till the next SL contract runs out anyway) but didn't show any for some reason. Premier had the rights the year before but threw a strop and refused to show any as they weren't offered the chance to out bid sky. A bit daft as they weren't paying anything & sky now are, it just all goes into the RFL for central funding rather than being given to the teams when they're on as it is for the SL clubs.

the money that the championship clubs are getting as central funding is coming out of the money sky are paying for SL and the championship combined package. Don't know why people are saying championship clubs are getting no money from sky.
Its sky decision as to whether they choose to show any championship games or not. That said RFL basically threw the championship coverage into the SL deal for no extra money to keep sky sweet.

It was 2014 that Premier had the rights to the Championship but spat the dummy out and didn't show any because the RFL had agreed with Sky for 2015 without giving Premier a chance to compete.

Sky had rights throughout the 2015 season, but only chose to show most of the Bash and one game a week of the Middle 8s. I wouldn't expect that to change this season, as they don't seem interested. It's a shame that the RFL don't think to negotiate that if you have the rights for something, you have to show at least a game a week.

maybe we need Barry Hearn on board. Or whoever does the other lot. I have been watching some of the duffers world darts championship, most of whom, I could beat, but the BBC find time to show hours and hours of it every day. Due to the cutbacks this is one event the Beeb aren't renewing for next year but already BT Sport, who I think already show some of it, have stepped in and signed up. The total prize money is around £339k plus £55k for a 9-darter. But the exposure is great, with it being on terrestrial they average 2.5m viewers and peaks around 3.5m

2014 Premier had the rights to the Championship but didn't show it becuase they were losing money on each broadcast but had done so in 2013 becuase they thought they were building a brand/audience that would pay off in the future. The RFL selling it the Sky cut off that future, so less of a dummy spit and more of a stabbed in the back moment.