Found this on NewsNow, the story is from Ready2Go. Strange time to screen the match especially with the pubs having been open for a few hours beforehand.

Sunderland AFC today announced that the kick-off time of the forthcoming Premiership derby clash against Newcastle United has been moved back to 5.15pm.

The kick-off on Saturday 21 April has been delayed to allow live Sky television coverage of the game.

A Sunday kick off was not an option for Sunderland as Irish internationals Quinn and Kilbane would be out of the country preparing for the Republic's World Cup Qualifier against Andorra on Wednesday 25th April.

Likewise a Saturday 11am kick-off was not possible as the Manchester United verses Manchester City fixture will be screened live on Sky at that time.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Answers

Do we have to agree to this? What happens if we refuse to change the time. I wouldn't have thought the police would be too keen with a couple of extra hours for drinking/trouble.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Which probably means those of us overseas can forget about Fox Sports picking up the match. Unlikely they'll want to fill 15min of airtime from 12-12:15p(eastern), nor want to push back whatever they plan to show at 2pm. :-(

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

but remember how well Sunderland have played on the telly this year

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

I think you overseas Toon fans see the lads live on TV more than we do over here so I reckon that time is spot on if they can't fir it in at any other time. Isn't the Sky scheduler a Toon fan anyway?

Apart from the concerns about trouble at the match I think this is a good time. Invite the lads round for beer and pizza and watch Sunderlan humiliated on national telly.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

I think you overseas Toon fans see the lads live on TV more than we do over here so I reckon that time is spot on if they can't fir it in at any other time. Isn't the Sky scheduler a Toon fan anyway?

Apart from the concerns about trouble at the match I think this is a good time. Invite the lads round for beer and pizza and watch Sunderland humiliated on national telly.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Sky yeah, but not fox/setanta. Oh well. If anyones telly is near their computer, we'll be relying on you for 'color commentary' while listeningt to the webcast. :-)

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

You could aalways hop on a plane and watch it in the Straabeery Ciara.

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001

Don't tempt me!

-- Anonymous, January 26, 2001