Scheduling
Optimising a schedule for the league, clubs and their fans
Challenge
The NIFL needed to maximise viewership ahead of a broadcast rights renewal, and recognised the role that the schedule could play in achieving this.
Solution
Our TFG Scheduler_ product enabled the league to develop a schedule in just two iterations, a significant improvement on the incumbent provider.
The new schedule not only met all ‘hard’ constraints, it also optimised to reduce the number of consecutive home or away games, increase the gaps between reverse fixtures and more evenly distributed the most exciting games across the season. We also provided the league with ‘scores’ for the attractiveness of each Premiership fixture, to support with broadcast selection conversations and to contribute to marketing efforts.
Impact
The league were able to save significant time in their scheduling process. The schedule also supported Larne to become the first Northern Irish team to reach a European group stage, enabling the league to continue to improve its UEFA coefficient and potential access to UEFA competitions.
