In point of fact TNT don’t have any 1st picks in the current deal either ( which rolled over for a further 3 seasons from the previous deal). They do have two exclusive complete midweek rounds in the current deal and also in the new deal. Technically this does give them some 1st picks as Sky are locked out from these matches with them all being exclusive to TNT.
TNT do have control of 2nd picks both in the current deal and the new one, however, which in some ways is better for them in being able to use their quotas ( minimum & maximum number of times that each club is permitted to be shown).
When TNT (aka BT Sport ) did have some first picks in previous rights deals, they had to play second fiddle to Sky who had control of 1st picks. Effectively this meant that Sky were able to dictate exactly when TNT were going to be able to use their allocation of 1st picks.
