Programar: why está programado instead of es programado?

Question

Reading about the Olympic Games in an article in the Spanish language version of the NY Times, I saw "como si los juegos estuvieran programados para el 2017." Why not "fueran programados" or even "se programaran"? Thx for your input.

Thanks for the input , please do not use text speak because we have members learning English on SD. - ray76, Jul 11, 2016

What is text speak, please? And does flag mean I will receive no responses? Thx for an explanation. - dreaming_of_wales, Jul 11, 2016

I think "Thx" is text speak. - jtaniel, Jul 11, 2016

I am hoping if you wait that you receive an answer; I would like to see it. I answer a lot of questions but this one is a bit beyond me. All Ray is asking is that you spell out "thanks" instead of using "Thx"- we are a language learning site.... - bosquederoble, Jul 11, 2016

...And use of correct English rather than shortcuts is required. :) - bosquederoble, Jul 11, 2016

Answer 1

The general question: Estar is used to describe conditions, like the condition of being scheduled; thus, está programado instead of es programado.

The specific question: I think you could say fueran programados as a form of the passive voice, focused on what happened in the past (the scheduling) rather than on the present (the fact of being scheduled). Same with se programaran, another way of expressing the passive. (As you seem to understand, the counterfactual nature of the "como si" calls for the subjunctive in both of these cases.)

Super crucial disclaimer: I'm not a fluent Spanish speaker.

You "nailed" it, amigo. - Daniela2041, Jul 11, 2016

Yes, I was thinking along exactly the same lines< estar = Condition :) Good call, Jt :) - FELIZ77, Jul 11, 2016