The Premier League has made a significant change to its broadcasting rules that will greatly benefit football fans. The previously imposed restrictions on broadcasting youth-team matches at the same time as senior top-flight games have been lifted, starting from the 2025/26 campaign.
This rule change means that Under-21 games in the Premier League 2 can now be live-streamed even if they coincide with fixtures on Sky Sports or TNT Sports. This is a major shift from previous regulations which prevented simultaneous broadcasts of youth and senior team matches. Official club channels are set to "take the lead" in showing these games, providing fans with more opportunities to follow their favourite teams' young talents. However, there are rumours of a potential TV deal in future years if viewing figures prove substantial.
According to CityAM, “Premier League clubs have been given permission to live-stream all of their U21 matches from next season.” The report further added: “While club websites are expected to take the lead in streaming matches next season, the rights could be taken to market in subsequent years if there is sufficient demand.”
Impact on football fans
This rule change is particularly good news for Manchester United supporters who have long complained about MUTV not showing enough youth-team fixtures live. Last season only 14 out of 35 Under-21 games were shown live and just eight of those were Premier League 2 clashes.
The lifting of this blackout will also help clubs like Manchester City whose Elite Development Squad won the 2024/25 Premier League 2 after a decisive victory over Southampton in the play-off final.
Despite this positive development, football fans must still contend with another year under the infamous '3pm blackout'. This rule prevents games from being broadcast live at that time as an effort to protect attendances at stadiums. However, there are reports suggesting that this measure could be axed when the current TV deal expires at the end of the 2028/29 season.
