Premier League owners have reportedly held informal discussions about ending the traditional Saturday 3pm television blackout in the UK. This move could potentially increase broadcasting revenue and the value of clubs across the country.
At present, broadcasters in England and Scotland are prohibited from showing live matches between 2.45pm and 5.15pm, in accordance with UEFA statutes. This restriction also affects games from continental Europe. The current blackout agreement is set to remain in place until 2029, as per the terms and conditions outlined for the 2025-29 domestic television rights process, which is due to go to tender.
US owners keen on change
Premier League owners and investors, particularly those from the US, are reportedly eager to make changes to maximise broadcasting revenue. Chelsea and Manchester United's US owners are cited as two of the parties most interested in this change. They believe that a change in legislation would also increase the value of clubs across the country.
Premier League rights holders outside of the United Kingdom currently have permission to broadcast all 380 games of the season live. The next cycle of tender will see up to 250 and 270 games on offer to those living in the UK. This is a significant increase on the current quota of 200 but still falls short of what's on offer abroad.
Lower-league clubs have expressed concerns that the scrapping of the blackout would impact attendances and income for those who need it most. However, many top-flight supporters argue that ticket availability is extremely limited in the Premier League and there's no other way of watching the games live.
The origin of the 3pm blackout
The blackout idea was first proposed by Burnley chairman Bob Lord in the 1960s as a way of attracting large attendances at games. Many point to Germany's widespread coverage as an example of matchday crowds remaining full to capacity despite every game being available to watch at home.
By keeping the majority of Britain's games on Saturdays at 3pm, football clubs can continue to bring in large audiences at stadiums with no harm to their income. Article 48 of the UEFA Statutes allows any association to decide on a set period of 2.5 hours per Saturday and Sunday during which the transmission of football within that territory is prohibited. England and Scotland have applied this to 2:45pm to 5:15pm on a Saturday.
The discussions about ending the 3pm blackout are still in the early stages, but the potential changes could significantly alter the landscape of football broadcasting in the UK.
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