Premier League 3pm blackout set to be SCRAPPED in major development as potential date set
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Britain's unique Saturday 3pm football television blackout rule could be coming to an end after nearly seven decades, according to reports.
The long-standing regulation, which has prevented live broadcasts of matches during the traditional Saturday afternoon kick-off time since 1960, may not survive beyond the 2028-29 season.
The United Kingdom remains the only country in Europe maintaining this broadcasting restriction, which was originally implemented to protect match attendance at stadiums.
The potential change would come as Premier League and EFL negotiate their next broadcast rights deals.
Premier League 3pm kick-offs may be shown live
PREUTERS
The blackout rule has been a cornerstone of British football broadcasting for over six decades, preventing the live televising of matches during the 3pm Saturday slot.
Introduced in 1960, the regulation was specifically designed to encourage football supporters to attend matches in person rather than watch them on television.
This restriction has significantly shaped how Premier League fixtures are scheduled, with many games being moved away from the traditional 3pm slot.
The rule has resulted in numerous Premier League matches being rescheduled to different time slots throughout the week to enable live television coverage.
Current Premier League broadcast arrangements include multiple designated time slots to accommodate television coverage.
TNT Sports and Sky Sports may be set to show live matches
PA
Games are regularly scheduled for a 12:30pm slot on Saturdays, followed by another window at 5:30pm for live broadcasts.
The television schedule has expanded beyond weekends, with matches now regularly featured on Monday nights and Friday nights.
Some fixtures are even scheduled for later time slots on Saturdays to enable broadcasting.
Sky Sports has increased its coverage of EFL matches this season, leading to earlier kick-off times for several games, while others maintain the traditional 3pm start.
According to The Times, the blackout rule faces mounting pressure to survive beyond the expiration of current broadcasting deals in 2028-29.
The evolution of modern broadcasting rights and viewing habits has made it increasingly challenging to maintain the traditional restriction.
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The 3pm blackout is exclusive to the UK
REUTERS
This potential change would mark a significant shift in how football is consumed in the UK, ending a regulation that has shaped match scheduling for over 60 years.
The move would align British football broadcasting with the rest of Europe, where no such restrictions exist on showing live matches during Saturday afternoons.
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