Sky Sports will show live games during the 3pm blackout across the opening weekend of the English Football League (EFL) as part of a new TV deal.
The broadcaster announced on Wednesday that every game from all three EFL divisions will be shown on the opening weekend of the 2024-25 season — including those matches scheduled to take place at 3pm on Saturday.
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Matches kicking off at 3pm on Saturday are not allowed to be shown by domestic broadcasters under Article 48 of UEFA’s statutes, which allows its member nations to select a two-and-a-half-hour weekend slot where live football is banned from screens.
The Football Association (FA), in conjunction with broadcasters, decided that live football would not be shown between 2.45pm and 5.15pm — including matches played on the continent.
However, 50 per cent of matches in England’s top two divisions need to kick-off at 3pm for it to come into effect, meaning the blackout will not be in place for the EFL’s opening weekend on August 10-11.
When contacted by The Athletic, the EFL confirmed “in the case of the opening weekend, Article 48 will not apply”.
The Athletic has contacted the FA for comment.
Every match across all three leagues on the opening weekend — including the Championship, League One and League Two — will be streamed live on a brand new channel called Sky Sports+.
As part of a new £935m deal with the EFL, Sky Sports will show more than 1,000 fixtures next season, with a commitment to showing all 72 clubs live on at least 20 occasions.
The fixtures for the 2024-25 season will be announced on June 26.
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English football's 3pm blackout must be protected and maintained
How did the blackout start?
The blackout, which was implemented in the early 1960s, was designed to protect attendances in the lower leagues.
Article 48 of UEFA’s statutes allows member nations to select a two-and-a-half-hour weekend slot where live football is banned from screens. Some reports suggest its origins date back to the 1950s but in England, the rule only emerged in 1987 when ITV struck a major television deal with the Football League.
Reacting to the proliferation of media agreements around the continent, Europe’s governing body wanted to protect attendances at stadiums and participation in grassroots games, so offered out the choice.
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The regulation remains in place and even stops foreign matches from being shown live at that time in the UK .
In 2018, the FA and UEFA pushed back against Eleven Sports, who had shown two rounds of La Liga and Serie A games during the blackout slot. Eleven Sports reluctantly relented but called the rule “unfit for the modern, digital era”.
How could the blackout end?
The decision would ultimately fall to the FA, with the canvassing of stakeholders essential. At present, there is no appetite from within the game to lift the blackout and the governing body are happy with the status quo.
Theoretically, UEFA members could take the matter to congress to remove the statute.
If La Liga grew determined to show its matches at 3pm on Saturday in the UK to increase broadcast revenues for its clubs, the matter could go to a vote and given it is only England, Scotland and Montenegro who take advantage of Article 48, a motion to dismiss it would presumably gain support.
But the strength of feeling from the UK means it is not a fight worth having and in reality, UEFA are yet to receive any suggestions such a proposal is brewing.
GO DEEPER
Time to end the 3pm Saturday blackout or is it needed to protect the pyramid?
(Photo by Alex Livesey – Danehouse/Getty Images)
