Premier League and EFL to Discuss Ending Saturday 3pm Blackout Ahead of 2027 TV Rights Cycle
The Premier League (PL) and English Football League (EFL) plan to hold talks early next year regarding the live broadcast of 3pm Saturday kick-offs on a weekly basis, aiming to finalize a decision before the next television rights tender for the 2027 cycle.
Currently, the United Kingdom is the last European country to enforce a blackout on live broadcasts of football matches at 3pm on Saturdays. Lifting this blackout would allow live coverage of 3pm matches across the UK, potentially increasing visibility and revenue for the leagues.
The leagues intend to sell all games to domestic broadcasters in the upcoming rights cycle to boost revenue. In the current season, 270 Premier League matches and 1,059 EFL matches are televised domestically, predominantly on Sky Sports.
The EFL's current deal with Sky Sports is valued at £935 million over five years for coverage of 1,059 matches per season. Removing the blackout could potentially increase this to all 1,891 EFL matches televised, if an agreement is reached among the Premier League, Football Association (FA), and EFL.
The Premier League’s existing domestic rights deal with Sky Sports and TNT Sports is worth £6.7 billion over four years, covering 270 games per season, though the real-terms value has declined by approximately 23% compared to the previous cycle.
Article 48 of UEFA’s statutes governs the broadcast blackout, which is enforced in England when 50% of Premier League and Championship matches are scheduled to kick off at 3pm on Saturdays. Lifting the blackout could lead to compensation claims from Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Wales due to potential impacts on their markets.
The FA would be responsible for applying Article 48 if required, but it is unlikely to oppose dropping the blackout. Previous discussions considering an exemption for the Women’s Super League raised legal concerns about Article 48, indicating the complexity involved in any change.
Overall, the discussions represent a significant potential shift in UK football broadcasting rights, aiming to align the UK with other European nations and enhance coverage and revenue opportunities.
