Coventry City could see the end of the long-standing Saturday 3pm blackout for the first time in over six decades once the next domestic broadcasting deals for the Premier League and EFL expire. Currently, games are not allowed to be broadcast on Saturday afternoons to maintain attendance across the football pyramid and steady participation at grassroots level.
However, The Times reports that senior figures suggest the current blackout, in place since 1960, is unlikely to last beyond the 2028/29 season and is seen as outdated. The UK is the only European country with a 3pm broadcast restriction, but this could change with the next deal struck with the top flight and the EFL.
Many Premier League games are no longer shown at the traditional 3pm slots and are now broadcast at different times for live television coverage. From next season, every top-flight game not taking place at 3pm will be shown on TV.
The new EFL deal, which started this season, sees more than 1,000 matches a year being screened live on Sky with Championship games played at 12.30pm on Saturdays or Friday nights.
However, if the blackout ends, research suggests it could cost EFL clubs a combined £37m in matchday revenue, which is likely to be factored into any subsequent deal.
Under UEFA’s article 48, which is applied for by the FA in conjunction with the Premier League and EFL, the blackout stipulations maintain that for it to be applied then 50 per cent of games in the Premier League and Championship must be scheduled for Saturday 3pm.
