Armchair football fans have been given a rare preview of a potential future for live match coverage, as the traditional Saturday 3pm television blackout was temporarily lifted over the festive period. This allowed broadcasters like Sky to show Scottish Premiership fixtures, including Celtic's 4-2 victory over Livingston and the upcoming Dundee derby.
The Current Stance: No Immediate Change for Premier League
Despite this temporary shift, Mirror Sport understands the Premier League has no immediate plans to push for the permanent scrapping of the blackout. The landmark £6.7 billion domestic TV rights deal, which permits Sky and TNT to broadcast up to 270 live matches per season, is only in its infancy. Industry insiders believe renegotiating such a massive contract at this early stage would be highly improbable.
The blackout, which operates under UEFA's Article 48, prevents live broadcasts in the UK between 2:45pm and 5:15pm on Saturdays when 50% of fixtures in the top two divisions kick off at 3pm. Its original purpose, dating to the 1960s, was to protect matchday attendances at all levels of the game. The only sustained period it was lifted was during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Why the End of the Blackout Seems Inevitable
However, a growing consensus within the sports broadcasting industry suggests the abolition of the blackout is a question of 'when', not 'if'. The primary driver is the urgent need to combat piracy and illegal streaming, which threatens the value of future TV rights deals.
Premier League lawyers are actively pursuing piracy gangs, securing prison sentences and targeting the distribution of illegal 'fire sticks'. Their 'Boot Out Piracy' campaign with overseas partners has led to convictions in countries like Thailand and Vietnam. Nonetheless, the prevalence of illegal streams in UK high street businesses remains a significant concern.
The theory is that offering every game legally, including at 3pm on Saturdays, could stem the revenue lost to piracy. The EFL explored this possibility during its last rights tender in 2022, before ultimately signing its £935 million, five-year deal with Sky. The next pivotal moment is expected when the Premier League's current £6.7bn deal expires in 2029.
A Glimpse of the Future Broadcasting Model
The recent relaxed rules in Scotland, and exceptions like the broadcast of a Real Madrid match on Premier Sports in September, provide a taste of what could come. The new Premier League contract with Sky, which allows the broadcaster to show every game on a single 'Super Sunday', is seen as a testing ground for a more expansive model.
Future TV deals may well include the option to broadcast every single match, effectively signalling the end of the blackout. For now, while Scottish fans enjoy festive fixtures on screen, Premier League supporters will have to wait, with any major shift unlikely before the end of the decade.
