Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has revealed a decision on ending the 3pm blackout could be made before the end of the 2027/28 season.
Currently, top-flight matches in England cannot be broadcast live on live domestic television between 2.45pm and 5.15pm on a Saturday afternoon. The tradition, which was enforced by the FA at the request of the EFL in the 1960s, is known as the '3pm blackout'.
But there is talk that it could be removed when the next TV rights deal is finalised in 2028. The current cycle is due to expire at the end of the 2028/29 season. With that, a potential removal of the blackout would not be able to be introduced until the start of the 2029/30 campaign.
Progress on ending the blackout
Despite that wait, Masters has suggested progress is being made on ending the 3pm blackout and allowing all Premier League and EFL matches to be made available to broadcast.
Asked if English football is leaning towards the end of the blackout, Masters told talkSPORT: "Yes, but it's not just us involved in the decision about Article 48. It's us, the EFL and the FA."
"We've got to take that decision at some point in the future about whether things are going to change. It's not a decision for now. It's a decision we've got to make before the next set of domestic processes that the EFL and the Premier League are going to do."
Timeline for decision
"I'd say in about 18 months' time we'll come back to that decision about whether Article 48 should remain or not," Masters added.
Masters' comments come after the Premier League launched a new streaming service in Singapore. 'Premier League +' is poised to broadcast all 380 matches live and provide 24/7 coverage, in what is believed to be a testing ground for potential future streaming in the United Kingdom.
Simon Jordan, the talkSPORT presenter, has long called for the Premier League to have its own 'Netflix of Football' subscription service.
