The 3pm Blackout: Is the UK Behind the Times?

Last week, the Premier League agreed a record-breaking broadcasting package for coverage of the premier league. The deal with Sky and TNT Sports will see the premier league receive over ￡6.7 billion over four years for its UK television rights. Notably, the 3pm blackout will remain in place and for the first time, all matches outside of Saturday 3pm kick offs will be broadcast live in the UK with Sky set to show a record 215 live matches across the season, TNT will screen 52 matches, while BBC’s Match of the Day will continue to hold the rights to a weekly highlights package.

What is the 3pm Blackout?

The 3pm blackout is the rule that no Premier League, Football League or FA cup matches between 2:45 and 5:15pm on a Saturday are allowed to be televised, in compliance with article 48 of the UEFA statutes, allowing UEFA nations to block coverage at certain times, although the UK is the only country to prohibit the broadcast of 3pm Saturday kick-offs. The blackout was implemented in the 1960s, influenced by former Burnley chairman Bob Lord. Who successfully persuaded fellow football league chairmen that broadcasting matches on Saturday afternoons would have an adverse effect on the attendance of lower league games, consequently diminishing the financial income of these teams. More than 50 years on, the rule is still in place. Foreign matches are also affected by the blackout – a broadcaster would not show the first 15 minutes of a match in the Bundesliga that kicks off at 5pm UK time, for example.

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Is the Blackout still Necessary?

Football in the present era stands in stark contrast to the football landscape of the 1960s when the blackout was introduced. The topflight in England stands undoubtedly as one of, if not the best league in the world with many of the world’s superstars playing for clubs in England. This is reflected in attendances with average attendances of over 40,000 across the Premier league for the first time ever, and arguably many of these stadiums could be filled 2X over. Additionally, the new broadcasting package will now see very few Premier League games kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday with more games than ever before being broadcasted for live television.

It is clear that the removal of the 3pm blackout would have no effect on the English Premier League attendances; however, the debate begins when considering the Football League…

The English Football League stands as the pulse of English football, encompassing 72 teams spanning from the Championship to League Two. Yet, beyond the allure of the Premier League, these clubs grapple with unprecedented financial challenges, exacerbated by the lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, during which fans were barred from attending football grounds in England for nearly 18 months. Alarmingly in the 2021-22 season only one championship club had a positive cash flow, and in 2020 around 50% of League 1 and League 2 clubs were 'technically insolvent'.

The reliance on matchday revenue to drive revenue remains a critical success factor for clubs outside the Premier League, and many owners would be concerned regarding matchday income if the blackout was lifted at the next broadcasting auction in 2029.

On a rainy and windy Saturday afternoon in December, one can see the temptation of staying in the comfort of one’s front room to watch the glamour of?The Premier League and La Liga, or simply watching their football league side on television , rather than going to the stadium.

The elimination of the blackout would undoubtedly catapult coverage and fan engagement to unprecedented heights, presenting a myriad of opportunities for broadcasters. However, any alteration should be crafted as a comprehensive package that serves the entire football pyramid, safeguarding clubs dependent on matchday attendances. The Football League is the cornerstone that renders the English Premier League the fiercely competitive landscape it is renowned for, and any shift should preserve this integral balance.

What Could a Future Beyond the Blackout look like?

A future liberated from the constraints of the 3pm blackout could promise a revolutionary evolution in the broadcasting landscape. It envisions a scenario where viewers in the UK enjoy the freedom to watch any game and seamlessly switch between matches at their discretion. The elimination of the blackout creates an opportunity for the introduction of a Premier League Over-The-Top (OTT) application, akin to those in the NBA and NFL. This centralised platform could emerge as a dynamic hub for the league, providing fans with the flexibility to navigate and switch between games effortlessly. Such an application would not only redefine the fan experience but also serve as a modern, comprehensive destination for football enthusiasts, aligning with the changing dynamics of sports consumption in the digital age.

In a post-3pm blackout landscape, the restructuring of broadcasting deals and revenue frameworks across the football pyramid becomes pivotal. There exists an opportunity to redefine financial structures, further channelling funds from the affluent Premier League down through the pyramid. This strategic financial realignment aims to provide crucial support to clubs within the football league, especially in the face of challenges that may emerge post-blackout. The vision is to establish a modernised financial framework, not only as a response to immediate concerns but as a proactive measure to secure the enduring future of football league clubs. The poignant lesson from the unfortunate fate of clubs like Bury Town underscores the necessity for a comprehensive approach that shields clubs from similar jeopardy, reinforcing the resilience of the football ecosystem as a whole.

Closing Thoughts

First of all it is worth noting the Blackout remains firmly in place until 2029 alongside the current broadcasting deal, and there is little good in predicting the football landscape in 2029 in such a dynamic industry. If a decision is to be made regarding the Blackout, it is imperative that it be meticulously crafted to authentically represent the interests of all key stakeholders, giving precedence to the collective welfare over the preferences of a minority. ecosystem.